Air Handling

[StudioA]

I'm designing a project studio for myself :D as part of a larger new construction project.

The room will be
9.5' Tall
13.3' Wide
18.05' Long

I'm going to use two walls in a dual leaf configuration. Heat will be radiant, btw I'm located in the Northeast. This leaves the question of air exchange.

Code here says if you have no operable doors or windows to the outdoors (which I don't want), you must have an air exchanger with backup power.

Does anyone have experience with this? Right now I don't want central air, but simply to provide fresh air to the studio (in the winter too).

Thanks,

Andy

[Rod Gervais]

I'm designing a project studio for myself :D as part of a larger new construction project.

The room will be
9.5' Tall
13.3' Wide
18.05' Long

I'm going to use two walls in a dual leaf configuration. Heat will be radiant, btw I'm located in the Northeast. This leaves the question of air exchange.

Code here says if you have no operable doors or windows to the outdoors (which I don't want), you must have an air exchanger with backup power.

Does anyone have experience with this? Right now I don't want central air, but simply to provide fresh air to the studio (in the winter too).

Thanks,

Andy

Andy,

what code is that?

ROD

[Codemonkey]

Could be me... lol.

The only "interior room rules" if you like, that I know of is that you can't have more than 3 doors between a room and the outside, in small residences anyway.

And can I ask, "Operable doors?"
What does that mean, doors that are openable? Imagine an unopenable door. Although I did see a door with a sign on it lately, saying "Entrance only." and underneath, "No entry allowed".

[Thomas W. Bethel]

I would put in one of the new split A/C units. The compressor goes outside and the fan and control unit on the inside. Some of the new units are REALLY QUIET. You can get them with air exchangers built in. I would NOT put in a recording studio south of Alaska without some type of A/C unit especially if you are going to have more than yourself working there. Sitting around "au naturale" may work on hot days for you but if you have clients they may not appreciate your lack of A/C.

[StudioA]

Thanks for the feedback.

My architect informed me of this section of the code last week and will be sending me a the section to reference. I'm not sure if it's local Ithaca, NY code or something else, but will fond out soon an post.

I'm coming around to a split AC system. It's something I hoped I wouldn't need, but that's just not reality.

[Rod Gervais]

Thanks for the feedback.

My architect informed me of this section of the code last week and will be sending me a the section to reference. I'm not sure if it's local Ithaca, NY code or something else, but will fond out soon an post.

I'm coming around to a split AC system. It's something I hoped I wouldn't need, but that's just not reality.

Oh - I have no doubt in my mind that it's a code requirement to provided a mechanical source of fresh air under the conditions you describe......

But the back up power threw me........

I haven't seen any of the major codes yet that require that........... so perhaps it is just some local jurisdictional idiots flexing their code mucsles.

true 2nd sources of power are very expensive - and are only required on large projects..........

a simple fix without making someone spend that kind of money would be to require you to install a relay switch........ a switch mounted in the duct that is air pressure sensitive - when the fan comes on it pushes the switch into making contact and this then allows power to flow to your lights........

So- no fan - no lights - you'd fix the problem real quick then........

Back up power for a home studio - these people are idiots..........

Sincerely,

Eod