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Air change rate calculator

Work out how many times a room’s air is replaced each hour from its volume and airflow — or the airflow you need to hit a target air change rate.

Room & airflow
Room size, then either the airflow or a target air change rate.
Air changes per hour
6.7 ACH
Room volume is 64.8 m³. 120 L/s gives 6.7 air changes an hour.
Room volume64.8 m³
Airflow120 L/s (432 m³/h)
Air changes per hour6.7 ACH

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How it works

1

Find the volume

Length times width times height gives the room volume in cubic metres — the amount of air to be replaced.

2

Relate flow and changes

Air changes per hour is the airflow (in m³/h) divided by the room volume. One air change means the whole room’s air is replaced once.

3

Work it either way

Enter an airflow to find the resulting ACH, or a target ACH to find the airflow the fan or system must deliver.

Frequently asked questions

What are air changes per hour?

Air changes per hour (ACH) is how many times the entire volume of air in a room is replaced with fresh or conditioned air each hour. It’s a common way to specify ventilation — an ACH of 6 means the room’s air is fully replaced six times an hour.

How many air changes does a room need?

It depends on the use. Offices and living spaces might need only a few air changes an hour, while kitchens, bathrooms, workshops and spaces with high occupancy or contaminants need many more. Ventilation standards such as AS 1668.2 set the requirements for different spaces.

How do I convert between L/s and m³/h?

Multiply litres per second by 3.6 to get cubic metres per hour, or divide m³/h by 3.6 to get L/s. This tool handles the conversion so you can enter airflow in L/s and read the air change rate directly.

Is ACH the same as fresh-air ventilation?

Not always. ACH counts total air movement, which may include recirculated air. Minimum fresh (outdoor) air rates are usually specified per person or per floor area — see our ventilation calculator for that.

This calculator is a general engineering aid. Required air change and ventilation rates for a space are set by standards such as AS 1668.2 and depend on the use and occupancy. Confirm requirements and design with a competent HVAC professional.

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