Arkansas HVACR NewsMagazine January 2019

S tate, National, Chapter News Feature Story

Arkansas ASHRAE

Legislature.

Mechanical Ventilation Who Says So?!!? We’ve been informed that State HVACR Inspectors will begin checking for mechanical ventilation in new construction. While it seems like a new regulation—it is not. According to Russell Duncan, it was part of the “new” Energy Code which took effect in January 2015; however, the state inspectors have not been checking for it. After three years, it is time to begin inspecting and this has created a lot of discussion across the HVACR and home building industry. Anytime there is a new or seemingly new requirement, it is important to know “who says so” and “where did it come from.” This article may seem a little long but to know the “facts”, it takes more than a cursory look. First, there are four important entities that serve as references for regulations in the HVACR industry. Arkansas Mechanical Code, 2010 Arkansas Energy Code, 2009 ASHRAE Local Code Authorities The Mechanical Code and Energy Code have the effect of law as they are established with approval of the

provides the science behind many of the Standards which frequently become regulations. In the case of mechanical ventilation, we reference ASHRAE 62.2-2016, the most current version. In April 2014, the HVACR

License Board gave the program directions to use ASHRAE 62.2-2013 as the guide for determining appropriate and legal ventilation requirements. ASHRAE 62.2-2016 supersedes and is now the guiding Standard. Additionally, the Arkansas Mechanical Code, AMC-2010, 104.2. permits local authorities to create ordinances and codes that meet or exceed the requirements of the State Code. These also have the effect of law within the jurisdiction of the code authority issuing the ordinance. According to the Arkansas Mechanical Code-2010, AMC-2010, 401.2 Ventilation is required. “Every occupied space shall be ventilated by natural means in accordance with Section 402 or by mechanical means in accordance with Section 403.” The Arkansas Energy Code-2009, Chapter 2, Definitios, defines ventilation as “The natural or mechanical process of supplying conditioned or unconditioned air to, or removing such air from, any space.

There are two broad examples of ventilation: