It has been more than 10 years since ASHRAE introduced Standard 62.2, “Ventilation and Acceptable Indoor Air Quality in Low-Rise Residential Buildings,” which was developed in response to concerns about increasing levels of indoor contaminants and mold growth in residential buildings. The standard, which may be applied to new or existing homes, defines the minimum requirements for mechanical and natural ventilation systems and the building envelope so as to provide acceptable IAQ in low-rise residential buildings.
As a continuous maintenance standard, a new version is published every three years, with the latest version being released in March 2013. Some in the HVAC industry may be surprised to see that this version contains some significant changes, including a major difference in the way outside air is calculated. While contractors may not yet feel the effects of these changes, they will in the future, which is why they should familiarize themselves with the new version of Standard 62.2.