1.1 This guide describes the relationship of indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentrations to indoor air quality (IAQ) and building ventilation.

1.2 This guide contains background information on the health, comfort, and performance impacts of indoor CO₂ exposure, as well as indoor CO₂ limits contained in various standards and regulations.

1.3 This guide describes the estimation of CO₂ generation rates from people as a function of sex, age, body mass, and level of physical activity.

1.4 This guide describes the relationship of CO₂ to IAQ, including how CO₂ relates to the perception of human body odor, limitations on the application of CO₂ as a metric of IAQ, and the relationship of CO₂ to the risk of infectious aerosol exposure.

1.5 This guide describes how CO₂ concentration measurements can be used to evaluate building ventilation including mass balance analysis to determine the percent outdoor air intake at an air handler, tracer gas decay measurements to estimate whole building air change rates, and use of the constant injection tracer gas technique at equilibrium to estimate whole building air change rates.

1.6 This guide discusses concentration measurement issues, such as calibration and sensor location, and continuous indoor concentration monitoring but does not include specific test methods for either application.

1.7 This guide discusses the use of indoor CO₂ concentrations for demand control ventilation (DCV) but does not contain detailed application guidance.

1.8 Units—The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.9 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.10 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.