ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Addendum d to

ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2008

ASHRAE/ASHE STANDARD

Ventilation of
Health Care Facilities

Approved by the ASHRAE Standards Committee on June 26, 2010; by the ASHRAE Board of Directors on
June 30, 2010; by the American Society for Healthcare Engineering of the American Hospital Association on
July 9, 2010; and by the American National Standards Institute on July 10, 2010.

This standard is under continuous maintenance by a Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) for which
the Standards Committee has established a documented program for regular publication of addenda or revi-
sions, including procedures for timely, documented, consensus action on requests for change to any part of
the standard. The change submittal form, instructions, and deadlines may be obtained in electronic form from
the ASHRAE Web site ([Link]) or in paper form from the Manager of Standards. The latest edition of
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© Copyright 2010 American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.

ISSN 1041-2336

American Society of Heating, Refrigerating

and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
1791 Tullie Circle NE, Atlanta, GA 30329
[Link]
 © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. ([Link]). For personal use only.
Additional reproduction, distribution, or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE’s prior written permission.

ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee 170

Cognizant TC: TC 9.6, Healthcare Facilities
SPLS Liaison: Byron W. Jones

Paul T. Ninomura, Chair* James (Skip) Gregory* Michael F. Mamayek*

Michael Patrick Sheerin, Vice-Chair* Jeffery M. Hardin Farhad Memarzadeh*
Chris P. Rousseau, Secretary* Richard D. Hermans* Richard D. Moeller
Judene M. Bartley* Michael R. Keen* Anand K. Seth*
Theodore Cohen* Marvin L. Kloostra* Rajendra N. Shah
John M. Dombrowski Peter Hogan Langowski* Andrew J. Streifel*
Douglas S. Erickson* Michael E. Woolsey*

*Denotes members of voting status when the document was approved for publication.

ASHRAE STANDARDS COMMITTEE 2009–2010

Steven T. Bushby, Chair Merle F. McBride
H. Michael Newman, Vice-Chair Frank Myers
Douglass S. Abramson Janice C. Peterson
Robert G. Baker Douglas T. Reindl
Michael F. Beda Lawrence J. Schoen
Hoy R. Bohanon, Jr. Boggarm S. Setty
Kenneth W. Cooper Bodh R. Subherwal
K. William Dean James R. Tauby
Martin Dieryckx James K. Vallort
Allan B. Fraser William F. Walter
Nadar R. Jayaraman Michael W. Woodford
Byron W. Jones Craig P. Wray
Jay A. Kohler Wayne R. Reedy, BOD ExO
Carol E. Marriott Thomas E. Watson, CO
Stephanie Reiniche, Manager of Standards

SPECIAL NOTE
This American National Standard (ANS) is a national voluntary consensus standard developed under the auspices of the American
Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). Consensus is defined by the American National Standards
Institute (ANSI), of which ASHRAE is a member and which has approved this standard as an ANS, as “substantial agreement reached by
directly and materially affected interest categories. This signifies the concurrence of more than a simple majority, but not necessarily unanimity.
Consensus requires that all views and objections be considered, and that an effort be made toward their resolution.” Compliance with this
standard is voluntary until and unless a legal jurisdiction makes compliance mandatory through legislation.
ASHRAE obtains consensus through participation of its national and international members, associated societies, and public review.
ASHRAE Standards are prepared by a Project Committee appointed specifically for the purpose of writing the Standard. The Project
Committee Chair and Vice-Chair must be members of ASHRAE; while other committee members may or may not be ASHRAE members, all
must be technically qualified in the subject area of the Standard. Every effort is made to balance the concerned interests on all Project
Committees.
The Manager of Standards of ASHRAE should be contacted for:
a. interpretation of the contents of this Standard,
b. participation in the next review of the Standard,
c. offering constructive criticism for improving the Standard, or
d. permission to reprint portions of the Standard.

DISCLAIMER
ASHRAE uses its best efforts to promulgate Standards and Guidelines for the benefit of the public in light of available information and
accepted industry practices. However, ASHRAE does not guarantee, certify, or assure the safety or performance of any products, components,
or systems tested, installed, or operated in accordance with ASHRAE’s Standards or Guidelines or that any tests conducted under its
Standards or Guidelines will be nonhazardous or free from risk.

ASHRAE INDUSTRIAL ADVERTISING POLICY ON STANDARDS

ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines are established to assist industry and the public by offering a uniform method of testing for rating
purposes, by suggesting safe practices in designing and installing equipment, by providing proper definitions of this equipment, and by providing
other information that may serve to guide the industry. The creation of ASHRAE Standards and Guidelines is determined by the need for them,
and conformance to them is completely voluntary.
In referring to this Standard or Guideline and in marking of equipment and in advertising, no claim shall be made, either stated or implied,
that the product has been approved by ASHRAE.
 © American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc. ([Link]). For personal use only.
Additional reproduction, distribution, or transmission in either print or digital form is not permitted without ASHRAE’s prior written permission.
ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Addendum d to ANSI/ASHRAE/ASHE Standard 170-2008

(This foreword is not part of this standard. It is merely informative and does not contain requirements necessary for conformance to the standard. It has not been
processed according to the ANSI requirements for a standard and may contain material that has not been subject to public review or a consensus process. Unresolved
objectors on informative material are not offered the right to appeal at ASHRAE or ANSI.)

FOREWORD
Based upon the findings of recent research, this addendum reduces the lower limit of the design humidity range for eight space types listed in Standard 170-2008. All of these
spaces are designed for short-term patient treatment stays. For these select spaces, this addendum reduces the lower design humidity limit from 30% to 20% RH.
Note: In this addendum, changes to the current standard are indicated in the text by underlining (for additions) and strikethrough (for deletions), except where some other means
of showing changes is specifically described.

Addendum d to Standard 170-2008

Revise the following entries in Table 7-1 of Standard 170-2008 (as modified by Addendum b to 170-2008) as shown.

TABLE 7-1 Design Parameters

Pressure All Room Air
Air Recirculated
Relationship to Minimum Minimum Exhausted RH (k), Design Temperature (l),
Function of Space by Means of
Adjacent Areas Outdoor ach Total ach Directly % °F/°C
Room Units (a)
(n) to Outdoors (j)
SURGERY AND CRITICAL CARE
Class B and C operating rooms, (m), (n), (o) Positive 4 20 N/R No 2030–60 68–75/20–24
Operating/surgical cystoscopic rooms, (m), (n), (o) Positive 4 20 N/R No 2030–60 68–75/20–24
Delivery room (Caesarean) (m), (n), (o) Positive 4 20 N/R No 2030–60 68–75/20–24
Treatment room (p) N/R 2 6 N/R N/R 2030–60 70–75/21–24
Trauma room (crisis or shock) (c) Positive 3 15 N/R No 2030–60 70–75/21–24
Laser eye room Positive 3 15 N/R No 2030–60 70–75/21–24
Class A Operating/Procedure room (o), (d) Positive 3 15 N/R No 2030–60 70–75/21–24
DIAGNOSTIC AND TREATMENT
Gastrointestinal endoscopy procedure room Positive 2 6 N/R No 2030–60 68–73/20–23
1
 POLICY STATEMENT DEFINING ASHRAE’S CONCERN
FOR THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT OF ITS ACTIVITIES
ASHRAE is concerned with the impact of its members’ activities on both the indoor and outdoor environment. ASHRAE’s
members will strive to minimize any possible deleterious effect on the indoor and outdoor environment of the systems and
components in their responsibility while maximizing the beneficial effects these systems provide, consistent with accepted
standards and the practical state of the art.
ASHRAE’s short-range goal is to ensure that the systems and components within its scope do not impact the indoor and
outdoor environment to a greater extent than specified by the standards and guidelines as established by itself and other
responsible bodies.
As an ongoing goal, ASHRAE will, through its Standards Committee and extensive technical committee structure,
continue to generate up-to-date standards and guidelines where appropriate and adopt, recommend, and promote those new
and revised standards developed by other responsible organizations.
Through its Handbook, appropriate chapters will contain up-to-date standards and design considerations as the material is
systematically revised.
ASHRAE will take the lead with respect to dissemination of environmental information of its primary interest and will seek
out and disseminate information from other responsible organizations that is pertinent, as guides to updating standards and
guidelines.
The effects of the design and selection of equipment and systems will be considered within the scope of the system’s
intended use and expected misuse. The disposal of hazardous materials, if any, will also be considered.
ASHRAE’s primary concern for environmental impact will be at the site where equipment within ASHRAE’s scope
operates. However, energy source selection and the possible environmental impact due to the energy source and energy
transportation will be considered where possible. Recommendations concerning energy source selection should be made by
its members.