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Carbon Dioxide Concentration - Comfort Levels

CO₂ acceptance and comfort level.

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Indoor comfort and air quality includes parameters like

temperature
odor
high or low levels of gases

Since CO₂ is exhaled by people at predictable levels the content of Carbon Dioxide in the indoor air can be used as a significant indication of air quality.

Fresh supply air correlates to the indoor level of CO₂ as:

15 cfm ventilation rate per occupant - aprox. 1000 ppm CO₂
20 cfm ventilation rate per occupant - aprox. 800 ppm CO₂

ppm - parts per million

Normal CO₂ Levels

The effects of CO₂ on adults at good health can be summarized to:

normal outdoor level: 350 - 450 ppm
acceptable levels: < 600 ppm
complaints of stuffiness and odors: 600 - 1000 ppm
ASHRAE and OSHA standards: 1000 ppm
general drowsiness: 1000 - 2500 ppm
adverse health effects may be expected: 2500 - 5000 ppm
maximum allowed concentration within a 8 hour working period: 5000 - 10000 ppm
maximum allowed concentration within a 15 minute working period: 30000 ppm

The levels above are quite normal and maximum levels may occasionally happen from time to time. In general - ventilation rates should keep carbon dioxide concentrations below 1000 ppm to create indoor air quality conditions acceptable to most individuals.

Extreme and Dangerous CO₂ Levels

slightly intoxicating, breathing and pulse rate increase, nausea: 30000 - 40000 ppm
above plus headaches and sight impairment: 50000 ppm
unconscious, further exposure death: 100000 ppm

Carbon Dioxide Standard Levels

The recommendations in ASHRAE standard 62-1989 are

classrooms and conference rooms 15 cfm per occupant (person)
office space and restaurants 20 cfm per occupant
hospitals 25 cfm per occupant
1 cfm (ft³/min) = 1.7 m³/h = 0.47 l/s

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Related Topics

Physiology - Human physiology, air quality and comfort temperatures, activity and metabolic rates, health effects of carbon monoxide and more.

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Carbon Dioxide - Specific Heat of Gas vs. Temperature - Specific heat of Carbon Dioxide gas - CO₂ - temperatures ranging 175 - 6000 K.
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Concentration of Carbon Dioxide in the Atmosphere - The atmospheric Carbon Dioxide concentration year 1959 - 2015.
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Heat Index - Equivalent heat index vs. air temperature and relative humidity - in degrees Fahrenheit and Celsius.
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Odor from Persons - Required Ventilation - Required air ventilation to handle odor and smell from persons.
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