‘ Incorporating

the appropriate
rates of 10 ACH up to 30 ACH. Clean room appli- Manual of Recommended Practice for Design.” design approach
cations require air exchange rates near 50 ACH. This manual is recognized worldwide as one of the with adherence to
The volume of air movement becomes more con- key design guides for all aspects of industrial ven-
fined as the environment is subject to more strin- tilation design and applications. The topics cov- industry-specific
gent criteria. Otherwise, the absolute air movement ered include equipment fundamentals, associated requirements is
quantity in cubic feet per minute become untenable system design, local exhaust system design, gen-
for large volume spaces. Figure 2 depicts air pres- eral industrial ventilation principles and design, the key to a safe,
surization strategy for air movement in a properly supply air system design and special design con-
sustainable and
hygienic zoned facility. siderations. The manual compiles references and
aggregates data, recommended practices, and code successful indus-
Industry regulatory agencies references from many different resources into one
Responsible designers are expected to be aware compendium.
trial environment
of the specific industry requirements pertaining to Additionally, ACGIH publishes an annual- while safeguard-
the process being designed. Following are some of ly updated version of a booklet of threshold limit
the agencies relevant to industrial processes and value occupational exposure guidelines for more ing the health
their codes, standards and/or guidelines: than 700 chemical substances and physical agents. and well-being
OSHA: Under the U.S. Department of Labor, There are also more than 50 biological exposure
OSHA ensures safe and healthy working con- indices that cover more than 80 chemical substanc- of workers and

’
ditions for workers by setting and enforcing es. ACGIH also publishes the Guide to Occupation- consumers.
standards and by providing training, outreach, al Exposure Values, which supplements threshold
education, and assistance. Specific to IAQ/IEQ, it limit value and biological exposure indices expo-
has published ventilation standards including the sure guidelines with an accessible reference of the
four standards in OSHA Standard 29 CFR 1910.94 most recently published values.
dealing with local industrial exhaust systems.
Additionally, it publishes Standard 1910 Subpart Conclusion
Z: Toxic and Hazardous Substances, Table Z-1. Prioritizing IAQ/IEQ considerations in both
This publication includes occupational exposure commercial and industrial setting is vital. The
limits (OELs) for approximately 500 substanc- former places more emphasis on the occupants’
es with either a maximum instantaneous value, a health and comfort whereas the latter places it on
15 minute time weighted average or an exposure maintaining precise conditions to ensure product
limit — based on an eight-hour time weighted quality and occupant safety. Compliance with stan-
average exposure. OELs for hundreds of addition- dards and guidelines such as ASHRAE, ACGIH
al substances have been adopted by OSHA, The and OSHA, are essential to create safe and effi-
National Institute for Occupational Safety and cient industrial environments. Incorporating the
Health (NIOSH) and ACGIH. appropriate design approach with adherence to
NIOSH: This U.S. Government research agen- industry-specific requirements is the key to a safe, u Insights
csemag.com
cy focuses on the study of worker safety and health, sustainable and successful industrial environment
and empowers employers and workers to create safe while safeguarding the health and well-being of Ventilation insights
and healthy workplaces. NIOSH is part of the U.S. workers and consumers. cse uIn commercial buildings,
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in the the focus of HVAC design
is on the health, safety and
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Hafiz Rafey, EIT, PMP is a senior mechanical
comfort of the occupants,
It has published several useful criteria documents, designer in Barry-Wehmiller Design Group’s Chica- whereas in industrial
current intelligence bulletins, reports, fact sheets go office. buildings the focus shifts
to the production process
and impact sheets. These provide technical guid- while still prioritizing
ance on controlling worker exposure to airborne Sunondo Roy, PE, LEED AP, is Director of Archi- occupant safety.
contaminants, nanoparticles, tobacco smoke, heat tecture, Engineering and Process in Barry-Wehmill- Many
u industrial facilities
and to various chemicals and biological agents. er Design Group’s Chicago office. He is a member of will often have stricter
guidelines dependent on
ACGIH: The ACGIH Industrial Ventilation the Consulting-Specifying Engineer editorial adviso- the kind of product being
Committee publishes “Industrial Ventilation, a ry board. made.

consulting-Specifying engineer— www.csemag.com January/February 2024