We are working on a 20,000 gsf aquatics addition that also includes offices, community/party rooms, lobby, circulation space, and locker-rooms in addition to the pool room. All of the spaces except for the pool have all been designed to meet the temperature ranges recommended by ASHRAE 55-1999, but the pool area will not meet these requirements. This makes sense since the thermal comfort and humidity requirements for a pool room should be different from normal office space. The pool room will, however, be able to meet the 1999 ASHRAE Applications, Chapter 4 (Places of Assembly) recommended conditions for swimming pools. We propose that for indoor pools, project teams should be required to adhere to this standard in lieu of ASHRAE Standard 55-1999 to meet the requirements of EQc7.1. Please let us know if this is acceptable?
No, pool rooms that meet the space guidelines of ASHRAE Applications Handbook cannot be considered to automatically meet thermal comfort requirements of ASHRAE 55. Indoor pools are not explicitly addressed by ASHRAE 55 (1999 or 2004). ASHRAE 55 Section 5.2.1.2 covers the use of a computer model to predict PMV for conditions not covered by section 5.2.1.1. By assuming a low clothing insulation level of 0.1 CLO, 1,3 NETm 60% RH and 20 fpm air speed, the ASHRAE comfort tool shows a room temperature range of 75-82 F meeting the ASHRAE 55 standard. Furthermore, the activity areas that do not fall within the 1.0-1.3 MET specified in section 5.2.1.1, will require similar calculations. Calculations per section 5.2.1.2 in ASHRAE 55 are necessary. Applicable Internationally.