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Use MERV 13 filters
Pursuing this credit means using a high level of air filters at your outside air intakes. To earn this credit, MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters must be used at all outside air intakes—no spaces may be omitted. As of November 2010, however, a USGBC addendum removed a requirement for return air circulation to also have MERV 13 filtration.
Buildings where it works…
MERV 13 filters provide higher quality air to occupants and remove pollutants. Mechanical systems typically found in Class-A commercial office buildings are most likely to be compatible with MERV 13...
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20 Comments
Indoor AHUs and MERV 13 filters
The first paragragh in your "birds eye view" states that "As of November 2010, a USGBC addendum removed a requirement for return air circulation to also have MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filtration." Below is the November addendum stating:
"Replace the paragraph with the following: In mechanically ventilated buildings, each ventilation system that supplies outdoor air shall comply with the following during the performance period:
Particle filters or air cleaning devices shall 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 (MERV) of 13 in accordance with ASHRAE Standard 52.2 or
greater for all outside air intakes and inside air recirculation
returns.
Establish and follow a regular schedule for maintenance and
replacement of these filtration media according to the
manufacturer's recommended interval. "
We submitted an informal Inquiry to LEED Online confirming the statement in your bird's eye view section. According to the GBCI reviewer this information is incorrect. The reviewer says "As it clearly states, inside air recirculation returns do require MERV 13 filtration."
I would caution those planning on trying to earn this credit by not putting MERV 13 filters on insdie air recirculation returns. You will most likely not receive the credit.
Wendy, as I read it, the addendum refers to MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters on outdoor air intakes, not on return air, i.e. recirculation.
Does that square up any better with what you heard?
Filter Performance
Has anyone ever had an issue with MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters not maintaining original quality and performance levels?
Also, I cant find if this credit requires active monitoring of any sort that would capture any changes in MERV performance. Thanks!
Jeff, have you had such issues? No, there is not an active monitoring requirement of that kind.
MERV 13
Our building has existing MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8. The existing HVAC does not have the capability to to take MERV-13 filters. Can we get this credit if we have phase-out plan or need to replace all at once? Is there a phase out plan related to filters?
The MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value.-13 filters would need to be in place at the beginning of the EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. performance period Susan. The rating system does not currently allow for a phase-out plan approach to this credit. Your situation is actually fairly common in my experience - many buildings either are not capable of using MERV-13 or simply feel it is excessive in terms of the additional energy costs relative to IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. benefits. Makes sense for some buildings, less for others.
Hope that helps
Dan
Naturally ventilated building
Hi,
I have a fully naturally ventilated building. I am guessing there is no way to get this credit. ¿I am right?
Thank you.
I would say you're right. I wouldn't slam the door shut on it entirely if you have an alternative compliance path you want to propose, but there is not a path suggested by the credit language and documentation.
Return air in plenums
The 1960s era building we are working on does not contain ductwork for either return or supply air and is supplied via the plenum to individual spaces. Assuming the client does not want to install new ductwork, would we only have to provide the filters on the main 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. which supplies conditioned air from the chiller? The AHU is original; the chiller is from 2004.
Yes, I would say so. If you don't have the ductwork, you can't install the filters!
MERV 11 with Carbon Pre-Filters
The building that is undergoing certification has MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 11 filters with Carbon Pre-Filters. According to our facilities team, this combination of a Carbon pre-filter paired with the MERV 11 has a stronger filtration than a MERV 13 filter.
Would this be an acceptable alternative to the MERV 13 filter requirements?
The carbon pre-filter is the "Vari-Klean Ultra High Efficiency Gas Phase Adsorbers" it has no MERV rating.
Any help would be great on this.
You might be able to do this but it would be through an alternative compliance path, and you would have to demonstrate definitively that your filtration is as good as or better than MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13. Some data or evidence would be required, in other words.
I agree with Tristan - I think the key here is confirming the type of filtration at issue. My understanding (or lack thereof) is that there may be a difference between the effectiveness of a filtration process in removing particles and the SIZE of the particles being removed. MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. refers to the latter, so your system may be very effective at removing particles, just not particles as small as MERV 13. Worth exploring further with your filter vendor or HVAC team.
A MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filter will be effective (% wise) at removeing particles of different sizes...here's a nonsense example:
particle size: 1 2 3 4 5
% effective: 80 75 20 65 90
under specific lab test constraints/conditions/proceedures
You would have to demonstrate that your filter combination will be as good as or better than the baseline MERV numbers. The manufacturers would most likely have to give you this information or find someone who could.
Thank you all this is extremely helpful.
We will definitely go ahead and try the alternative compliance method for this one.
Thank you again for your help
equipment rooms and data centers
LEED states that it requires MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters for all outdoor and indoor AHUs. Does this include spaces that are unoccupied such as equipment rooms and data centers. According the "Reduced Occupancy Guidance for LEED 2009 Existing Buildings" document:
"• Air delivery systems must be physically capable of delivering MERV 13 or better filtration throughout the entire building according to the normal credit requirements.
• In actual use the building is permitted to employ lower MERV filters for any completely vacant or unused spaces while they are vacant. All fully occupied and partially occupied portions of the building must use MERV 13 or better filtration in actual use."
Would this imply that those spaces, such as equipment rooms and data centers, be exempt as long as the system could hold a MERV 13 filter?
Thanks,
Wendy Gibson
Practically speaking, assuming that 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. and ducting are dedicated to equipment rooms (non-regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where one or more individuals normally spend time (more than one hour per person per day on average) seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities inside a building.) and therefore the air does not mix with air served to humans, I see no advantages to anyone in using MERV13 filters for equipment room air quality. In fact it sounds a bit rediculous. The main purpose of conditioning these spaces at all is for temperature control and to possibly avoid build up of toxic off gassing. But maybe there's something I'm not thinking of...
Jean - I agree. I just can't find anything that specifically exempts these areas, which I feel would be stated if they are. I'll keep digging. Thanks for the advice.
Wendy - I think your question is a valid one, but I would be wary to employ the Reduced Occupancy Guidance to support your conclusion. That guidance is intended specifically for portions of the building that are usually occupied but are vacant during the performance period (unleased tenant space, for example), rather than areas that are unoccupied by design (mechanical rooms or storage areas, for example). For the latter space types, I think you've got a logical point about MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 being a bit much for those spaces. However, the credit language as I read it does not suggest that such an exception is allowed, envisioned, or presently accommodated. I think that short of a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide getting approval for excluding those spaces, you probably have to assume that the entire building has to get MERV 13 filtration.
To the person who stated their system wouldn't take MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters, have you looked at what's available lately? They're coming out with more adaptable filter systems. Check out this site for some examples of current furnace filters
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