India Air Quality Index Map — CPCB AQI

Annual average AQI (Air Quality Index) for any Indian city per the CPCB National Ambient Air Quality Standards. Six tiers from Good (0-50) to Severe (> 400, GRAP Stage 4). Drives HVAC filter selection (MERV 8 to HEPA), indoor pressurization, and ASHRAE 62.1 + ECBC ventilation rates.
27
good
57
satisfactory
72
moderate
33
poor
8
very-poor
0
severe
Good · 0–50 — clean air · AQI 0–50
Satisfactory · 51–100 — mild concerns · AQI 51–100
Moderate · 101–200 — sensitive groups affected · AQI 101–200
Poor · 201–300 — significant health impacts · AQI 201–300
Very Poor · 301–400 — health alert · AQI 301–400
Severe · > 400 — emergency · AQI > 400
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Click any spot on the map to drop a pin and get the estimated zone. Map data © OpenStreetMap contributors.

About AQI + HVAC design

Indian cities frequently exceed PM2.5 / PM10 / NO₂ standards, especially the Indo-Gangetic plain in winter. HVAC system design must match outdoor pollution to maintain healthy indoor air. Filter MERV rating, outdoor-air dampers, indoor pressurization (positive pressure +5 to +15 Pa), and activated-carbon stages all scale with AQI.

HVAC filter selection by AQI

  • Good / Satisfactory: MERV 8. Standard ASHRAE 62.1 outdoor-air rate.
  • Moderate: MERV 11-13. Outdoor-air pre-filter. Pressurize +5-10 Pa.
  • Poor: MERV 14-16 + activated carbon. +10-15 Pa pressure. Limit outdoor air during inversions.
  • Very Poor / Severe: HEPA filter at AHU + portable HEPA in occupied zones. Hospital / IVF / clean-room standards apply for health-critical occupancies.

Cross-references

Source IS / IRC / NBC standards

NBC 2016 Part 8Building services — HVAC ventilation requirementsASHRAE 62.1Indoor air quality + ventilation rate (referenced by ECBC)

Related maps

Climate ZonesClimate + AQI together drive HVAC sizingSolar IrradianceAQI affects PV soiling rate (Delhi 10-15% loss)

Calculators & tools

Cost CalculatorMERV 14 filter + activated carbon = ₹50-200/sqft addn

Articles & guides

CE HandbookHVAC + ventilation reference

Frequently asked questions

Why is Delhi AQI so high?

Multi-source: vehicle emissions (12-15 lakh added/year), construction dust, agricultural stubble burning (Punjab/Haryana, Oct-Nov), thermal power, brick kilns. Combined with winter inversions (cold air trapped under warm) that prevent vertical mixing. Result: 5-10× ASHRAE / WHO standards from November to February.

What HVAC filter is needed in Delhi?

Per ASHRAE / ISHRAE for Delhi: MERV 14-16 minimum at AHU + activated carbon for VOC/odour removal. For health-critical buildings (hospitals, schools, IVF clinics) HEPA + UV/UVC + indoor PM monitoring. Maintain +10-15 Pa positive pressure to prevent infiltration. Replace filters 2-3× more frequently than catalogue rating during winter.

Does ECBC require pollution-aware HVAC?

ECBC 2017 doesn't mandate filter MERV directly but requires ASHRAE 62.1 minimum ventilation. Pragmatically, IGBC / GRIHA / LEED rating systems award points for IAQ enhancement (MERV 13+, indoor monitoring, zero-VOC paints, etc.). For any commercial project in 'Poor' or worse zones, MERV 14+ + activated carbon is industry standard.

AQI values are CPCB long-period averages 2018-2024. Daily / seasonal variation can be 5-10×; winter peaks dramatically exceed annual average in NCR + IGP belt. For HVAC design, use 95th-percentile (winter peak) AQI for sizing, and design dampers to throttle outdoor air during peak pollution events.

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