Unlocking HVI’s HRV/ERV Code Fact Sheets

Reading time: 3 Minutes

Safety

August 29

A Practical Guide for Engineers, Builders & HVAC Professionals
In today’s energy-efficient residential design, tightly sealed building envelopes paired with effective mechanical ventilation systems, specifically fresh air appliances with heat recovery (HRVs) and energy recovery (ERVs), have become essential. Yet, navigating the International Code Council’s (ICC) vast code texts to determine when an HRV or ERV must be specified (and how) can be time-consuming and complex.

Enter the Home Ventilating Institute’s HRV/ERV Code Fact Sheets. This concise, up-to-date reference includes key residential code requirements across the 2018, 2021, and 2024 editions of the IRC, IMC, and IECC. Whether you're specifying, selling, or installing these systems, these fact sheets provide a fast, reliable starting point.

What Are the HVI HRV/ERV Code Fact Sheets?

HVI’s Code Fact Sheets are quick-reference documents capturing the essential sections of the ICC model codes, namely, the International Residential Code (IRC), the International Mechanical Code (IMC), and the International Energy Conservation Code (IECC), as they relate to residential HRV and ERV systems. They are categorized by code year and building type.

The 2018, 2021, 2024 editions of the:

International Residential Code (IRC)

Applies to one- and two-family homes.

International Mechanical Code (IMC)

Covers dwelling units within multifamily buildings.

International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) — Residential

Applies to homes and multifamily buildings up to three stories.

IECC — Commercial Provisions

Applies to multifamily buildings with dwelling units above three stories.

provide guidance on when HRV/ERV systems are required, specification criteria for compliant units, and fundamental design and installation considerations. These documents are specifically geared toward HVAC professionals, builders, distributors, and building designers.

Although rooted in ICC model code minimums, they underscore the importance of verifying local jurisdiction amendments, as individual states may adjust or augment these regulations during adoption.

The Value of HRV/ERV Code Fact Sheets for Industry Professionals

Because jurisdictions adopt code editions on different schedules, it's essential to verify which edition is currently enforced in your project’s location before consulting the corresponding fact sheet. This ensures that the reference aligns with legally enforceable requirements. This nuance is why HVI offers fact sheets for each code year and code type.

Compliance & Clarity

With codes spanning thousands of pages, pinpointing the operative sections in IRC, IMC, or IECC specific to HRVs/ERVs becomes significantly easier with summarized sheets.

Efficiency

Fact sheets speed up design validation by providing quick insight into when ventilation recovery systems are required and what performance benchmarks they must meet.

Cross-Industry Consistency

These sheets serve as a common reference for all stakeholders (including manufacturers, contractors, designers) ensuring alignment on code interpretation.

Informed Product Selection

HRV/ERV units carrying the "HVI Certified" label have undergone verified testing to standardized methods, offering reassurance of performance and code compliance.

Time & Cost Savings

Instead of combing through lengthy code chapters, users can rely on fact sheets as a starting point and then verify specifics with local amendments and product specifications.

How to Use the Fact Sheets Effectively

1. Determine the Enforced Code Edition

Confirm the code year (2018, 2021, or 2024) adopted by your local jurisdiction for both residential and multifamily scopes.

2. Select the Right Fact Sheet

Use the appropriate document depending on building type:

IRC for single/multi-family homes
IMC or IECC (residential/commercial) for multifamily buildings.

3. Key Questions to Review

Is an HRV/ERV required under the code?
What minimum airflow (CFM) or ventilation rates are stipulated?
Are there efficiency metrics (e.g., fan energy use, sensible recovery efficiency) or frost control provisions?
Are there installation particulars regarding balancing, ducting, or control features?

4. Cross-Reference Local Amendments

Verify local or state-level changes. Some jurisdictions may impose stricter requirements or modify recovery efficiency thresholds.

5. Stay Aligned with Product Certification

Select HRV/ERV units listed on HVI's Certified Products Directory to ensure tested compliance and reliable performance.

Key Technical Aspects & Insights

While the fact sheets themselves aren’t design manuals, several recurring technical themes often appear:

Ventilation Rates & Balanced Systems

Codes typically emphasize whole-house ventilation, often aligning with ASHRAE 62.2, mandating balanced supply/exhaust systems and fan efficacy limits.

Efficiency Metrics

Fact sheets often reference Sensible Recovery Efficiency (SRE) and, for ERVs, Total Recovery Efficiency (TRE). These are key performance metrics that guide product selection.

Frost Control

In colder climates, frost management strategies, such as defrost cycles or preheating mechanisms, are critical code considerations for HRVs/ERVs to maintain safe and efficient operation.

HVI Certification

Products displaying the "HVI Certified" label guarantee standardized testing and performance reporting, a valuable trust anchor for installers and code inspections.

Energy Savings & Indoor Air Quality

HRV/ERV systems support energy conservation by recovering heat (and moisture, in the case of ERVs), and help meet ventilation needs without detriment to indoor air quality or energy use.

Action Steps

HVI’s HRV/ERV Code Fact Sheets represent a practical, accessible entry point for engineers, HVAC contractors, builders, and designers to quickly navigate ventilation recovery requirements across multiple code editions and residential building types. These fact sheets, while not design guides, offer clarity on when HRV/ERV systems are required, essential specifications, and installation considerations, all based on ICC model codes. However, to effectively apply them in real-world projects, professionals must:

Identify the relevant code edition enforced locally.
Review the matching fact sheet.
Cross-check with local amendments.
Pair the information with HVI-Certified products for guaranteed performance compliance.

Ready to dive in? Access the HRV/ERV Code Fact Sheets under the "Publications" tab on the HVI website to download the documents you need.