What is the recommended ventilation rate for a control room?

15 Air Changes per Hour (ACPH) minimum. It should also be maintained at a positive pressure of at least 2.5 mm water gauge relative to adjacent areas (Table 1 and Clause 7.2.1).

What are the specific requirements for battery room ventilation?

A minimum of 12 ACPH. The exhaust system should draw air from the highest point in the room to effectively remove hydrogen gas, which is lighter than air (Clause 7.2.4).

Can natural ventilation be used in process areas?

Natural ventilation is acceptable for open or semi-enclosed structures. For totally enclosed process buildings, especially those handling flammable materials, mechanical ventilation is required (Clause 5 and 6).

What is the minimum face velocity for a laboratory fume hood?

The design should ensure an average face velocity of 0.5 m/s across the hood opening (Clause 7.2.8).

IS 12332

: 1988

Code of practice for ventilation in petrochemical plants and refineries

CurrentSpecializedCode of PracticeBIMMEP · Functional Requirements in Buildings

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This code provides guidelines for designing ventilation systems in petrochemical plants and refineries. It covers both natural and mechanical ventilation methods to ensure safety by diluting, localizing, and removing flammable, toxic, or asphyxiant gases, as well as for temperature control and providing fresh air for personnel.

Code of practice for ventilation in petrochemical plants and refineries

Quick Reference Values

Minimum ventilation rate for Control Rooms15 Air Changes per Hour (ACPH)

Minimum ventilation rate for Battery Rooms12 Air Changes per Hour (ACPH)

Minimum ventilation for enclosed Process Buildings (handling flammable liquids)12 Air Changes per Hour (ACPH)

Average face velocity for Laboratory Fume Hoods0.5 m/s

Positive pressure to be maintained in Control Rooms2.5 mm water gauge

Minimum fresh air requirement per person in occupied buildings25 m³/h

Practical Notes

While this IS code provides a baseline, it is crucial to also consult OISD (Oil Industry Safety Directorate) standards (e.g., OISD-STD-117, OISD-STD-163), which are often more stringent and widely adopted in the Indian oil and gas industry.

The primary goal of ventilation in these facilities is safety (explosion and toxicity prevention) over comfort. Design must prioritize removing contaminants at the source.

Proper classification of hazardous areas (as per IS 5572) is a prerequisite for designing the ventilation and electrical systems.