Space Types

Space types define the typical characteristics of spaces in your building. When you assign a space type to a space, HVAKR automatically applies the appropriate loads and ventilation requirements.

Space Type Properties

The Space Types page groups each type’s properties into sections. This page covers the Interior Loads, Ventilation Requirements, Exhaust Requirements, and Usage Schedule sections.

Interior Loads

People Density

The number of people per unit area (people per 1000 ft² or per 10 m²). This affects:

• Internal heat gains from people
• Ventilation requirements (ASHRAE 62.1 people component)

People Sensible Load and People Latent Load

The sensible (dry) and latent (moist) heat each occupant generates, in BTU/h or W per person. These vary by activity — from a seated, quiet occupant up through office work and heavier activity. Use the People Loads library next to either field to fill them from ASHRAE values by activity type.

Lighting Load

The heat generated by lighting per unit area (W/ft² or W/m²). Values depend on energy code and fixture type:

• LED office lighting - 0.7-1.0 W/ft²
• Fluorescent - 1.0-1.5 W/ft²
• High-bay warehouse - 0.5-1.0 W/ft²

Lighting Load to Ceiling Space

The percentage of lighting heat that goes to the return-air ceiling plenum instead of the occupied space.

Equipment Load

The heat generated by equipment per unit area (W/ft² or W/m²). Typical values:

• Office - 1-2 W/ft²
• Conference room - 0.5-1 W/ft²
• Computer room - 10-50 W/ft²
• Kitchen - 5-20 W/ft²

Ventilation Requirements

People Outdoor Air

The minimum outdoor air required per person (CFM/person or L/s/person). From ASHRAE 62.1 Table 6.2.2.1.

Area Outdoor Air

The minimum outdoor air required per unit floor area (CFM/ft² or L/s/m²). From ASHRAE 62.1 Table 6.2.2.1.

Ez

Zone Air Distribution Effectiveness — how effectively outdoor air reaches the breathing zone. Defaults to 0.8, up to a maximum of 1.5. Use ASHRAE 62.1 Table 6.2.2.2 to find the right value for your system’s supply and return configuration.

Exhaust Requirements

For spaces requiring exhaust (restrooms, kitchens, laboratories), set any combination of:

• Exhaust Air Changes — exhaust air changes per hour (ACH)
• Area Exhaust — exhaust rate per unit floor area (CFM/ft² or L/s/m²)
• Fixture Exhaust — exhaust rate per fixture (CFM/unit or L/s/unit), for example per toilet in a restroom

HVAKR uses the largest of the three results as the space’s required exhaust airflow. When a space type sets Fixture Exhaust, each space of that type gets an Exhaust Units field (defaults to 1) on the Spaces panel to enter its actual fixture count.

HVAKR Space Type Templates

Click Import and open the HVAKR Templates tab to add space types with pre-configured values. The drawer shows each template under its name, and each template holds one category of space types:

• Std 62.1-2022 Space Types — one template per ASHRAE 62.1 category: Animal Facilities; Correctional Facilities; Educational Facilities; Food and Beverage Service; General; Hotels, Motels, Resorts, Dormitories; Miscellaneous Spaces; Office Buildings; Other Exhausted Spaces; Public Assembly Spaces; Residential; Retail; and Sports and Entertainment
• Std 170-2021 Space Types — healthcare space types from ASHRAE 170, grouped by facility area. Examples are inpatient nursing units and other patient care areas, inpatient diagnostic and treatment, specialized outpatient surgery and emergency department, and residential health nursing homes

For example, the Std 62.1-2022 templates contain:

• Office Buildings - Office space, Reception areas, Telephone/data entry, Main entry lobbies, Breakrooms, and Occupiable storage rooms for dry materials
• General - Conference/meeting, Corridors, Break rooms, Coffee stations, and Occupiable storage rooms for liquids or gels
• Educational Facilities - Classrooms by age group, Lecture classroom and hall, Libraries, Computer lab, Science laboratories, and more
• Retail - Sales (except as below), Mall common areas, Supermarket, Barbershop, Beauty and nail salons, Pet shops (animal areas), and Coin-operated laundries
• Food and Beverage Service - Restaurant dining rooms, Cafeteria/fast-food dining, Bars, cocktail lounges, and Kitchen (cooking)
• Public Assembly Spaces - Auditorium seating area, Places of religious worship, Courtrooms, Libraries, Lobbies, and Museums
• Sports and Entertainment - Gym, sports arena (play area), Stages, studios, Spectator areas, Swimming (pool and deck), and more

Use the My Templates and My Active Projects tabs on the same drawer to import space types from your own templates and projects.

Creating Custom Space Types

1. Go to Basis of Design > Space Types
2. Click Create Space Type to add a new type, or Import to start from an HVAKR template, one of your templates, or an active project
3. Fill in the type’s properties in the tables below — your changes save automatically

Tips for Custom Types

• Use ASHRAE 62.1 values for ventilation unless local codes require more
• Base equipment loads on actual equipment counts when available
• Consider diversity factors for large spaces

Usage Schedule

Each space type has one Schedule — a 24-hour hourly usage profile (multipliers from 0.0 to 1.0) that scales the space type’s occupancy, lighting, and equipment loads across the day. A single profile drives all three; there are no separate occupancy, lighting, or equipment schedules.

Impact on Calculations

The schedule affects:

• Peak load calculations (using the peak hourly value)
• Hourly load profiles
• Load diversity between space types with different usage patterns