Tall Buildings
ASHRAE Technical Committee 9.12

The ASHRAE Handbook is published in a series of four volumes, one of which is revised each year, ensuring that no volume is older than four years.  The Handbook can be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore by clicking on this link.

The TC is responsible for the following chapter in HVAC Applications: Tall Buildings

Tall buildings have existed for more than 100 years and have been built in cities worldwide. Great heights only became possible after the invention of the elevator safety braking system in 1853; subsequent population and economic growth in cities made these taller buildings very popular. This chapter focuses on the specific HVAC system requirements unique to tall buildings.

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Technical committees develop and sponsor technical sessions at the winter and annual conferences. Information about their future technical program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Program Subcommittee meeting

ASHRAE publishes papers and transactions from presentations at its conference events. In addition, ASHRAE records most of the seminar sessions from its conferences on DVD. These DVDs are ideal for use at chapter meetings, in university courses, or company lunch and learns. Products available from the most recent conference may be found here.

To see the programs sponsored and co-sponsored by TC9.12 at this meeting, go to the Meetings page. For programs sponsored and co-sponsored at past meetings, visit the Past Programs page.

Technical Committees are responsible for identifying research topics, proposing research projects, selecting bidders, and monitoring research projects funded by ASHRAE. Information about their specific research program is discussed at each TC meeting and at the TC’s Research Subcommittee meeting.

ASHRAE writes standards for the purpose of establishing consensus for: 1) methods of test for use in commerce and 2) performance criteria for use as facilitators with which to guide the industry. ASHRAE publishes the following three types of voluntary consensus standards: Method of Measurement or Test (MOT), Standard Design and Standard Practice. ASHRAE does not write rating standards unless a suitable rating standard will not otherwise be available. ASHRAE is accredited by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and follows ANSI's requirements for due process and standards development. Standards may be purchased at the ASHRAE Bookstore.

TC 9.12 has no standards responsibilities at this time.

TC 9.12 is the technical committee that writes, edits, and maintains the ASHRAE Design Guide for Tall, Supertall, and Megatall Building Systems. Tall, supertall, and megatall buildings present unique challenges because of their size, urban location and complex occupancies. Each chapter refers to different parts of the building design phase, from initial concepts through specific calculations. It's ASHRAE's only reference that encompasses the entirety of tall building design. ASHRAE proudly co-sponsored this effort with the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat to produce this publication.

TIP: If MTG involvement add here otherwise leave blank.

ASHRAE Technical FAQs are provided as a service to ASHRAE members, users of ASHRAE publications, and the general public. While every effort has been made to ensure their accuracy and reliability, they are advisory and provided for informational purposes only, and in many cases represent only one person’s view. They are not intended and should not be relied on as an official statement of ASHRAE. Technical questions not addressed may be submitted to the ASHRAE Technical Services department at tse@ashrae.net. 

For an overview of ASHRAE TC 9.12, see the this page.