HVAC Design Manual November 1, 2017

(e) Room Humidity Control

The system does not require individual room humidity control, unless mentioned
specifically.
(f) Uncontrolled Humidity Range
The relative humidity is uncontrolled between the humidification and dehumidification
modes.

6.4.2 AIR BALANCE

6.4.2.1 Definitions and Requirements

In this Design Manual, for the purpose of infection control, volumetric air difference between
the supply and return air volumes or supply and exhaust air volumes is characterized as positive
air balance, negative air balance, or neutral air balance and general rules are presented below.
However, it is the responsibility of the A/E to ensure that the general rules achieve the required
effect which is measurable pressure differentials to ensure directional air flow as required for
the spaces. For example a 15% CFM differential between supply and exhaust, in a small room
may not provide the required pressure drop through a normal sized door so the A/E must
calculate the CFM required achieving the desired pressure drop.
(a) Building Baseline Pressure
The baseline building pressure shall be the pressure maintained in the unrestricted
access general circulation spaces of the building between the building entrances / exits
and the clinical and / or functional areas. The pressure in these spaces, relative to the
outside shall be designed to be 0.01 to 0.02 inch WC [2.5 to 5.0 Pascal] higher than
outside of the building. See paragraph 2.2.3.5 for related information and additional
guidance. Examples of such spaces include but are not limited to:
x Public / patient entrance lobbies.
x Information desk area off of the entrance lobbies.
x General waiting area off of the entrance lobbies.
x Corridors directly connected to the entrance lobbies.
x General retain shops off corridors connected to the entrance lobbies.
x Elevator lobbies off main corridors at the entrance levels.

(b) Pressure Differentials

In critical environments such as OR’s, pharmacy compounding rooms, burn units, SPS,
etc. the design engineer shall take into consideration maintenance of pressure
differentials and calculate actual required airflow differences as required to maintain
said pressures. The designer shall include elements such as tightness of room, door, and
window crack leakage areas which impact room pressurization. The design intent shall
be to provide sufficient differential pressure (typically 0.01 inches of water column or
higher ) between the subjected room and adjacent space to maintain proper airflow

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HVAC Design Manual November 1, 2017

direction, as well as ensuring proper pressure reading by the space pressure monitoring
sensors, and avoiding false alarms.
(c) Pressure References / Example
The requirement of building air balance is to create the desired space pressure induced
air flows between spaces for the purposes of infection control, temperature control and
odor control. All clinical and / or functional spaces shall be designed to be positive,
negative, or neutral to the building baseline pressure or other adjacent space pressure.
An example of this is as follows:
1) A protective environment room in a patient ward accessible from main public
corridor. Solution: Ward corridor pressure is greater than main corridor pressure;
PE ante room pressure is greater than ward corridor pressure; PE room pressure is
greater than ante room pressure; and PE toilet room pressure is less than PE room
pressure. Note that air flow is from PE room, to anteroom, to ward corridor, to
public corridor. While designing to meet these conditions the engineer shall as a
minimum consider the following:
x The integrity of the building envelope including doors, ceilings, windows, and
walls to ensure that excessive air flow differentials are not needed to maintain
required air pressure differentials.
x Minimum required pressure differentials and pressure indicating devices as
required by ASHRAE Standard 170-2013 or approved latest edition.
x Maximum pressure relationship between any two spaces which if excessive can
make it difficult to close or open doors between the spaces.
(d) Positive Air Balance
Positive air balance is designated as (+) in the Room Data Sheets. Generally this can be
achieved when supply air flow exceed return and / or exhaust air flow. The excess air
exfiltrates into the adjoining spaces.
(e) Double Positive Air Balance
Double Positive air balance is designated as (++) in the Room Data Sheets. Generally this
can be achieved when supply air flow exceed return and / or exhaust air flow. The
excess air exfiltrates into the adjoining spaces.
(f) Negative Air Balance
Negative air balance is designated as (-) in the Room Data Sheets. Generally this can be
achieved when exhaust and / or return air exceed supply air flow. The air deficiency
infiltrates from the adjoining spaces.
(g) Double Negative Balance
Double Negative air balance is designated as (--) in the Room Data Sheets. Generally this
can be achieved when exhaust and / or return air exceed supply air flow. The air
deficiency infiltrates from the adjoining spaces.

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(h) Neutral Air Balance

Neutral air balance, designated as (o) in the Room Data Sheets, occurs when the air
supplied to the space equals return and/or exhaust air volumes. Air is not exchanged
between adjoining spaces.
(i) Air Flow Relationship Diagrams
Provided with the Room Data Sheets (RDS) at the end of this chapter are representative
Air Flow Relationship Diagrams. These are general diagrams which do not include all
possible room and / or space arrangements between the different types of spaces. The
arrangements that are presented are some of the most commonly found in the VA
Design Guides and in existing VA Medical Centers. The purpose of these diagrams is to
provide additional visual guidance to what is shown in the RDS. Since space
relationships are not always ideal the engineer is required to develop a full
understanding of the requirements found in ASHRAE Standard 170-2013 or approved
latest edition, and in this design manual and adjust the system design to meet the
design intent to the fullest extent possible without creating excessive pressure
differences and / or conditions that do not meet the required air flow relationships.

6.4.2.2 Design Considerations

(a) Air Distribution
To enhance the effectiveness of the intended air balance the direction of air flow must
be established by judicious locations of the supply and return or exhaust air devices. See
individual notes in Room Data Sheets for specific requirements.
(b) Automatic Controls
To maintain verifiable air balance with trend logging capabilities, devices such as airflow
control valves are required in the exhaust or return air ducts. Where the air balance is
required to create verifiable differential air pressure, the complexity of the automatic
control system shall be reviewed and upgraded as required.
(c) Building Construction
In critical environments such as OR’s, biological safety laboratories, pharmacy
compounding rooms, burn units etc. the design engineer shall take into consideration
maintenance of pressure differentials and calculate actual required air flow differences
required to maintain said pressures based on actual door and window crack leakage
areas.
(d) Air Changes
For design purposes, the minimum number of total air changes indicated shall be either
supplied for positive pressure rooms or exhausted for negative pressure rooms.
(e) Constant Volume (CV), and Variable Air Volume

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The air handling unit sheets indicate some air handling units as constant volume (CV)
and some as variable air volume (VAV). Through the use of CV terminals which
modulate to maintain a constant air flow volume in response to varying system supply
air pressure and VAV terminals with modulate to change the flow to the space in
response to space temperature, either type of air handling unit (CV and VAV) can be
used for either purpose. The CV and VAV designation for the air handling unit is
provided based on the majority type of terminals connected to that system. VAV air
handling units serve primarily VAV terminals, however, if necessary CV terminals can be
added to the system. For example, an air handling unit serving a patient ward will be a
VAV air handling unit because it mainly serves VAV terminals; however, that unit is also
required to have a CV terminal to serve the satellite sterile storage for that ward.
Conversely CV air handling units serve primarily CV terminals but can also have VAV
terminals added. An example of this is the CV air handling unit that serves the CV
terminals in SPS, but which also serves VAV terminals for the SPS staff offices,
breakroom, conference room etc.

6.4.3 INDIVIDUAL ROOM CONTROL

6.4.3.1 Individual Room Control

Refer to Chapter 2, Room Temperature Controls and requirements in Room Data Sheets.

6.4.4 EXHAUST CLASSIFICATION AND DESIGNATION ON ROOM DATA SHEETS

x Exhaust (G) = General Exhaust System
x Exhaust (S) = Special Exhaust System
Note: See Room Data Sheet notes and Chapter 3 for exhaust systems.

APPLICATIONS 6-12