Specialized Building Air-Conditioning Applications
ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.8

Scope of TC 9.8

TC 9.8 is concerned with the application of heating, ventilating, air-conditioning, refrigeration, humidity control, and energy conservation systems to large buildings. Specific areas of primary responsibility and expertise to include applications for the following types of large commercial and public buildings: domiciliary, hospitality, retail, assembly, natatoriums, atria, warehouses, transportation centers, museums, archives, galleries, libraries, and justice facilities.

Handbook

The ASHRAE Handbook is published in a series of four volumes, one of which is revised each year, ensuring that no volume is older than four years.

TC 9.8 is responsible for the following chapters in the HVAC Applications handbook:

HVAC Applications: Retail Facility
This chapter covers design and application of air-conditioning and heating systems for various retail merchandising facilities. Load calculations, systems, and equipment are covered elsewhere in the Handbook series.

HVAC Applications: Commercial and Public Buildings
This chapter contains technical, environmental, and design considerations to assist the design engineer in the proper application of HVAC systems and equipment for commercial and public buildings.

HVAC Applications: Places of Assembly
Assembly rooms are generally large, have relatively high ceilings, and are few in number for any given facility. They usually have a periodically high density of occupancy per unit floor area, as compared to other buildings, and thus have a relatively low design sensible heat ratio. This chapter summarizes some of the design concerns for enclosed assembly buildings. (Chapter 3, which covers general criteria for commercial and public buildings, also includes information that applies to public assembly buildings.)

HVAC Applications: Hotels, Motels, and Dormitories
Hotels, motels, and dormitories may be single-room or multiroom, long- or short-term dwelling (or residence) units; they may be stacked sideways and/or vertically. Information in the first three sections of the chapter applies generally; the last three sections are devoted to the individual types of facilities. High energy costs and consequent environmental damage require that these type of facilities be energy efficient and sustainable. Occupants need assurance that they can afford the fuel bills and that their lifestyle is not damaging to the planet. This chapter provides advice on sustainable practices to achieve these aims.

HVAC Applications: Museums, Galleries, Libraries, and Archives
Collections are vulnerable to many threats. Because they must be preserved indefinitely, the steps taken to protect them are sometimes extraordinary. Most threats can be addressed by properly maintained housing and professional support. The level of acceptable risk is a compromise between the theoretically ideal environment and the practical. It is possible to slow deterioration drastically, but doing so may conflict with the ultimate functions of museums, libraries, and archives: not only to preserve, but also to allow public and scholarly access. Additionally, extremely high control over all environmental parameters can help to ensure an object’s survival, but at a price no cultural institution can justify or is willing to pay. Managing risk, not avoiding it altogether, is the objective. This chapter addresses threats to collections that are mitigated by a properly designed HVAC system that provides stability for low-access storage environments and also serves high-traffic visitors’ areas.

The ASHRAE HVAC APPLICATIONS HANDBOOK may be purchased by clicking the highlighted text.

Comment on the Handbook: ASHRAE welcomes your comments on the Handbook or a specific Handbook chapter.  To submit a comment about any aspect or part of the Handbook series, you can use the Handbook Comment Form.

Review a Handbook Chapter: To provide your feedback about a specific Handbook chapter, you can answer the brief survey questions on the Handbook Chapter Review Form.

Programs

Technical committees develop and sponsor technical sessions at the winter and annual conferences. Information about their future technical program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Program Subcommittee meeting

ASHRAE publishes papers and transactions from presentations at its conference events. In addition, ASHRAE records most of the seminar sessions from its conferences on DVD. These DVDs are ideal for use at chapter meetings, in university courses, or company lunch and learns. Products available from the most recent conference may be found here.

Research

Technical Committees are responsible for identifying research topics, proposing research projects, selecting bidders, and monitoring research projects funded by ASHRAE. Information about their specific research program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Research Subcommittee meeting.

Standards

ASHRAE writes standards for the purpose of establishing consensus for: 1) methods of test for use in commerce and 2) performance criteria for use as facilitators with which to guide the industry. ASHRAE publishes the following three types of voluntary consensus standards: Method of Measurement or Test (MOT), Standard Design and Standard Practice. ASHRAE does not write rating standards unless a suitable rating standard will not otherwise be available. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development. Standards may be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore.

TC 9.8 is co-cognizant for these guidelines and standards:

Gdl.34P - Proposed Energy Guideline for Historical Buildings and Structures

Std.180 - Standard Practice for Inspection and Maintenance of Commercial Building HVAC Systems

Other Activities

TIP: If MTG involvement add here otherwise leave blank.

TC 9.8 participates in the following multidisciplinary task group:

Indoor Swimming Pool Air Quality and Evaporation
MTG.ISPAQE will coordinate  the research project which will assess/identify the factors affecting air quality problems at indoor swimming pools including: air handling/ air distribution system design and operation; water quality/water chemistry;  pool water treatment operation and maintenance; pool types( flat water, agitated water, hot water); bather load; and evaporation rates of indoor pools to recommend changes to the ASHRAE 62.1 ventilation rate and update the evaporation formula in the HVAC Applications ASHRAE Handbook.

FAQs

ASHRAE Technical FAQs are provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of ASHRAE publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, they are advisory and provided for informational purposes only, and in many cases represent only one person’s view. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE. Technical questions not addressed may be submitted to the ASHRAE Technical Services department at tse@ashrae.net.