In one of our project we have a Main corridor that is completely open with just a parapet wall and roof overhang. Now we have another small corridor that is connected to this Main corridor. The ventilation for this small corridor is through the Main corridor. The farthest point on this small corridor is more than 25ft from the main corridor wall/opening. Can it still be considered as naturally ventilated?
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Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
494 thumbs up
March 24, 2015 - 9:57 am
not per ASHRAE 62.1 definition, you may need to include a fan at the farthest point.
Andrew Mitchell, P.E.
PrincipalMitchell Gulledge Engineering, Inc.
LEEDuser Expert
126 thumbs up
March 24, 2015 - 2:05 pm
If it is not an enclosed space then it does not need to be included. Also, corridors can be considered non-occupiable spaces according to the 62.1 users' guide, therefore they would not need ventilation.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
494 thumbs up
March 24, 2015 - 3:03 pm
This gets to be a little tricky, the use of the corridor will dictate if ventilation is required.
"corridors that are used primarily for emergency egress do not have to be ventilated. Corridors that are more frequently occupied, such as those used for the delivery of merchandise in a retail mall, must be ventilated." per ASHRAE User Manual Example 6-E.
Also, review the IEQ Space Matrix located at: http://www.usgbc.org/resources/eq-space-type-matrix
This spreadsheet provides guidance when applying this IEQ prereqs/credits to various occupancies.
Stella Stella
11 thumbs up
March 25, 2015 - 12:04 am
Thank you for the response. The main corridor of this building is along the external facade and hence it is semi open with just a roof and a parapet wall (completely naturally ventilated). There is a small internal corridor that branches from this main corridor. Now this internal corridor has walls on the three sides and the fourth side is open connecting to the main corridor. This internal corridor has roof and is used for access to open office spaces and meeting rooms.
Will it be acceptable to claim this space as non-regularly occupied space?
If not what kind of fans do we need to provide as it is not a completely enclosed space? Can we just use a normal ceiling fan/wall fan to comply? Or do we need to provide MV?
Appreciate your inputs.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
494 thumbs up
March 25, 2015 - 9:19 am
Corridors are considered nonregularly occupied spaces however that does not exclude them from the ventilation requirements.
I'd use the 62MZ to calculate the ventilation required for this corridor and size the fan accordingly. The fan can exhaust out the wall or roof.
I am not sure what you mean by "MV".
Stella Stella
11 thumbs up
March 25, 2015 - 9:07 pm
Thanks David. I am not sure if we can include exhaust fans as all the three walls are internal walls and cannot have any opening. There are floors above the corridor and hence cannot have any opening on roof either. Can just using a domestic ceiling fan/wall fan suffice, as it’s not a completely enclosed space?
"MV"-Mechanical Ventilation.
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
494 thumbs up
March 26, 2015 - 8:59 am
Thank you for the additional info.
A ceiling fan, also known as a destratification fan, would not suffice since it mixes air rather than transfers air. A wall fan should suffice since it transfers air.
Andrew Mitchell, P.E.
PrincipalMitchell Gulledge Engineering, Inc.
LEEDuser Expert
126 thumbs up
March 26, 2015 - 3:48 pm
How long is your corridor and what are the dimensions of the opening to the outdoors? Natural ventilation requirements are meant for "openable" areas, not permanently open areas. If your corridor communicates directly outside without any obstruction, then you likely do not need mechanical ventilation to satisfy ASHRAE 62.1.
Stella Stella
11 thumbs up
March 26, 2015 - 9:58 pm
Thanks Andrew & david.The corridor is “L” shaped with a total length of 18m and 1.8m wide. There are no operable windows and it is permanently open. The upper part of the corridor opens to the exterior (no wall-permanent opening 4m X 1.8m) and the lower part of the corridor leads to various room. So it has opening at one end and rooms at the lower end. Can it be considered as a unenclosed space and could it be exempted from Natural ventilation calculations?
Stella Stella
11 thumbs up
March 30, 2015 - 9:32 pm
Hi, would Appreciate your comments
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
494 thumbs up
April 1, 2015 - 7:27 am
ASHRAE 90.1 defines "enclosed space" as a volume substantially surrounded by solid surfaces such as walls, floors, roofs, and openable devices such as doors and operable windows.
From your description I believe the corridor to be substantially surrounded and thus would define it as an enclosed space.