Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
Environmental Engineering · FE Reference Handbook section
Core formulas for this FE topic
Definitions, applicability, units, assumptions and worked examples for each relation.
Worked exam-style examples
The four ways this section is written on the real exam — thoughts first, then equations, then substitution.
approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed to ventilate an office Given room volume (V) = 595.0 m^3; air changes per hour (N) = 17.5000 1/hr, determine the outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) in m^3/min.
Given
Find
outdoor air volume flow rate (Q), in m^3/min
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q:
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 173.5\ \text{m^3/min}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 173.5 m^3/min to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 347.1 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 86.7708 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 190.9 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
outdoor air volume flow rate calculation for indoor air quality design Given air changes per hour (N) = 12.0000 1/hr; outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 256.0 m^3/min, determine the room volume (V) in m^3.
Given
Find
room volume (V), in m^3
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except V is given, so isolate V symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for V:
Step 3 — List the givens: air changes per hour (N) = 12.0000 1/hr, outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 256.0 m^3/min.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
V = 1280\ \text{m^3}Step 6 — Check: returning V = 1,280 m^3 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 2,560 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 640.0 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 1,408 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
ventilation outdoor air volume flow rate for a classroom Given room volume (V) = 663.0 m^3; outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 262.8 m^3/min, determine the air changes per hour (N) in 1/hr.
Given
Find
air changes per hour (N), in 1/hr
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except N is given, so isolate N symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for N:
Step 3 — List the givens: room volume (V) = 663.0 m^3, outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 262.8 m^3/min.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning N = 23.7828 1/hr to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 47.5656 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 11.8914 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 26.1611 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed to ventilate an office Given room volume (V) = 1,579 m^3; air changes per hour (N) = 9.5000 1/hr, determine the outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) in m^3/min.
Given
Find
outdoor air volume flow rate (Q), in m^3/min
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q:
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 250.0\ \text{m^3/min}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 250.0 m^3/min to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 500.0 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 125.0 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 275.0 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
outdoor air volume flow rate calculation for indoor air quality design Given air changes per hour (N) = 14.5000 1/hr; outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 88.6000 m^3/min, determine the room volume (V) in m^3.
Given
Find
room volume (V), in m^3
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except V is given, so isolate V symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for V:
Step 3 — List the givens: air changes per hour (N) = 14.5000 1/hr, outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 88.6000 m^3/min.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
V = 366.6\ \text{m^3}Step 6 — Check: returning V = 366.6 m^3 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 733.2 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 183.3 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 403.3 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
ventilation outdoor air volume flow rate for a classroom Given room volume (V) = 577.0 m^3; outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 216.3 m^3/min, determine the air changes per hour (N) in 1/hr.
Given
Find
air changes per hour (N), in 1/hr
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except N is given, so isolate N symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for N:
Step 3 — List the givens: room volume (V) = 577.0 m^3, outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 216.3 m^3/min.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning N = 22.4922 1/hr to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 44.9844 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 11.2461 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 24.7414 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed to ventilate an office Given room volume (V) = 1,452 m^3; air changes per hour (N) = 8.5000 1/hr, determine the outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) in m^3/min.
Given
Find
outdoor air volume flow rate (Q), in m^3/min
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q:
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 205.7\ \text{m^3/min}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 205.7 m^3/min to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 411.4 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 102.9 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 226.3 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
outdoor air volume flow rate calculation for indoor air quality design Given air changes per hour (N) = 9.0000 1/hr; outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 120.4 m^3/min, determine the room volume (V) in m^3.
Given
Find
room volume (V), in m^3
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except V is given, so isolate V symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for V:
Step 3 — List the givens: air changes per hour (N) = 9.0000 1/hr, outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 120.4 m^3/min.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
V = 802.7\ \text{m^3}Step 6 — Check: returning V = 802.7 m^3 to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 1,605 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 401.3 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 882.9 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
ventilation outdoor air volume flow rate for a classroom Given room volume (V) = 309.0 m^3; outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 31.5000 m^3/min, determine the air changes per hour (N) in 1/hr.
Given
Find
air changes per hour (N), in 1/hr
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except N is given, so isolate N symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for N:
Step 3 — List the givens: room volume (V) = 309.0 m^3, outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) = 31.5000 m^3/min.
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Step 6 — Check: returning N = 6.1165 1/hr to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 12.2330 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 3.0583 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 6.7282 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air
approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed to ventilate an office Given room volume (V) = 443.0 m^3; air changes per hour (N) = 19.5000 1/hr, determine the outdoor air volume flow rate (Q) in m^3/min.
Given
Find
outdoor air volume flow rate (Q), in m^3/min
Start with the thinking
- The governing relation printed in this handbook section is Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air.
- Everything except Q is given, so isolate Q symbolically first — never rearrange after the numbers are in.
- Tabulate each given with its unit and confirm the units are consistent with the relation before substituting.
- The approximate volume flow rate of outdoor air needed for ventilation is estimated from room volume and air changes per hour.
Step-by-step solution
Step 1 — State the governing relation:
Step 2 — Rearrange symbolically for Q:
Step 3
Step 4 — Substitute the given values:
Step 5 — Evaluate:
Q = 144.0\ \text{m^3/min}Step 6 — Check: returning Q = 144.0 m^3/min to
reproduces the given quantities, and both sides carry the same units.
Why the other options are there
- 288.0 — kept a factor of two that cancels in the correct rearrangement.
- 71.9875 — dropped that same factor in the other direction.
- 158.4 — rounded an intermediate value before the final step.
Reference: FE Handbook — Approximate Volume Flow Rate of Outdoor Air