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A smorgasbord of requirements
This credit requires compliance with a varied group of requirements that cumulatively help keep pollutants out of the indoor air. These requirements include self-closing doors on janitors' closets, MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filtration on mechanical equipment, and entryway trackoff systems.
Compliance will require the coordination of team members—including the mechanical engineer, architect, plumbing engineer, and contractor—and also impact project design and operations. The basic requirements are:
- Permanent entryway walk-off systems at least 10 feet long (up from 6 feet in previous versions of LEED) at...
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31 Comments
Walk off mats extents
We have a ballpark facility where the concourse area is covered, but open air. Do I read the criteria correctly that every space off of the concourse (restrooms, concession stands, etc) would need the walkoff mats to qualify for this credit since someone could track pollutants from the exterior of the stadium onto the concourse and then into the spaces? If so it looks like we would have close to 50 locations this would occur. Thanks!
Chris, I would say you have it right, yes. The credit might not be a good fit for the project—on the other hand, with all that foot traffic and the dirt of various kinds traveling on those feet, it could be argued that it's a very good credit for this project.
Average Pressure Differential - New LEED Online Template
In the new version of the LEED online template for this credit, there is a minimum (with doors closed) and average required pressure differential in Pa. We have the equation's to determine the minimum with the door closed, but the average is where we are a little concerned (5 pa required). Am I wrong in assuming that the "average" is the space with no load on it (i.e. minimum supply setting 70 cfm & constant exhaust setting 120 cfm) and the minimum Pa would be the room with a heating / cooling load (i.e. maximum supply volume setting 100 cfm & constant exhaust 120 cfm ).
You are on the right track. Although, depending on the space I might consider the average to be with load in the space if that is what occurs most often.
Another thing to consider with minimum Pa would be: If you are exhausting a Janitor's closet using the same exhaust fan as the bathrooms, then the fan could have night time set back, but it would need to maintain a minimum exhaust rate in the space.
Also, don't forget the door also needs to be self-closing to achieve this credit.
an update from February 2011
This is the updated portion of IEQ c5.
In mechanically ventilated buildings, each ventilations systems that supplies outdoor air shall comply with the following:
o Particle filters or air cleaning devices shall be provided to clean the outdoor air at any location prior to its introduction to occupied spacesOccupied Spaces are defined as enclosed spaces that can accommodate human activities. Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or non-regularly occupied spaces based on the duration of the occupancy, individual or multi-occupant based on the quantity of occupants, and densely or non-densely occupied spaces based upon the concentration of occupants in the space..
o These filters or devices shall be rated a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value.) of 13 or better in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 52.2.
o Clean air filtration media shall be installed in all air systems after completion of construction and prior to occupancy.
Deleted Portion: "In mechanically ventilated buildings, install new air filtration media in regularly occupied areas prior to occupancy; these filters must provide a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 13 or better. Filtration should be applied to process both return and outside air that is delivered as supply air."
Does this mean that only the AHUs will need MERV 13 to achieve this credit and FP-VAVs will not need MERV 13? Sounds like the return air filtration requirment had been eliminated.
Any thoughts?
Yes, the return air filtration requirement is eliminated.
We have 100% fresh air in our building and MervMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters installed. The building owner is asking why they need to change the filters after completion of construction. Since the filters are only 1/3 through their useful life this seems wasteful. Is there some reason the AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition) 2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork. filters need to be changed after construction is complete?
This question applies more to IEQ credit 3.2, but it is a great question. In my opinion there is no benefit to changing out your filter as the units are not doing any recirculation. You could probably submit a narrative explaining why you didn't change out the filter.
Small Sized printers
I am working on a CI project, which requires small sized printers to placed in the floor area for particular working groups, do we have to consider the small sized printers to be placed inside the Copier rooms in order to qualify for this credit, or can those small sized printers be placed outside the Copier Room in the areas of particular working groups.
S, small-volume printers don't have to be considered for this credit. You can place them wherever you want.
Do we have to provide a separated copy room for a small-volume copy machine (less than 1000 pages each month)?
2 things mat and chemical mixing area
I have a major building entrance in my LEED boundary as well as some exterior entrances to a courtyard- do I need the mats to the courtyard area too?
Then we have restrooms but no janitor closet or chemical mixing area- we DO have MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 15 filters. If there is no "chemical mixing area"?
Sue, the chemical mixing area requirement is no longer in effect.
Mats would be needed off the courtyard since it's an exterior entrance from which contaminants could be tracked.
Wipe off mat
I have space for a 10'x10' wipe off mat at the main exterior entrance of building, but the interior foyer is too small for a 10'x10' mat. The interior foyer has enough room for a 3'x3' mat. At the second exterior entrance that is 2nd story walkway, I intend to use a 5' wide x 10' long wipe off mat. My question in the interpretation of the credit is; do I require a 10' wipe off at the exterior and interior entrance or a combination of 10'?
Alan, you need one walk-off mat per entrance, so if I understand your layout correctly (and your question), you don't require two 10' mats there, just 10' of mat in the main direction of travel.
To confirm what you are saying, I only need one walk-off mat at the EXTERIOR entrances only to quality for the point.
I'll try restating, just to be clear. You need 10 feet of walkoff mat in the direction of travel per public entry. The mat is usually inside the door, or if the mat must be placed partially or fully outside, it needs to be under an awning.
In a case where there is a main exterior door followed by a small foyer, and then a second door, you need 10 feet of mat for that entry, not 20.
High volume vs. convenience printing?
Is there any guidance on what qualifies as convenience printing vs. high volume printing? Is it defined by the volume of printing, occupancy, or equipment type?
Thanks,
Anthony
Anthony- it is based on print volume. Typically a copier that is used for less than 40,000 copies a month can be considered a convenience printer.
Contractor Initials
It appears there is a new requirement for LEED 2009 ID+C, that the contractor initials that no water and chemical concentrate mixing occurs in the project. Can anyone explain what this is referring to?
Lisa- I have no idea, but I will do some digging into it to see if I can find an answer!
I KNOW!! The rest of the credit is dealing with after occupancy, so I have no idea what the contractor has to do with this credit. The only thing we could think of was job site clean up and the need to mix cleaning chemicals. The reference guide doesn't discuss this at all.
I haven't checked this, but I'm told by USGBC that this sign-off is removed in the most recent version of the form. I would recommend using the feedback button on LEED Online to update your forms.
Existing AHU serves more than the LEED tenant space- what to do?
The LEED CI Addenda dated July 19, 2010 modifies the third bullet point under EQc5 as follows:
Replace the text of the third bullet on page 359 with the following:
“In mechanically ventilated buildings, each ventilations system that supplies outdoor air shall comply with the following:
•Particle filters or air cleaning devices shall be provided to clean the outdoor air at any location prior to its introduction to occupied spacesOccupied Spaces are defined as enclosed spaces that can accommodate human activities. Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or non-regularly occupied spaces based on the duration of the occupancy, individual or multi-occupant based on the quantity of occupants, and densely or non-densely occupied spaces based upon the concentration of occupants in the space..
•These filters or devices shall be rated a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value.) of 13 or better in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 52.2.
•Clean air filtration media shall be installed in all air systems after completion of construction and prior to occupancy.”
Our project involves an existing AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition) 2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork. that serves not only our LEED Tenant space but adjacent non-LEED spaces as well that are not part of our project. Can we assume that the requirement for the MERV 13 filters can be located "locally" prior to its introduction to occupied spaces instead of providing MERV 13 filters for the whole AHU system that serves much more than our small tenant? The first bullet point does say that the devices (filters) shall be provided to clean the outdoor air "at any location", not necessarily at the AHU itself.
Similarly to the ambiguity of EAp3 with respect to whether the LEED requirements involve eliminating CFC-based refrigerants for building systems, does this EQc5 credit REQUIRE that ALL tenant spaces, even if outside of the LEED project boundry but served by the same AHU would have to have the same MERV 13 filtration in order for this credit to be achieved?
Since this is new language, it is hard to be 100% certain of implementation/interpretation, but I think that it should be fine to provide filtration for the air anywhere before it enters the tenant space, even if that means other spaces served by the same AHU1.Air-handling units (AHUs) are mechanical indirect heating, ventilating, or air-conditioning systems in which the air is treated or handled by equipment located outside the rooms served, usually at a central location, and conveyed to and from the rooms by a fan and a system of distributing ducts. (NEEB, 1997 edition) 2.A type of heating and/or cooling distribution equipment that channels warm or cool air to different parts of a building. This process of channeling the conditioned air often involves drawing air over heating or cooling coils and forcing it from a central location through ducts or air-handling units. Air-handling units are hidden in the walls or ceilings, where they use steam or hot water to heat, or chilled water to cool the air inside the ductwork. do not benefit from the filters. This seems to be in line with the separation of the LEED tenant space from other tenant spaces expected by the rating system as a whole.
Thank you, Allison!
Tenant spaces are simple, right?
Do I have this correct? A tenant space in a multi-story building wouldn't have to have walk off mats. If they don't do high volume copying and have no chemical use, they don't have to have separate exhaust. If the building maintains the toilet rooms outside the tenant space, there is no janitor's closet in the tenant space. The only requirement to obtain the credit would be to use MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters. Seems too easy. What am I missing?
Check, check, and check. This credit is a combination of four distinct requirements, and if three of them don't apply to you... I guess you can call it a day.
I would recommend you check the LEED Online form for this credit fairly early on to ensure that there aren't any surprises hidden there.
what happens if my Outside Air Handling Unit is not in tenant scope and does not have MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value.-13 Filtration. In the Tenant Spce we have Fan Coil Units (return air only) and obvioulsy one cannot put MERV-13 into Fan Coil Units. Does this mean goodbye to this credit?
I wouldn't jump to that conclusion. Seems as though you could earn the credit by fulfilling the other requirements, if they're in your scope. If none of them are in your scope, though, I doubt you could earn the credit. It would be akin to not being eligible for WEc3 in fit-outs with no water fixtures in scope.
I actually did find a 1" MervMinimum efficiency reporting value.-13 filter that could possibly be put into the FCU. We have no water fitures in the tenenat space but probably would work with the landlord the change them on our floor so we can get WEc3. We have no high volume copying and have no chemical use so we could than possibly do it with the FCU filters only I guess.
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