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IS 3137:2018 is the Indian Standard (BIS) for industrial ventilation - code of practice. This code establishes the standard practices for designing, installing, and evaluating industrial ventilation systems. It covers natural ventilation, general mechanical (dilution) ventilation, and local exhaust ventilation to ensure safe occupational health standards, control airborne contaminants, and maintain worker thermal comfort.
Provides guidelines for the design, installation, operation, and maintenance of industrial ventilation systems.
BIM-relevant code. See the BIM Hub for ISO 19650, IFC, and LOD/LOIN frameworks used alongside it.
Practical Notes
! Always design local exhaust hoods to capture contaminants as close to the source as physically possible to minimize required airflow.
! Ensure sufficient tempered make-up air is provided to replace exhausted air; otherwise, negative pressure will reduce exhaust efficiency and cause draft issues.
! Avoid sharp bends in ductwork carrying particulates to maintain transport velocity and prevent material settling and fire hazards.
Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice for Design, 31st EditionACGIH (American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists), USA
HighCurrent
Industrial Ventilation: A Manual of Recommended Practice for Design
Provides comprehensive design principles, data, and hood designs for industrial local exhaust and general ventilation systems.
HSG258HSE (Health and Safety Executive), UK
HighCurrent
Controlling airborne contaminants at work: A guide to local exhaust ventilation (LEV)
Offers practical guidance on the design, installation, commissioning, and testing of Local Exhaust Ventilation systems.
ASHRAE 62.1-2022ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers), USA
MediumCurrent
Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality
Covers general ventilation rates and air quality, but is less focused on controlling specific industrial process contaminants at the source.
NFPA 91-2021NFPA (National Fire Protection Association), USA
MediumCurrent
Standard for Exhaust Systems for Air Conveying of Vapors, Gases, Mists, and Noncombustible Particulate Solids
Overlaps on exhaust duct design and safety, with a primary focus on fire and explosion hazards associated with conveyed materials.
Key Differences
≠IS 3137 is a code of practice providing recommendations, whereas some international guidance like the UK's HSE HSG258 is linked to statutory duties requiring LEV systems to be examined and tested at specific intervals (e.g., every 14 months).
≠The Indian standard provides specific considerations for hot and humid climatic conditions prevalent in India, which may be less emphasized in standards from temperate climates like the UK's HSG258.
≠While principles are similar, the referenced permissible exposure limits for contaminants in IS 3137 are tied to Indian regulations (The Factories Act), which may differ from the Threshold Limit Values (TLVs) published by ACGIH.
≠Modern international standards like ASHRAE 62.1 are increasingly performance-based, defining required outcomes. IS 3137, while comprehensive, tends to be more prescriptive, providing specific recommended values like air changes per hour (ACH).
Key Similarities
≈All standards universally advocate for a 'hierarchy of controls', prioritizing elimination and substitution before resorting to engineering controls like ventilation.
≈Both IS 3137 and its international counterparts make a fundamental distinction between General (Dilution) Ventilation and Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV), recommending LEV as the preferred method for controlling hazardous contaminants at the source.
≈Core aerodynamic principles are shared, including the use of concepts like capture velocity, transport velocity in ducts, and face velocity for hoods and booths.
≈All standards recognize the critical need for providing sufficient and properly conditioned make-up air to replace exhausted air, ensuring system performance and preventing negative pressure issues.
≈There is a common emphasis on the importance of regular inspection, testing, and maintenance to ensure the continued effectiveness of the ventilation system throughout its life.
Parameter Comparison
Parameter
IS Value
International
Source
Transport Velocity (Fine Dry Dusts)
15 - 20 m/s
18 - 23 m/s (3500 - 4500 fpm)
ACGIH Industrial Ventilation Manual
Transport Velocity (Vapors, Gases)
10 - 12 m/s
10 - 15 m/s (2000 - 3000 fpm)
ACGIH Industrial Ventilation Manual
Capture Velocity (Manual Grinding)
2.5 - 5.0 m/s at point of dust generation
2.5 - 5.1 m/s (500 - 1000 fpm)
ACGIH Industrial Ventilation Manual
Face Velocity (Paint Spray Booth)
0.5 - 1.0 m/s (can be higher for specific applications)
Typically ≥ 0.5 m/s (100 fpm)
NFPA 33
Statutory LEV System Testing Frequency
Recommends 'periodic examination', typically interpreted as annually.
At least every 14 months (for most systems)
HSE HSG258 (UK)
Air Changes per Hour (ACH) for Foundries
20 - 30 ACH (for general ventilation)
Discouraged as a primary design metric for health risk control; LEV is preferred.
ACGIH Industrial Ventilation Manual
⚠ Verify details from original standards before use
Key Values5
Quick Reference Values
Capture velocity for welding fumes0.5 to 1.0 m/s
Minimum duct velocity for fine dry dust10 to 15 m/s
Minimum duct velocity for heavy or moist dust20 to 25 m/s
When should local exhaust ventilation (LEV) be used instead of dilution ventilation?+
LEV should be used for highly toxic, localized, or heavy particulate emissions to capture contaminants before they enter the worker's breathing zone.
How do I determine the required capture velocity?+
It depends on the contaminant's dispersion state and velocity. Refer to Table 2; typical values range from 0.25 m/s for low-velocity evaporation to >10 m/s for grinding.
Can natural ventilation be relied upon for hazardous fumes?+
No, natural ventilation is generally restricted to managing sensible heat loads and non-hazardous general air replacement. Hazardous fumes require mechanical LEV.