Basement HVAC question

[Anonymous]

I have a friend who is finishing his basement himself (w/out permits), and his neighbor is insisting that he needs to install a separate cold air return, or he'll have problems w/ condensation. He also said it is a code requirement. BTW -- there was no additional HVAC added to the existing system, there were two existing supplies in the basement prior to remodeling that he thought woulb be sufficient.
What he needs is someone familiar w/ the building codes to give a definitive answer. I told him i knew where to look!!
Short version of question -- If no new HVAC supplies were added to the existing HVAC, is it still neccessary (or required by code) to install a return?
thanks

[Rich]

The code the neighbor may be referring to does not specifically state anything about cold air return - it deals more with outside air intake. Essentially the 2 supplies you talk about - one should be high and one low. This provides outside combustion air to the furnace but doesn't do a whole lot for the air conditioner. One major reason for problems with an a/c unit is not enough return air. That may be what the neighbor is talking about - but there is no specific "building" code stating amount of return air required. And the amount of return air doesn't have much to do with condensation but more with freezing the suction line of the a/c unit. The return air should already be there for the furnace that is typically adequate.
Hope that helps.