E 603.1 Indoor Air Quality During Construction

Indoor air quality of a building shall be maintained in accordance with Section E 603.1.1 through Section E 603.1.3.

Temporary ventilation during construction shall be provided in accordance with the following:

1. Ventilation during construction shall be achieved through openings in the building shell using fans to produce not less than three air changes per hour.
2. During dust-producing operations, the supply and return HVAC system openings shall be protected from dust in accordance with Section E 603.1.3.
3. Where the building is occupied during demolition or construction, ventilation shall be provided in accordance with the Control Measures of the SMACNA IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction.
4. The permanent HVAC system shall not be used during construction to condition and ventilate the building within the required temperature range for material and equipment installation. Where required, a supplemental HVAC system shall be used during construction, return air shall be equipped with filters with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8, in accordance with ASHRAE 52.2, or an average efficiency of 30 percent in accordance with ASHRAE 52.2. Before occupancy, filters shall be replaced with filters having a MERV 13 rating in accordance with Section E 603.3.

Exception: Embedded hydronics system shall be permitted to be used to condition the building during construction.

After construction ends and interior finishes are installed, flush-out the building to reduce contaminant concentrations by supplying a total outdoor air volume of 14 000 cubic feet per square foot (ft³/fl²) (4267.2 m³/m²) of occupiable building area. An internal temperature of not less than 60°F (16°C) and relative humidity not higher than 60 percent shall be maintained during the flush-out process. Occupancy shall begin on condition of 3500 ft³/ft² (1066.8 m³/m²) of building area, with the remaining 10 500 ft³/ft² (3200.4 m³/m²) being accomplished as soon as possible.

Exception: Other means of reducing the contaminant concentration levels shall be permitted where approved by the Authority Having Jurisdiction.

At the time of rough installation, or during storage on the construction site and until final startup of the heating and cooling equipment, duct and other related air distribution component openings shall be covered with tape, plastic, sheet metal, or other methods acceptable to the enforcing agency to reduce the amount of dust or debris that collects in the system.