Adopt ASHRAE Standard 241
Petitioners ask the Government to adopt ASHRAE 241 into the National Building Code and fund a national retrofit program for healthcare, schools and public spaces to improve ventilation/filtration and promote masks. The government responds that a task group is reviewing indoor-air code changes including ASHRAE 241 for 2030 codes and NRCan backs retrofit programs.
Why we would sign this petition
- Sets minimum indoor-air protections in new and renovated buildings, reducing airborne disease risk in high‑priority settings like hospitals and schools.
- Combining retrofits with heat‑pump and efficiency programs aligns with net‑zero goals and can create local jobs in construction and engineering.
- Public campaigns and normalizing effective masks can increase uptake during high‑risk periods and protect vulnerable populations.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- A national retrofit program would be costly and logistically complex, potentially straining federal and provincial budgets and delivery capacity.
- Adopting a technical standard into the national code may require significant adaptation and time to ensure feasibility across diverse building types.
- Building codes and retrofits involve provincial/territorial jurisdiction and existing programs; coordination or alternative approaches might be more practical.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the Government of Canada Whereas: The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed critical deficiencies in indoor air quality (IAQ) in Canadian buildings, contributing to the spread of infectious aerosols, with healthcare facilities, schools, and public spaces being high-risk environments; ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols (2023), provides evidence-based guidelines for reducing airborne disease transmission through enhanced ventilation, filtration (e.g., HEPA filters), and air-cleaning technologies, as endorsed by the Ontario Society of Professional Engineers (OSPE) for adoption into the Canadian National Building Code (NBC); Canada's healthcare system, consuming 12% of GDP, faces strain from physician shortages (1 in 5 physicians ceased practice due to COVID-19-related issues, per the British Medical Association) and long-term cognitive decline from repeated COVID-19 infections, particularly impacting children; The 17-year lag in translational medicine necessitates engineering solutions like ASHRAE Standard 241 to immediately improve IAQ and reduce infection risks; Retrofitting buildings to meet Standard 241 can be integrated with energy-efficient heat pump programs, aligning with Canada's net-zero emissions goals by 2050 and creating jobs across provinces; Normalizing clean air and well-designed, comfortable masks as a cultural norm will enhance public health resilience and equity, protecting vulnerable populations. We, the undersigned, residents of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to: Integrate ASHRAE Standard 241 into the Canadian National Building Code to ensure all new and renovated buildings meet minimum requirements for controlling infectious aerosols; Launch a national retrofit program, prioritizing healthcare facilities, schools, and public gathering places, to implement Standard 241-compliant ventilation and filtration systems, integrated with energy-efficient heat pump installations; Fund public campaigns to normalize clean indoor air and promote stylish, effective masks as a fashionable accessory to enhance compliance during high-risk periods; Collaborate with provinces, territories, and professional organizations like OSPE to implement these measures swiftly, creating jobs and reducing healthcare costs.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Industry and Minister responsible for Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions Signed by The Honourable Mélanie Joly Published in July 2023, ASHRAE Standard 241, Control of Infectious Aerosols is an international standard developed by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). The standard establishes minimum requirements aimed at reducing the risk of disease transmission through exposure to infectious aerosols in new buildings, existing buildings, and major renovations. For the current 2030 National Model Codes development cycle, the Canadian Board for Harmonized Construction Codes has established a Task Group on Indoor Air Quality in Buildings under the National Model Codes Committee on Indoor Environment to: review and assess ventilation system requirements in new and existing buildings, including care and treatment occupancies, to control and reduce the potential transmission of aerosol pathogens, and recommend code changes, where appropriate; and review requirements applicable to indoor air quality in new and existing buildings in response to increased airtightness and recommend code changes, where appropriate. The Task Group is currently reviewing code change requests related to indoor air quality and is considering requirements for the 2030 edition of the Codes, including references to standards such as CSA Z317.2 - Special requirements for heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in health care facilities and ASHRAE 241. Response by the Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Signed by The Honourable Tim Hodgson, P.C., M.P. With regards to the launch of a national retrofit program, prioritizing healthcare facilities, schools, and public gathering places, to implement standard 241-compliant ventilation and filtration systems, integrated with energy-efficient heat pump installations: Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is presently supporting several national retrofit programs that are helping incentivise heat pump adoption and upgrades in residential and commercial and institutional buildings, including municipal buildings, universities, schools, and hospitals. These measures create opportunities for home and building owners to improve energy efficiency and make informed decisions that support healthier indoor environments, better occupant comfort and well-being. NRCan’s Deep Retrofit Accelerator Initiative (DRAI) is a national program that invests the development of retrofits in commercial, institutional and mid- or high-rise multi-unit residential buildings across Canada. DRAI is investing $185.5 million between 2023 and 2027 into 13 “retrofit accelerator” organizations to support building owners and other market actors in the development of deep retrofit projects and solutions across Canada, including where appropriate the installation of heat pumps. Additionally, DRAI is funding 9 capacity building projects that reduce barriers to deep retrofits and support deep retrofit market transformation.