I AM
Donald Milan Bravo Preface
This statement is written as a general PREFACE to good usable people-friendly deigns and construction. Building codes exist in part to set a minimum standard for the design and construction of buildings with people's welfare and safety in mind at large. Added to that they are enforceable and describe the appropriate design intent for designs and contract documents for construction projects. People spend upwards of eighty to ninety plus percent of their time indoors. Building Codes are a means of ensuring spaces are habitable, safe and usable for the intended occupants.
Most public buildings should be built in accordance with the codes in effect at the time of construction along with any locally accepted amendments and as accepted by and as set by local municipality's Plans Review Office or Building Department that issues permits and/or or any other Authorities Having Jurisdiction.
Generally speaking currently in the year 2021 the International Code Councils Codes are fairly widely accepted. This should be verified with those Authorities Having Jurisdiction for any given project and location. Code Study and research is usually a preliminary step in the actual design process. NFPA and the National Electric Code NEC are usually referenced in the ICC codes along with ASHRAE and many others. Most designs come about over time from initial concept and schematic designs through phases of design to completed FINAL plans for construction and final inspections. There is a life cycle to buildings and designs both, unique on a case by case basis in my experience.
ICC Codes can be found in the following:
ICC - International Code Council - ICC (iccsafe.org)
Some of the best designs are done with certain design criteria in mind.
Most Buildings in the USA are built in one of what used to be five and appears to now be 8 Climate zones as determined by location and the Climate Zones are defined by the US Department of Energy and NOAA in this country.
Link to Climate Zones defined by the Dept. of Energy.
Climate Zones | Department of Energy
ASHRAE provides guidance on HVAC design
SMACNA as well --> link Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors' National Association - SMACNA
Typically for HVAC EQUIPMENT AHRI AND UL ARE HELPFUL RESOURCES
Link to AHRI is as follows Go to link: https://www.ahridirectory.org/
UL Testing | UL
Eventually my goal is to discuss good to best practices in building systems design. I'm a present and past member of ASHRAE the
American Society of Heating Refrigeration Heating and Air Conditioning Engineers link to their website is as follows:
Home | ashrae.org.
Presently the world is adapting and adjusting to the new reality of a post modern COVID-19 threat and many people have been adversely affected. ASHRAE has a resource page and building readiness guidance made publicly available as follows:
COVID-19: Resources Available to Address Concerns (ashrae.org)
ASHRAE COVID-19 Dashboard: ashrae-covid19-infographic-.pdf
RE: COVID-19 ASHRAE's position document regarding infectious aerosols ASHRAE Position Document on Infectious Aerosols
USGBC has their own as follows: COVID-19 resources | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
