HVAC by building type

• Cannabis and greenhouse growing facility HVAC

  Learn why moisture from plant transpiration dominates grow facility HVAC, how indoor rooms and greenhouses are conditioned, and what Canadian regulations mean for odour and air handling.

• Commercial kitchen ventilation and NFPA 96

  Learn how kitchen exhaust hoods, grease ducts, fans, fire suppression and make-up air work together, what NFPA 96 requires, and how to keep a kitchen system safe and balanced.

• Fitness centre HVAC

  Learn why fitness centres need more ventilation and cooling than typical commercial space, how to design for workout areas, studios and locker rooms, and how to keep energy use under control.

• Hospital HVAC and CSA Z317.2

  Learn what CSA Z317.2 covers, how it shapes hospital HVAC design and operation, how it relates to ASHRAE 170, and what owners should plan for in new and renovated facilities.

• Hotel and multi-unit residential HVAC

  Learn the common HVAC approaches for hotels and multi-unit residential buildings, how corridor and suite ventilation work, and the issues that cause most complaints from guests and residents.

• Ice arena HVAC and dehumidification

  Learn why humidity control is the central HVAC problem in ice arenas, how dehumidification and low-emissivity ceilings prevent fog and dripping, and how to manage air quality and energy use.

• Indoor pool HVAC and dehumidification

  Learn how indoor pool natatoriums are dehumidified and ventilated, what temperatures and humidity to design for, and how to protect the building envelope and occupants from moisture and chloramines.

• Industrial process ventilation

  Learn how local exhaust and dilution ventilation protect workers in industrial facilities, how hoods and ducts are sized, and which Canadian regulations and standards apply.

• Isolation rooms: negative and positive pressure

  Learn the difference between airborne infection isolation and protective environment rooms, the key HVAC parameters for each, and how to verify they are working.

• Laboratory HVAC and fume hood exhaust

  Learn how lab HVAC systems protect occupants, the types of fume hoods and how they are exhausted, the standards that apply in Canada, and the key design and testing checks.

• Long-term care home HVAC

  Learn how HVAC systems in long-term care homes protect frail residents, which Canadian standards apply, and how to plan for cooling, infection control and power outages.

• Museum and archive environmental control

  Learn how museums and archives control temperature, humidity and air quality to protect collections, how ASHRAE control classes work, and how to balance preservation with a Canadian building envelope.

• Office building HVAC

  Learn how office HVAC systems are designed and operated, how to choose between system types, and what owners should watch for during fit-outs and over the building's life.

• Operating room HVAC design

  Learn how operating room HVAC systems protect the surgical field, the design parameters set by CSA Z317.2 and ASHRAE 170, and what to verify at commissioning.

• Places of worship and assembly spaces

  Learn how to heat, cool and ventilate places of worship and other assembly spaces that sit empty most of the week and fill to capacity for a few hours, often in tall or historic buildings.

• Retail and shopping centre HVAC

  Learn how HVAC is designed for standalone stores, strip plazas and enclosed malls, including the landlord and tenant split, entrance control, food service exhaust and common energy pitfalls.

• School HVAC design

  Learn what drives HVAC design in K-12 schools, from classroom ventilation and noise limits to system selection, controls and the realities of tight school budgets.

• Warehouse and distribution centre heating and ventilation

  Learn the practical options for heating and ventilating large warehouses and distribution centres in a cold climate, and how to handle dock doors, forklift emissions and sprinkler freeze protection.

All guide topics