SUMMARY OF ASHRAES POSITION ON CARBON DIOXIDE

(CO2) LEVELS IN SPACES

Stephen Petty, P.E., C.I.H.

Purpose of the Summary Statement:

It is widely reported by the technical community involved in indoor air evaluations that
the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers
(ASHRAE) has a standard of 1,000 ppm CO2 for indoor spaces. The Standard often
cited is ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1989 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality (which
has since been replaced by ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1999). However, this interpretation is
incorrect.
The purposes of this Summary Statement on Carbon Dioxide Levels is to provide
background and information on the basis of the 1,000 ppm CO2 guideline value and
how it was intended to be used regarding indoor air quality. As will be discussed below,
this 1,000 ppm CO2 value is not contained in the latest ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1999
standard.
Background:
One of the best papers addressing this issue was prepared by Mike Schell and Dan IntHout entitled Demand Control Ventilation Using CO2 published in the February, 2001,
ASHRAE Journal (copy attached as Attachment A). This article points out that CO2
has long been used as a basis for ventilation (providing fresh outdoor air to indoor
spaces) design and control. CO2 is a natural product of human respiration whose rate
can be predicted based on an occupants age and activity level. Beginning as early as
1916 (Mechanical Engineers Handbook by McGraw-Hill) and found in the New York
City Building Code of 1929, CO2 of 800 to 1,000 ppm and 1,000 ppm respectively were
recommended. However, the key point is that CO2 levels are good predictors or
surrogates for human emitted bioeffluents (i.e., odors) that are considered undesirable
for the overall human comfort inside conditioned spaces. Thus CO2 is a surrogate for
levels of other bioeffluents that cause odors that are likely to be viewed as unacceptable
by others in the space, not because of their presence as a direct health hazard.
It is helpful to review the basis for the 1,000 ppm CO2 as well as the language in the
ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1989 standard and Interpretation Documents from ASHRAE on this
matter.

EES

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

The 1,000 ppm guideline value for CO2 used in the 1989 standard was based on an
assumed ventilation air (outdoor air) rate of 15 CFM/person and an outdoor baseline
CO2 concentration of 300 ppm. (Note that the 1999 standard set a differential CO2 level
of 700 ppm along with minimum ventilation rates for given spaces rather than an
absolute value like 1,000 ppm. This change to the standard occurred because
background CO2 levels are closer to 400 ppm than 300 ppm resulting in an indoor level
of 1,100 ppm CO2 using the same 15 CFM/person as was used in the 1989 standard.
Thus the current standard would have a baseline above 1,000 ppm CO2. Moreover, as
will be discussed, this absolute value led to confusion in the design, and health and
safety communities.)
Specific language contained in the 1989 standard are reproduced below:
Section 6.1.3:

Human occupants produce carbon dioxide, water vapor, particulates,

biological aerosols, and other contaminants.
Carbon dioxide
concentration has been widely used as an indicator of indoor air
quality. Comfort (odor) criteria are likely to be satisfied if the ventilation
rate is set so that 1000 ppm CO2 is not exceeded. In the event CO2 is
controlled by any method other than dilution, the effects of possible
elevation of other contaminants must be considered.

Section 6.2.1:

Repeats the Section 6.1.3 language of the standard.

Table 3:

Guidelines for Selected Air Contaminants of Indoor Origin

Contaminant

Concentration

Carbon Dioxide
a

1.8 g/m3

ppm

Exposure Time

Comments

1000a

Continuous

See App. D

This level is not considered a health risk but is a surrogate for human comfort (odor).
See Section 6.1.3 and Appendix D.

This last statement clearly defines the role of CO2 in the standard.
ASHRAE also produced a document entitled Interpretations for ASHRAE Standard 621989 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality that provided specific interpretations
of this standard. Two questions, and their responses, (see Attachment B) are directly
relevant to this current topic and confirm the last statement just discussed.
Q:

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June 26, 1995 The carbon dioxide level of 1000 ppm noted in 6.1.3 and 6.2
including Table 3 appears to be provided as a recommended guideline rather
than a mandatory requirement. Can the carbon dioxide level in a space ever
exceed the referenced value of 1000 ppm, and still remain in compliance with the
standard?

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

A:

Yes. The CO2 level of 1000 is a guideline for comfort acceptability, not a ceiling
value for air quality.

A similar series of questions on the topic were responded to on January 29, 1995:
Ms. Paolini, Manager of Health and Safety notes that.It is unclear what is meant by
the clause, ventilation rate is set so the 1000 ppm CO2 is not exceeded.
Q1:

Is the 1000 ppm CO2 a ceiling value or a time weighted average value?

A1:

The reference to 1000 ppm CO2 in Section 6.1.3 is only as a point of information.
This is not a requirement of ASHRAE 62-1989. Since it is not a requirement it is
neither a ceiling nor a time weighted average value. Rather, it can be considered
a target concentration level. Since comfort (odor) criteria are likely to be satisfied
when the CO2 does not exceed 1000 ppm the converse is also likely to be true,
i.e., when the CO2 level exceeds 1000 ppm, the comfort (odor) criteria may not
be satisfied.

Q2:

If it is a time weighted average value, how are the CO2 test results to be
calculated and weighted?

A2:

Moot because of Answer 1.

Q3:

Would CO2 levels measured only during room occupancy be used or CO2 levels
measured throughout the time period of ventilation system operation?

A3:

CO2 levels should be measured during the time of occupancy. This is defined for
the classroom as the time between initial occupancy in the morning and
dismissal time for the students.

Again, these questions and answers suggest that the CO2 level of 1,000 ppm is a
guideline (surrogate for odors), not a standard.
One should note that the 1999 Standard has removed all mention of the 1,000 ppm
value from the Standard.

EES

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

Summary and Conclusions:

The current ASHRAE Standard Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
(ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1999) does not reference the term 1,000 ppm CO2.

The former ASHRAE Standard Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
(ANSI/ASHRAE 62-1989) references the term 1,000 ppm CO2 as a surrogate for
where human bioeffluents (odors) may be at levels not acceptable for human
comfort. Further, this value of 1,000 is a guideline value only and not considered
a regulated standard.

Interpretation document questions and answers confirm this concept of the CO2
concentration of 1,000 ppm as a guideline level to be used as a surrogate for
odor causing compounds from human activity that may not be acceptable for
human comfort.

If you have any questions or comments regarding this document, please contact the
author at:
Energy & Environmental Solutions, Inc.
84 N. High Street, Suite 2B
Dublin, OH 43017
www.eesinc.cc

EES

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

ATTACHMENT A
Demand Control Ventilation Using CO2

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A-1

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.

ATTACHMENT B
Portions of ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 Interpretation
Document

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B-1

ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SOLUTIONS, INC.