At the present time a new design document “Ventilation and heating of shipyard shops” commissioned by the Department of shipbuilding industry, Ministry of Industry and Trade of Russian Federation, is being worked out. The second edition of the document was endorsed by the leading shipbuilders, design and research organizations. Government confirmation of the document is planned on December 2013. The article describes the modern principles of air renewal in the shipyard shops, which will be used in the regulations that are being developed now. The mechanical ventilation should be provided in the shipyard shops. It is necessary to use local exhaust ventilation to collect harmful substances straight near the place of its dispersion. In addition to the local exhaust ventilation and also if it is impossible to organize it in given engineering process the general ventilation should be provided.