India Air Quality Index Map — CPCB AQI
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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.
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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.