ASHRAE, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, is a professional society that develops standards and guidance for heating, ventilation, air conditioning, refrigeration and building energy performance.
Founded in 1894, ASHRAE publishes standards that are widely referenced by building and energy codes. For parking, its influence shows up mainly in two places: how enclosed garages are ventilated and how much energy garage lighting and fans may use.
Standards that touch parking
- Standard 90.1 (energy) sets lighting power limits and requires lighting controls in parking garages, including automatic reduction when areas are unoccupied, and controls for garage ventilation fans. See lighting power density.
- Standard 62.1 (ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality) addresses enclosed parking garages.
- Handbook guidance on garage ventilation design, including contaminant-based control. See demand-controlled ventilation.
Why it matters for owners
- Energy codes adopt ASHRAE requirements by reference, so they shape what gets permitted.
- Demand-controlled ventilation using carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide sensors can sharply cut fan energy in enclosed garages. See carbon monoxide.
The Parkonomics view
Most garage owners never read an ASHRAE standard, but their electric bill reflects one. Lighting controls and sensor-driven fans are among the cheapest energy savings in a parking facility.
Related terms: Demand-Controlled Ventilation, Mechanical Ventilation System, Lighting Power Density, Cubic Feet per Minute, International Mechanical Code, Adaptive Lighting, HVAC