Air Ventilation Performance Testing
Healthy and clean indoor air is critical for a high quality of life. It’s much more pleasant to work when the air quality is good, without the constant need to open the windows and to enter work to clean air. Both air conditioning and ventilation contribute to the improvement of indoor air quality. Ventilation simply refers to the process of removing used and “dirty” interior air and replacing it with new, fresh, oxygen-rich air. Ventilation enables occupants of a building or facility to breathe more easily. Ventilation also helps maintain the structural integrity of a building or facility.
What is the purpose of having air ventilation performance testing?
The objectives of the test are:
ICOP Standard
To test the performance of the ventilation system for general areas in accordance with the Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 (ICOP) established by the Department of Occupational Safety & Health (DOSH) Malaysia.
ASHRAE 170 Standard
To test the performance of the ventilation system for critical areas in accordance to the ASHRAE 170 Standard on Ventilation of Health Care Facilities (ASHRAE 170)
Our Standards & Guidelines
The standards and guidelines used to evaluate the ventilation performance test are: Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 (ICOP) issued by the Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Ministry of Human Resources, Malaysia. Ventilation of Health Care Facilities, ASHRAE STD 170.
| Standard for General Areas | |||
| No | Parameter | Acceptable Range | Standard |
|
1 |
Temperature | 23-26O C | ICOP |
|
2 |
Relative Humidity | 40-70% |
ICOP |
| 3 | Air Movement | 0.15 – 0.50 m/s |
ICOP |
Note: There is no currently available healthcare facilities related standard governing this parameter. For the purpose of this report only, ICOP standard is referred for this parameter as a benchmark. Thus ICOP limitation scope to ‘non-industrial’ workplace only’ should be taken into context.
| Standard for Critical Areas | |||
| No | Parameter | Acceptable Range | Standard |
| 1 | Temperature | Subject to Function of Space/Area | ASHRAE 170 |
| 2 | Relative Humidity | Subject to Function of Space/Area | ASHRAE 170 |
| 3 | Air Movement (a) | 0.15 – 0.50 m/s | ICOP |
| 4 | Pressure relationship to adjacent areas | Subject to Function of Space/Area | ASHRAE 170 |
How Do We Do
Frequently Asked Questions
- To verify the volumetric rate(s)
- To check the performance of the system
- To meet government regulatory requirements
- To obtain information and compare data
Air ventilation performance testing is a test that is put on to monitor the ventilation optimum performance whether it is running on its efficiency or the performance addresses the needs of having it to be serviced.
Air ventilation performance testing responsibility is depending on how the organization in the facilities work. Normally, Facility Manager or Building Manager is appointed by the organization to be in charge of the building maintenance including on how the tools and equipment work, assuring all the system and operations are operating at its optimal efficiency.
Yes. In order to ensure indoor air quality inside the facilities are in good condition, all the systems are linked to each other, where one functionality affects each other. If air ventilation performance is not maintained well, the probability of humidity reading inside the facilities differs in certain areas, leading to unbalanced air distribution, which in most cases, encourages mold development.
