Air changes per hour

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Air changes per hour, abbreviated ACPH or ACH, or air change rate is a measure of the
air volume added to or removed from a space (normally a room or house) divided by the
volume of the space.[1] If the air in the space is either uniform or perfectly mixed, air
changes per hour is a measure of how many times the air within a defined space is
replaced.
In many air distribution arrangements, air is neither uniform nor perfectly mixed. The actual
percentage of an enclosure's air which is exchanged in a period depends on the airflow
efficiency of the enclosure and the methods used to ventilate it. The actual amount of air
changed in a well mixed ventilation scenario will be 63.2% after 1 hour and 1 ACH. [2] In
order to achieve equilibrium pressure, the amount of air leaving the space and entering the
space must be the same.

Where:

 ACPH = number of air changes per hour; higher values correspond to better ventilation
 Q = Volumetric flow rate of air in cubic feet per minute (cfm), if using Imperial units, or
cubic meters per minute if using SI
 Vol = Space volume L × W × H, in cubic feet if using Imperial units, or cubic meters if
using SI
Ventilation rates are often expressed as a volume rate per person (CFM per person, L/s per
person). The conversion between air changes per hour and ventilation rate per person is as
follows:

Where:

 Rp = ventilation rate per person (CFM per person, L/s per person)
 ACPH = Air changes per hour
 D = Occupant density (square feet per occupant, square meters per occupant)
 h = Ceiling height (ft, meters)

Contents

 1Air change rate

 2Measure of Airtightness
 3Effects of ACH due to forced ventilation in a dwelling
 4References
Air change rate[edit]
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Air change rates are often used as rules of thumb in ventilation design. However, they are
seldom used as the actual basis of design or calculation. For example, laboratory ventilation
standards indicate recommended ranges for air change rates,[3] as a guideline for the actual
design. Residential ventilation rates are calculated based on area of the residence and
number of occupants.[1] Non-residential ventilation rates are based on floor area and
number of occupants, or a calculated dilution of known contaminants. [4] Hospital design
standards use air changes per hour,[5] although this has been criticized.[6]

Basement Parking 15–30

Residential Basement 3–4

Bedroom 5-6

Residential Bathroom 6-7

Residential Living Rooms 6-8

Residential Kitchen 7-8

Residential Laundry 8-9

Business Offices 6-8

Business Lunch Break Rooms 7-8

Business Conference Rooms 8-12

Business Copy Rooms 10-12

Computer Rooms 10-14

Restaurant Dining Area 8-10

Restaurant Food Staging Area 10-12

Restaurant Bar 15-20

Public Hallway 6-8

Public Retail Store 6-10

Public Foyer 8-10

Church 8-12

Public Auditorium 12-14

Commercial kitchens & Restrooms 15–30

Smoking rooms 15-20

Laboratories 6–12[3]
Classrooms 3–4

Warehousing 3-10

Measure of Airtightness