AC & MECHANICAL

SERVICES
AR308
NATIONAL BUILDING CODE
FOR AC (33)

DEFINITIONS GIVEN BY NBC (2016)

AIR CONDITIONING :
The process of treating air so as to control simultaneously its temperature,
humidity, purity, distribution and movement and pressure to meet the
requirements of the conditioned space.

COOLING LOAD :
Amount of cooling per unit time required by the conditioned space or product;
or heat that a cooling system shall remove from a controlled system over time.

COOLING TOWER
An enclosed device, often tower like, for evaporatively cooling water by contact
with air.

DEW POINT TEMPERATURE

The temperature at which condensation of moisture begins when the air is
cooled at same pressure.

DRY-BULB TEMPERATURE
The temperature of the air, read on a thermometer, taken in such a way as to
avoid errors due to radiation.

DUCT SYSTEM
A continuous passageway for the transmission of air which, in addition to the
ducts, may include duct fittings, dampers, plenums, grilles and diffusers.

REFRIGERANTS

(3.1)Refrigerants are classified into two classes based on their toxicity, namely
Class A having lower chronic toxicity and Class B having higher chronic
toxicity.
They are classified into four classes based on their Flammability, namely
  Class 1 (no flame propagation)
 Class 2L (lower flammability)
 Class 2 (flammable)
 Class 3 (higher flammability)

Refrigerants shall be designated and classified for safety in accordance with the
accepted standard .

3.1.1 Matrix Diagram of Safety Group Classification System

The toxicity and flammability classifications for refrigerants as per 3.1 yield
eight safety groups, namely, Al, A2L, A2, A3, Bl, B2L, B2 and B3.
These safety groups are represented by the matrix shown below.
(3.3) Suggested List Of Refrigerants Which May Be Used For Various
Applications Is Given Below

A) AIR CONDITIONING:
 Residential, small unitary light commercial VRF application
R-22, R-32, R-410A, R-452B and R-290.

 Chillers for comfort, industrial and process application

R-123, R-134a, R-245fa, R-407C. R-513A, R-1233zd(E),
R-514A^ R-1234ze(E), R-1234yf, R-717 and R-718.

 Transport, mobile application

R-134a, R-407C and R-1234yf.

B) REFRIGERATION'.
 Stationary and transport, mobile application
R-744, R-717, R-404A. R-452A, R-134a, R-290.
 PLANNING

4.1 Fundamental Requirements

4.1.1 The objective of installing air conditioning, heating and mechanical
ventilation in buildings shall be to provide comfortable conditions without
compromising on health and safety of occupants.

4.1.2 Air conditioning, heating and mechanical ventilation installation shall aim
at controlling and optimizing the following factors in the building:

 Air quality
 Air movement,
 Dry-bulb temperature,
 Relative humidity,
 Noise and vibration,
 Energy efficiency, and
 Fire safety.

4.1.3 All plans, design drawings, specifications and data tor air conditioning,
heating and mechanical ventilation systems of all buildings and serving all
occupancies within the scope of the Code, shall be supplied to the Authority.

4.1.4 The plans and design drawings for air conditioning, heating and
mechanical ventilation (HVAC) systems shall include all details and data
necessary for review of installation such as
 building: name, type and location;

 owner: name;
  use of building;

 orientation: north direction on plans and design drawings;

 general plans, dimensions and height of all rooms;

 intended use of internal spaces;

 detail or description of wall construction, including insulation and finish;

 detail or description of roof, ceiling and floor construction, including insulation and
finish;

 detail or description of windows and outside doors, including sizes, weather stripping,
storm sash, sills and storm doors;

 internal load, such as people, equipment, computer/server load and lighting load;

 layout showing the location, size and components of the HVAC equipment being
installed; *

 information regarding air distribution system;

 information on air and water flow rates;

 information regarding location, size and accessibility of shafts;

 information regarding type and location of dampers (both volume control and
fire/smoke dampers) used in air conditioning system, such as, whether motorized or
manually operated;

 location and grade of the required fire separations;

 water softening airangement;

 Information on presence of any chemical fumes or gases.

DESIGN CONSIDERATIONS

4.2.1 Cooling and heating load estimate shall be carried out prior to design and
installation of HVAC equipment. Calculation of cooling and heating load shall
take into account the following factors:
 Recommended indoor temperature, relative humidity, air velocity, mean
radiant temperature, clothing and activity;
 Outside design conditions as specified in 5;
  Details of building construction and orientation of exposures of building
components;
 Fenestration area, thermal properties and shading factors;
 Occupancy — Number of people and their schedule of activities;
 Ventilation — Requirement for fresh air;
 Infiltration, air leakage; h) Internal load — Equipment, computer/server
and lighting;
 Effective volume; and
 Occupancy, lighting and equipment schedule.

4.2.2 The design of air conditioning, heating and mechanical ventilation system
and its associated controls shall also take into account the following:
 Nature of application,
 Permissible control limits,
 Fire safety,
 Opportunities for heat recovery,
 Energy efficiency,
 Filtration standard,
 Hours of use,
 Suitable diversity factor based on usage,
 Outdoor and indoor air quality, and
 Availability of make-up water for cooling towers.

OTHER CONSIDERATIONS

 4.2.3 Due consideration shall also be given to air conditioning load

encountered during off-peak hours including night time and
weekend/holidays.

 4.2.4 Consideration shall be given to the anticipated future changes,

permanent or temporary, in building load and the system shall be so
designed that maximum operational efficiency is maintained throughout.

 4.2.5 Special applications like hospitals/operating theatres, computer

rooms, data centers and telecommunication rooms, clean rooms,
 laboratories, libraries, museums/art galleries, sound recording studios,
etc, shall be handled differently.

 4.2.6 Computer based hourly load calculation and energy simulation tools
may be used for HVAC equipment sizing and to identify effect of various
energy conservation measures on energy
 COOLING TOWER

4.7.1 Cooling towers are used to dissipate heat from water cooled refrigeration,
air conditioning and industrial process systems to the atmosphere.
Cooling is achieved by evaporating a small proportion of recirculating water
into outdoor air stream. Cooling towers shall be installed at a place where free
flow of atmospheric air is available.

 Range of a cooling tower is defined as temperature difference between

the entering and leaving water.
 Approach of the cooling tower is the difference between leaving water
temperature and the ambient air wet-bulb temperature. (4.7.2)

SELECTION OF COOLING TOWER

 Design wet-bulb temperature and approach of cooling tower. The
designer shall endeavour for reducing the approach for maximizing the
energy conservation potential;
 Height limitation and aesthetic requirement;
 Location of cooling tower considering possibility of easy drain back from
the system;
 Placement with regard to adjacent walls, windows and other buildings,
and effects on these from any water carried over by the air stream;
 Vibration and noise levels, particularly during silent hours;
 Material of construction for the tower;
 Direction and flow of prevailing wind;
 Quality of water used for make-up;
 Maintenance and service space availability; and
 Ambient air quality.

4.7.4 The Recommended Floor Area Requirement For Various Types Of

Cooling Tower

 Natural draft : 0.15 to 0.20 m2/TR cooling tower

 Mechanical draft : 0.07 to 0.10 m2/TR cooling tower
AIR CLASS IN DIFFERENT SPACES
 AIR CLASS CHARACTERISTIC

 Class 1 Air with low contaminant concentration, low sensory-irritation intensity, and
inoffensive odour. Air with moderate contaminant concentration, mild sensory-irritation
intensity, or mildly offensive odours.
 Class 2 air also includes air that is not necessarily harmful or objectionable but that is
inappropriate for transfer or recirculation to spaces used for different purposes.
 Class 3 Air with significant contaminant concentration, significant sensory-irritation intensity,
or offensive odour.
 Class 4 Air with highly objectionable fumes or gases or with potentially dangerous particles,
bio aerosols, or gases, at concentrations high enough to be considered harmful.
NOTES
1) 1 The rates in this table are based on all other applicable requirements being met.
2) 2 This table applies to no-smoking areas only. Rates for smoking-permitted spaces shall be
determined using other methods.
3) 3 Volumetric airflow rates are based on an air density of 1.2 kgDA/m3, which corresponds to
dry air at a barometric pressure of 1 atm (101.3 kPa) and an air temperature of21°C. Rates
may be adjusted for actual density but such adjustment is not required for compliance with
this standard.
4) 4 Actual occupant density should be considered, the default occupant density shall be used
only when actual occupant density is not known. Default combined outdoor air (per person)
rate is based on the default occupant density.
5) 5 If the occupancy category for a proposed space or zone is not listed, the requirements for
the listed occupancy category that is most similar in terms of occupant density, activities and
building construction shall be used.
6) 6 For high school and college libraries, use values shown for public assembly spaces-
libraries.
7) 7 The prescribed value may not be sufficient when stored materials include those having
potentially harmful emissions.
8) 8 Default occupancy for dwelling units shall be two persons for studio and one-bedroom
units, with one additional person for each additional bedroom.
9) 9 Air from one residential dwelling shall not be recirculated or transferred to any other space
outside of that dwelling.
10) 10 When combustion equipment is intended to be used on the playing surface, additional
dilution ventilation and/or source control shall be provided.
11) 11 The prescribed value does not allow for humidity control. Additional ventilation or
dehumidification may be required to remove moisture.
12) 12 The prescribed value does not include special exhaust for stage effects, for example, dry
ice vapours, smoke.
AIR CLASS IN DIFFERENT SPACES

FOR HEALTH CARE FACILITIES

 INDOOR DESIGN CONDITIONS

6.1 One of the primary objectives of designing indoor environment is to

ensure thermal comfort of all occupants. Air conditioning, heating and
mechanical ventilation (HVAC) system is employed to achieve thermal
comfort inside building, when means to achieve the same only through
building design is limited.
Thermal comfort is that state of mind which expresses satisfaction with
the indoor environment.
The above definition clearly highlights the importance of both the
psychological (mental) and physiological (physical) factors in determining
acceptable thermal comfort conditions.

ENVIROINMENTAL PARAMETERS
 Air temperature (°C),
 Radiant temperature (°C),
 Air speed (m/s), and
 Relative humidity (percent).

BEHAVIOURAL PARAMETERS
 Activity rate (W/m2), and
 Clothing insulation (m2.K/W).

There are number of secondary parameters also which are important to

define thermal comfort conditions such as, radiative temperature asymmetry,
temperature gradient, and draught rate.