EBOM-2009 IEQc2.4: Daylight and Views

  • EBOM_IEQc2-4_Type3_DaylightViews Diagram

  • Let’s be honest—this one is no picnic

    Even if your building is technically compliant, this credit is very difficult because the documentation requirements are extremely demanding. The only exception is projects that have previously earned a Daylight and Views credit through one of the other LEED rating systems—all you’ll need to do is provide your LEED scorecard verifying that you achieved the credit.

    What types of projects should consider this credit?

    If your building was designed to maximize daylight and views, it’s likely that your project is compliant, and you’ll have a better chance of documenting compliance—just be aware that the requirements are still burdensome. You can get a rough idea of whether your building is compliant by doing a walk-through with a light meter and spot-checking daylight levels, and by sitting in a random sample of workstations to see if occupants have a direct line of sight to the outdoors.

    Daylit corridorDaylit from this corridor helps to light the weightroom in the Snowmass Recreation Center in Snowmass, Colorado. Buildings designed specifically for daylight and views have a better shot at this credit. Photo – YRG SustainabilityMore specifically, your project has a greater chance of documenting credit compliance if the following is true:

    • The building has shallow floor plates, with 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. located toward the building perimeter
    • Daylight simulation or prescriptive analysis was performed during the initial building design
    • Electronic floor plans are readily available
    • Individual workstations were designed to incorporate views to the outdoors from the seated position
    • The project achieved a Daylight and Views credit under another LEED rating system

    What types of buildings might not want to consider this credit?

    Buildings that were not designed specifically with daylighting and views in mind are less likely to be compliant and will have quite a bit of difficulty putting together the supporting documentation.

    Your project is less likely to meet the requirements if the following is true:

    • The building has deep floor plates
    • Private offices are located around the perimeter, with large numbers of cubicle-style workstations located toward the building core
    • The windows are heavily tinted
    • Electronic floor plans are not easily accessible
    • Your building is large and has a variety of tenant interiors and floor configurations

    OK, but I still want to pursue this credit … now what?

    If you didn’t achieve a Daylight and Views credit under another LEED rating system, you have a variety of other options to choose from for documenting credit compliance.

    ViewsThe views option is likely the most efficient way to document this credit but may still pose some challenges for project teams to document. Photo – YRG SustainabilityThere are three paths under the Daylight option, but only one of these—measurement—is very practical for most teams. (The exception is buildings that had a simulation or analysis performed during the initial design, for which records are easily accessible.) The Views option is much easier to document, and most teams that meet the Daylight requirements also meet the Views requirements—so the majority of projects choose to document the credit using the Views option.

    All the options require you to provide the total area of regularly occupied spaces, as well as the total area of compliant regularly occupied spaces in the building. This means identifying each regularly occupied space, assessing its compliance with the credit requirements, and then taking a measurement of the area.

    You’ll also need to provide comprehensive supporting documentation no matter what option you pursue. This could mean daylight simulation results, floor plans noting daylight measurements, sectional drawings showing direct line of sight to the outdoors, etc.

    Bricked-up windowsIt's generally difficult for existing buildings to earn this credit, in part because of decisions made when the building was designed, or in this case, because of ill-advised renovations.

    Consider these questions when approaching this credit:

    • Did your project building earn the Daylight or Views credit during a previous LEED Design & Construction certification? If so, your team will automatically earn this credit by providing a copy of the USGBC-generated LEED scorecard from the previous certification.
    • Did your project building's design include daylight modeling or prescriptive analysis of daylight in occupied spaces? If so, these may be reasonable compliance paths for your team to pursue.
    • Does a large percentage of regularly occupied space have access to daylight through skylights or clerestories? If so, your team may wish to pursue the daylight measurement compliance path.
    • Do at least half of your regularly occupied spaces have access to views, defined as having a direct line of sight to vision glazing measured at the seated position? And does the project have a reasonable way to collect area measurements of the regularly occupied spaces in the building? If so, then your project team may wish to pursue the Views compliance option.

    FAQs for LEED-EBOM IEQc2.4

    What qualifies as “regularly occupied spaces” for this credit? Does the total amount of regularly occupied space used for this credit have to match other credits?

    Regularly occupied spaces are areas where people normally spend time either seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities in the building. Some common space types that are not considered regularly occupied space are corridors, bathrooms, storage, mechanical rooms, and break rooms. Conference/meeting rooms, classrooms, and hotel guest rooms are considered regularly occupied.

    The total regularly occupied space for this credit will be less than the building’s gross floor areaGross floor area (based on ASHRAE definition) is the sum of the floor areas of the spaces within the building, including basements, mezzanine and intermediate‐floored tiers, and penthouses wi th headroom height of 7.5 ft (2.2 meters) or greater. Measurements m ust be taken from the exterior 39 faces of exterior walls OR from the centerline of walls separating buildings, OR (for LEED CI certifying spaces) from the centerline of walls separating spaces. Excludes non‐en closed (or non‐enclosable) roofed‐over areas such as exterior covered walkways, porches, terraces or steps, roof overhangs, and similar features. Excludes air shafts, pipe trenches, and chimneys. Excludes floor area dedicated to the parking and circulation of motor vehicles. ( Note that while excluded features may not be part of the gross floor area, and therefore technically not a part of the LEED project building, they may still be required to be a part of the overall LEED project and subject to MPRs, prerequisites, and credits.) reported in PIf3, but large differences should be clearly explained with a narrative. Also, make sure that the total area for multi-occupant spacesConference rooms, classrooms and other indoor spaces used as a place of congregation for presentations, trainings, etc. Individuals using these spaces share the lighting and temperature controls and they should have, at a minimum, a separate zone with accessible thermostat and an air-flow control. Group multi-occupant spaces do not include open office plans that contain individual workstations. is consistent with IEQc2.2 if you’re pursuing that credit as well.

    We have some vacant tenant spaces. How should I account for those when documenting this credit?

    USGBC developed Reduced Occupancy Guidance for buildings that are 50% to 90% occupied (buildings under 50% occupied are not eligible for LEED-EBOM). This document gives the following guidance for IEQc2.4: “The credit performance threshold is based on the fully occupied and partially occupied portions of the building. Any spaces completely vacant or unused throughout the entire performance period make no contribution to the results and may be excluded.”

    If the Reduced Occupancy Guidelines don’t apply to your building (e.g. your occupancy rate is 90% or higher), you should still exclude completely vacant or unused space from your calculations.

    Our multi-story, multi-tenant building has many different floor plans and cubical configurations. Do we need to provide section drawings and floor plans for every space in order to document Option 2: Views?

    To adequately show that at least 45% of regularly occupied spaces comply with vision requirements, you’ll have to provide documentation showing line of sight for the spaces that are contributing to credit achievement, even if floor plans and cubical configurations vary throughout the building. If this is particularly onerous for your building, consider providing section plans for a representative sample of layouts and explaining the percent of regularly occupied spaces that these samples represent. The key here is to provide clear, accurate documentation for as many spaces as possible to support your claims and show that you’re doing the assessment correctly.

Legend

  • Best Practices
  • Gotcha
  • Action Steps
  • Cost Tip

Before the Performance Period

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  • Determine whether EBOM IEQc2.4 is worth pursuing for your project building.

  • Your project building can automatically earn this credit if it previously earned a credit related to Daylight and Views through LEED for New Construction, LEED for Schools, or both LEED for Core and Shell and LEED for Commercial Interiors.

  • This credit can be very difficult for projects to pursue because of the demanding documentation requirements. 

  • Buildings originally designed to maximize daylight and views have a better chance of documenting compliance with this credit, though the requirements are still extensive. If your project building was not designed with these goals in mind, you are less likely to be able to meet the credit requirements.  

  • All options for earning IEQc2.4 require the project team to provide the total area of regularly occupied spaces, as well as the total area of compliant regularly occupied spaces in the building. Calculating total areas requires assessment against the credit requirements and measurements for each individual regularly occupied space, which can be a huge effort. Regularly occupied spaces are those in which workers are seated or standing as they work during the day.

  • Teams are also required to provide comprehensive supporting documentation—such as daylight simulation results, floor plans noting daylight measurements, and sectional drawings showing direct "line of sight" to views to substantiate the project's submission. See detailed documentation requirements for each path in further detail below.

  • Determine which compliance path makes sense for your building and team, from among the four options.

  • Option 1, Path 1: Daylight Simulation

  • Perform a simulation using daylight modeling software to predict daylight levels in spaces. 

  • It is unlikely that a simulation model will have been performed in the past for most existing buildings, and the cost associated with doing this solely to document the LEED credit would not be a wise expenditure. 

  • Option 1, Path 2: Daylight Prescriptive

  • Have a combination of side-lighting and/or top-lighting that meets the LEED definition of a daylighting zone in at least 50% of all regularly occupied spaces. Given that this path is based on prescriptive design requirements that an existing building obviously would not have been designed and constructed to, buildings that comply via this path do so accidentally, and assessing the design against these prescriptive requirements would be difficult and time-consuming for most project teams. For example, the team would need to assess potential sidelighting daylight zones by:

    • a) Determining which spaces within the building meet the LEED definition of “regularly occupied” for this credit
    • b) Tracking down visible light transmittance value (VLT) for the installed glazing in the regularly occupied spaces, which is likely a difficult value to access in existing buildings
    • c) Measuring the floor area and sidelighting glazing area (only glazing 30 inches above the floor) in the space to develop the window-to-floor area ratio (WFR). If electronic floor plans and interior elevations that allow for area take-offs are not available, all of these measurements would need to be performed manually.
    • d) Multiplying the VLT by WFR. Spaces with values between 0.150 and 0.180 contribute to the credit if the other requirements are met
    • e) Verifying that the ceiling does not obstruct a line in section that joins the window-head to a line on the floor that is parallel to the plane of the window. Without electronic design documents, this assessment would not be easy to perform or document. 
    • f) Verifying that the ceiling does not obstruct a line in section that is twice the height of the window-head above the floor in distance from the plane of the glass as measured perpendicular to the plane of the glass. Again, this assessment would be nearly impossible to perform and document if electronic design documents are unavailable.
    • g) Finally, the team would need to verify or install sunlight redirection and or glare control devices
    • h) The above steps would need to be performed in and show compliance for at least 50% of regularly occupied spaces based on floor area. Where toplighting (e.g., skylights) contributes to daylighting zones, a separate, similarly arduous assessment must be performed.

  • The simulation and prescriptive paths—paths 1 and 2 for Option 1: Daylight—are not very practical for project teams to follow unless the daylight analysis was already conducted as part of the initial design and construction of the building and the records of that analysis are readily available. 

  • Option 1, Path 3: Daylight Measurement

  • Use a handheld light meter to measure daylight levels in spaces.

  • The Daylight path for measurement is more doable, but unlike other Daylight paths, your results can be affected by shading influences on your building, such as adjacent structures. 

  • Option 2: Views

  •  Calculate areas with a direct line of sight to the outdoors.

  • Most project buildings that qualify for Daylight compliance would also meet the Views requirements. Teams most often choose to pursue this credit through Option 2: Views, because the documentation is easier and more efficient, though it can still be time-consuming, especially if building floor plans are not easily accessible. 

During the Performance Period

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  • Identify your building’s regularly occupied spaces and calculate their total area.

  • Regularly occupied spaces are those in which workers are seated or standing as they work during the day. In residential applications, regularly occupied spaces include all spaces except bathrooms, closets, and other storage or utility areas. Non-regularly occupied spaces include corridors, bathrooms, storage, and mechanical rooms.

  • There are several free-download programs available that allow users to calculate floor areas from electronic floor plans (PDF or CAD files). (See Resources.)

  • Determine the total area of compliant, regularly occupied spaces, and the overall percentage of compliant spaces according to the compliance path you selected before the performance period (as outlined below).

  • Glare-control is required for all spaces using Option 1: Daylight to demonstrate compliance. This requirement is generally satisfied through the use of adjustable blinds and/or exterior shading devices.

  • Option 1, Path 1: Daylight Simulation

  • Daylight simulations are valuable as a design tool but are generally not practical as a way to demonstrate credit compliance in an existing building, as there would be no payback for this expenditure nor would it offer any insights into opportunities for operational improvement. 

  • If a simulation was previously performed as part of the design and construction of the building, and those records are available, this path may be a good option for your team.

  • Compile simulation results that show the expected daylight levels for all regularly occupied spaces.

  • The simulation must calculate daylight levels on a grid 30 inches above the ground at a maximum of five-foot intervals.

  • The daylight simulation should represent clear-sky conditions at both 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on the equinox (March 21st or September 21st).

  • Compliant spaces show illumination levels of 25–500 footcandles (fc). Projects with automated shades can exceed 500 fc.

  • Dedicated theater spaces may show a minimum illumination of 10 fc, but multipurpose rooms must follow the standard path requirements.

  • Option 1, Path 2: Daylight Prescriptive

  • The daylight prescriptive path requires your team to track down information on VLT—the windows’ visible light transmittance—from the window manufacturer for inclusion in the calculations to demonstrate compliance. Buildings without this type of record will likely find it difficult or impossible to determine the VLT of the windows. If your project can’t identify that value for the windows, you cannot use this compliance path.

  • This path also requires the use of complex calculations to demonstrate compliance. Most teams find Option 2: Views a more streamlined and viable documentation path than this one.

  • If a prescriptive analysis was performed during the design and construction of your building, and those records are available, this path may be a good option for your project.

  • Determine the VLT of the windows and the total window area for each regularly occupied space. 

  • Run calculations for each regularly occupied space to determine compliant areas.

  • Assess whether your project complies with rules pertaining to ceiling obstructions, light redirection, and glare control.

  • Option 1, Path 3: Daylight Measurement

  • This path is more doable than other Daylight paths, with the complication that your results can be affected by shading conditions such as adjacent buildings.

  • Consider following Option 2: Views as an alternative, and potentially more streamlined, compliance path.

  • The documentation requirement for this path is to create a representative floor plan highlighting light measurements taken in regularly occupied spaces. Your team may take the measurements in one representative space and extrapolate those results to other, identical spaces. 

  • Take field measurements, using a handheld light meter, of the illumination levels in all regularly occupied spaces.

  • Take measurements on a grid at 10 foot intervals with a maximum grid size of 100 square feet. 

  • Field measurements should be taken at 30 inches off the floor, or at the desk or work height of the intended users of the space. 

  • Taking field measurements can be time-consuming and requires plotting daylight levels on representative floor plans. These activities generally make Option 2: Views a more efficient option for project teams unless daylight is provided to spaces through skylights or clerestories and those spaces do not have access to views.

  • Record field measurements on building floor plans.

  • Calculate the total compliant area and overall percentage of compliant, regularly occupied space.

  • Option 2: Views

  • Although it can be time-intensive, you may find this option to be the most streamlined compliance path.

  • You may also find it useful to assess your building’s compliance informally by sitting at various workstations throughout the building to see if there are views, defined as having a direct line of sight to the outdoors as measured at the seated position, and to get a sense of the viability of pursuing this credit.

  • Using building floor plans, determine the percentage of regularly occupied spaces with direct line of sight to the outdoors. 

  • Line of sight to the outdoors may pass through as many as two interior glazing surfaces.

  • The entire floor area of individual private offices may be counted as compliant if at least 75% of the floor area has a direct line of sight to the outdoors. Individual workstations in open office areas cannot be assessed in this manner and actual compliant areas must be estimated.

  • Your project team must estimate, for all multi-occupant spaces and open office areas with individual work spaces, the actual square footage that has a direct line of sight. This is generally impractical if electronic floor plans are not available. The more practical option of simply counting workstations with views that was available in previous versions of LEED for Existing Buildings is no longer acceptable.

  • Some spaces like theaters or a patient exam room may not be appropriate for views. In such cases, your team may exclude a space and include justification for doing so with the credit documentation. The merit of excluding such spaces is reviewed and approved on a case by case basis.

  • Confirm that lines of sight calculated using building floor plans are not obstructed at a "seated eye level" of 42 inches.

  • No regularly occupied space where the direct line of sight is obstructed at the seated eye level will count toward credit compliance. 

  • Another way of looking at this is that if seated occupants must tilt their heads up from horizontal to see outside, their spaces do not meet the credit's view criteria.

  • Generate building floor plans highlighting line of sight to the outdoors and compliant floor areas for all regularly occupied spaces.

  • USGBC

    Excerpted from LEED 2009 for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance

    COPYRIGHT © 2009 BY THE U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL, INC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

    IEQ Credit 2.4: Daylight and views

    1 point

    Intent

    To provide building occupants with a connection between indoor spaces and the outdoors through the introduction of daylight and views into the regularly occupied areas of the building.

    Requirements

    Project teams must achieve the performance thresholds in either the daylight or views requirements below:

    Option 1. Daylight

    Through 1 of the 4 paths, achieve daylighting in at least 50% of all 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..

    Path 1. Simulation

    Demonstrate through computer simulations that the applicable spaces achieve daylight illuminance levels of a minimum of 10 footcandles (fc1. A footcandle (fc) is a measure of light falling on a given surface. One footcandle is defined as the quantity of light falling on a 1-square-foot area from a 1 candela light source at a distance of 1 foot (which equals 1 lumen per square foot). Footcandles can be measured both horizontally and vertically by a footcandle meter or light meter. 2. The non-metric measurement of lumens per square foot, one footcandle is the amount of light that is received one foot from a light source called a candela, which is based on the light output of a standardized candle. A common range for interior lighting is 10 to 100 footcandles, while exterior daytime levels can range from 100 to over 10,000 footcandles. Footcandles decrease with distance from the light source. The metric equivalent of a foot candle is 10.76 lux, or lumens per square meter.) (108 luxMeasurement of lumens per square meter.) and a maximum of 500 fc (5,400 lux) in a clear sky condition on September 21 at 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.

    Provide glare control devices to avoid high-contrast situations that could impede visual tasks. However, designs that incorporate view-preserving automated shades for glare control may demonstrate compliance for only the minimum 10 fc (108 lux) illuminance level.

    OR

    Path 2. Prescriptive

    For sidelighting zones:

    • Achieve a value, calculated as the product of the visible light transmittance (VLT) and window-to-floor area ratioFloor Area Ratio (FAR) is the measure of the density of non-residential land use. It is the total non-residential building floor area divided by the total buildable land area available for non-residential uses.  For example, on a site with 10,000 square feet of buildable land area, an FAR of 1.0 would be 10,000 square feet of built building floor area.  On the same site, an FAR of 1.5 would be 15,000 square feet of built floor area; an FAR of 2.0 would be 20,000 built square feet and an FAR of 0.5 would be 5,000 built square feet. (WFRWindow-to-floor ratio (WFR) is the total area of the window (measured vertically from 30 inches above the finished floor to the top of the glass, multiplied by the width of the glass) divided by the floor area.) of daylight zone between 0.150 and 0.180.

      • 0.150 < VLT x

      WFR

      		< 0.180


    • The window area included in the calculation must be at least 30 inches (0.8 meters) above the floor.
    • In section, the ceiling must not obstruct a line in that extends from the window-head to a point on the floor that is located twice the height of the window-head from the exterior wall as measured perpendicular to the glass (see diagram below).

    • Provide glare control devices to avoid high-contrast situations that could impede visual tasks. However, designs that incorporate view-preserving automated shades for glare control may demonstrate compliance for only the minimum 0.150 value.

    For toplighting zones:

    • The toplighting zone under a skylight is the outline of the opening beneath the skylight, plus in each direction the lesser of (see diagram below):

      • 70% of the ceiling height,
      • 1/2 the distance to the edge of the nearest skylight,
      • The distance to any permanent partition that is closer than 70% of the distance between the top of the partition and the ceiling.

      • Achieve skylight coverage for the applicable space (containing the toplighting zone) between 3% and 6% of the total floor area.
      • The skylight must have a minimum 0.5 VLT.
      • A skylight diffuser, if used, must have a measured haze value of greater than 90% when tested according to ASTMVoluntary standards development organization which creates source technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services D1003.

    OR

    Path 3. Measurement

    Demonstrate through records of indoor light measurements that a minimum daylight illumination level of10 fc (108 lux) and a maximum of 500 fc (5,400 lux) has been achieved in applicable spaces. Measurements must be taken on a 10-foot (3-meter) grid and recorded on building floor plans.

    Provide glare control devices to avoid high-contrast situations that could impede visual tasks. However, designs that incorporate view-preserving automated shades for glare control may demonstrate compliance for only the minimum 10 fc (108 lux) illuminance level.

    OR

    Path 4. Combination

    Any of the above calculation methods may be combined to document the minimum daylight illumination in the applicable spaces.

    Option 2. For views

    Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoor environment via vision glazing between 30 inches and 90 inches above the finished floor for building occupants in 45% of all regularly occupied areas. Determine the area with direct line of sight by totaling the regularly occupied square footage that meets the following criteria:

    • In plan view, the area is within sight lines drawn from perimeter vision glazing.
    • In section view, a direct sight line can be drawn from the area to perimeter vision glazing.

    The line of sight may be drawn through interior glazing. For private offices, the entire square footage of the office can be counted if 75% or more of the area has a direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazingThe approach used to determine the calculated area of regularly occupied areas with direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing. The area determination includes full height partitions and other fixed construction prior to installation of furniture.. For multioccupant spaces, the actual square footage with a direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing is counted.

    Potential Technologies & Strategies

    Achieve a minimum daylight factorThe ratio of exterior illumination to interior illumination, expressed as a percentage. The variables used to determine the daylight factor include the floor area, window area, window geometry, visible transmittance (Tvis), and window height. of 2% (excluding all direct sunlight penetration) in space occupied for visual tasks.

    Design alterations or additions to maximize interior daylighting. Strategies to consider include building orientation, shallow floor plates, increased building perimeter, exterior and interior permanent shading devices, highperformance glazing, and high ceiling reflectance values; additionally, automatic photocell-based controls can help reduce energy use. Predict daylight factors via manual calculations or model daylighting strategies with a physical or computer model to assess footcandle levels and daylight factors achieved.

    Design alterations or additions to maximize daylighting and outdoor view opportunities. Strategies to consider include lower partition heights, interior shading devices, interior glazing and automatic photocell-based controls.

Web Tools

Brava Reader

This free software allows the user to take area measurements off of electronic floor plans to use along with credit documentation. Downloads are available for PDF, TIF, and CAD files.

Technical Guides

IEQ Space Matrix

This spreadsheet categories dozens of specific space types according to how they should be applied under various IEQ credits. This document is essential if you have questions about how various unique space types should be treated.

Views Documentation

These samples of views documentation demonstrate how to sucessfully document access to views via plan drawing, section drawing, and spreadsheet. Depending on the rating system and version, not all of these may be required. Samples generously provided by LEEDuser guest expert Allison Beer McKenzie.

LEED Online Forms: LEED-EBOM IEQ

The following links take you to the public, informational versions of the dynamic LEED Online forms for each EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems.-2009 IEQ credit. You'll need to fill out the live versions of these forms on LEED Online for each credit you hope to earn.

Version 4 forms (newest):

Version 3 forms:

These links are posted by LEEDuser with USGBC's permission. USGBC has certain usage restrictions for these forms; for more information, visit LEED Online and click "Sample Forms Download."

Daylight Measurement

Option 3

Take daylight measurements with a handheld light meter and record the values on a 10x10 grid. Enter square footage for the portions of the regularly occupied areas that meet the daylight requirement in LEED Online.

Prescriptive Compliance

Option 2

To use the prescriptive compliance path, follow a process like the one in this example, which achieves the credit using a combination of side and top lighting.

Sample LEED Online Form

Use this annotated sample of the IEQc2.4 LEED Online form to review documentation requirements for this credit.

55 Comments

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John Frey
Nov 06 2012
Guest
2 Thumbs Up

Cube Partition height 46"

My project has large floor to ceiling windows but the cube height is 46". Someone with an eye level of 42" can see sky, clouds, trees and hilltops above the 46" high cube walls. But their line of sight is not horizontal. Is the 46" cube height a fatal flaw or do we have a chance at this credit? Thx

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Kimberly Frith Sustainability Consultant, Alto Sustainability, LLC Nov 06 2012 LEEDuser Expert 1624 Thumbs Up

Lucky you, check out LEED InterpretationLEED Interpretations are official answers to technical inquiries about implementing LEED on a project. They help people understand how their projects can meet LEED requirements and provide clarity on existing options. LEED Interpretations are to be used by any project certifying under an applicable rating system. All project teams are required to adhere to all LEED Interpretations posted before their registration date. This also applies to other addenda. Adherence to rulings posted after a project registers is optional, but strongly encouraged. LEED Interpretations are published in a searchable database at usgbc.org. #10254 which specifies that the view doesn't have to be horizontal. This also applies to EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. v2009.

https://www.usgbc.org/leedinterpretations/LISearch.aspx?liaccessid=10254

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Billy Nguyen Facilities Engineer Nov 06 2012 Guest 79 Thumbs Up

Kimberly, thanks for your info, it really helps... And thanks to John for asking the same question i intended to ask :)

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John Frey Nov 07 2012 Guest 2 Thumbs Up

Thanks Kimberly, Glad to hear it's finally been clarified. Not so lucky though, I'm working on an EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. 2008 project so it looks like we are not eligible.

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Design Alaska Chief Mechanical Engineer Design Alaska
Sep 20 2012
LEEDuser Member
465 Thumbs Up

Regularly occupied: traffic flow spaces in an open floor plan

The project is an A/E office with very open floor plans, and the question is about defining 'regularly occupied space'. Much of the floor area is open space used for traffic flow to/from employee's desks (workstations). There are also bookshelves for reference materials in some of these spaces. Essentially, these questionable spaces are "corridors", but they are not enclosed by walls, so I am not sure whether or not they count as '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.'.
These 'open corridors' are 6' - 8' wide and up to 50' long. Some of them do not have views due to the positioning of workstation shelving units, but almost all of the workstations are awash in views. Should I count these 'open corridors' as "regularly occupied spaces"?

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Jill Dalglish, PE Founder & Senior Engineer, Dalglish Daylighting Sep 21 2012 LEEDuser Expert 2863 Thumbs Up

From my understanding, the areas or transition spaces between workstations are 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. (ROS), but the areas around them are not. For example, if your have 3 rows and 3 columns of workstations "islands", you would draw a box around the the workstations using the corners of the workstations as the bounding edges. In this example, you would have 2 rows and 2 columns of transition space between the workstations that are included in the ROS. But, the space around the workstations would be corridors. I may have a reference to this in a LEED 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 or other document. I'll look for it and post it if I find it.

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Design Alaska Chief Mechanical Engineer, Design Alaska Sep 21 2012 LEEDuser Member 465 Thumbs Up

Thank you for your comments, Jill. In my case, the workspaces are U-shaped desk units placed against the exterior walls. Each unit is 'back-to-back', so there is continuous "regularly occupied space" along the perimeter. But the center of the room is an 8'-wide open space that serves as circulation to/from the workspaces. Do you think this area would be 'transition space' or 'corridor'?
Also, in some parts of the room, there are workspaces on one exterior wall and a storage area on the opposite exterior wall, with the 8'-wide open space connecting them. Would this area be considered 'corridor'?
Thank you, Jill.

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Alexander Aaltonen Poyry PLC
Sep 05 2012
LEEDuser Member
48 Thumbs Up

Regularly occupied spaces in retail/grocery store?

I am dealing with a case where the only explicit "work stations" are the cashier areas in the grocery store... then there are break rooms and such, in the back part of the store where workers assumingly spend some of their time as well.

My questions are: 1. When defining the area of the 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. in the grocery store, is it necessary to account for the total floor area of the store or just the cashier areas where the employees are stationed most of the time? 2. How about break rooms/back offices in grocery stores, should they be considered as regularly occupied?

Many thanks in advance.

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Michael Miller Project Architect Sep 05 2012 Guest 1487 Thumbs Up

On #1, I think it would be difficult to entirely discount the main sales area, since employees who stock the shelves would work in those spaces for continuous periods of time, and that is part of the criteria USGBC uses for 'regularly occupied'. If they only do regular stocking at night, however, perhaps you could argue in a narrative that the area does not need to be daylit. (There aren't skylights, are there?)
Re #2: Break rooms are not counted as regularly occupied, but back offices almost certainly would be. Also, in a grocery situation, I imagine that some/all of the stockrooms would be cosidered regularly occupied workspaces, as well.

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Alexander Aaltonen Poyry PLC Sep 12 2012 LEEDuser Member 48 Thumbs Up

Big thanks, Michael.

Actually, we are pursuing option 2, Views from 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. that is. So, no need for taking skylight into account in this case.

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Rene Brana
Aug 21 2012
Guest
4 Thumbs Up

Views Documentation - Supplementing Sectional Drawings

So I have a similar issue as what Simon above described. I am working on the LEED:EB certification of a multi-tenant commercial high-rise in a densely populated urban environment. The issue we have encountered is that the building does not have any Sectional Drawing of the finished spaces. Our thought was to supplement these with pictures of the spaces from different angles on every floor. Does anyone know whether this would be sufficient to attain the credit? Has anyone run into this issue and what method would you recommend?

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Jill Dalglish, PE Founder & Senior Engineer, Dalglish Daylighting Aug 21 2012 LEEDuser Expert 2863 Thumbs Up

I do not have specific experience with this but I think that a reviewer would actually prefer photos over sections if you have them. I would go for it.

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Billy Nguyen Facilities Engineer
Jun 13 2012
Guest
79 Thumbs Up

Low partition height

Hi all,

My question is very clear and straight forward, if my building is surrounded by glass windows (3 sides). Cubical partition is 37" high, window is 38" to 70" from the floor, ceiling is 100" high. Total office area is around 25,000sqf.

Do you think my office building is qualified for this credit under View category? My observation is, in any cubical, I can have direct view to the outdoor.

Thank you all,
Billy

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Emily Catacchio Sustainability Specialist, Wight and Company Jun 22 2012 LEEDuser Moderator

Sounds like you're likely to meet this credit, however you still need to do the calculation to make sure the line of sight isn't blocked by columns or any perimeter offices.

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Billy Nguyen Facilities Engineer Jun 24 2012 Guest 79 Thumbs Up

Thank you, Emily... I will try to take some photos with the layout drawing to prove this.

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Emily Curley Sustainability Coordinator American University
Mar 15 2012
Guest
304 Thumbs Up

Occupied Spaces

My question is whether areas like corridors, bathrooms, etc should be included or merely spaces like offices, classrooms, etc where people spend time rather than just passing through.

The guidance says that "any area exclusion must be based solely on the basis of the task performed in the space and not the length of time an occupant will spend there." Daylight might be nice in a bathroom, but do I count that in my regularly occupied space?

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Jill Dalglish, PE Founder & Senior Engineer, Dalglish Daylighting Mar 15 2012 LEEDuser Expert 2863 Thumbs Up

If it is the same as NC, it is only where people stand or sit as they work. So corridors, bathrooms, breakrooms, etc. are not considered 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.. Also, I think the "not the length of time an occupant will spend there" was taken out in an addendum.

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bayard fenwick
Sep 12 2011
LEEDuser Member
50 Thumbs Up

Changes in Daylighting requirements from v2

I am working on a project that was certified under LEED EB v2. This project is now going for recertification under v3 and I am trying to figure out whether or not we will receive IEQc2.4: Daylighting again.

We are following Path 2: Prescriptive. The requirements for both versions are very similar; however, the equations to determine the daylight factorThe ratio of exterior illumination to interior illumination, expressed as a percentage. The variables used to determine the daylight factor include the floor area, window area, window geometry, visible transmittance (Tvis), and window height./ daylight zone are a little different. Does anyone have expereince with this and/ or know if the new equation makes a significant difference to your result?

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Allison Beer McKenzie Architect, Director of Sustainability, SHP Leading Design Nov 15 2011 LEEDuser Expert 4604 Thumbs Up

Our experience has been that the change in calculation methodology hasn't significantly changed the ability for spaces to comply with the credit. There are some differences, so it is, of course, a case by case basis, but generally we have found that spaces that complied before 2009 still comply in 2009.

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E H Sustainability Architect
Jul 19 2011
LEEDuser Member
820 Thumbs Up

Can I use daylight or views to satisfy multiple buildings?

I am working on an EB:O&M 2008 multiple buildings project on a campus that includes 10 buildings within the LEED boundary. To achieve the daylight and views credit, the reference guide states "Achieve a 2% daylight factorThe ratio of exterior illumination to interior illumination, expressed as a percentage. The variables used to determine the daylight factor include the floor area, window area, window geometry, visible transmittance (Tvis), and window height. in 50% of all spaces occupied for critical visual tasks OR Achieve direct line of sight to vision glazing for building occupants in 45% of 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.." Does this mean each building on campus can satisfy this credit using either daylight compliance OR views compliance, I do not need to use just one method? Thanks!

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Jill Dalglish, PE Founder & Senior Engineer, Dalglish Daylighting Sep 13 2011 LEEDuser Expert 2863 Thumbs Up

I do not have direct experience with this, but after reading this document, https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=7987 it is my understanding that each building must be done separately and therefore each building gets the choice of either daylight or views.

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Rubén Morón Rojas Codirector CIVITA
Jun 22 2011
LEEDuser Member
569 Thumbs Up

Daylight measurement

I found the following reference guide addendum about the daylight measurement path:
In the requirement it says: "Measurements must be taken on a 10 foot grid.." and in the calculations section it says : "Record indoor light measurements of all 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. on a grid that hast at least 4 points in a room and with a maximun grid interval of 5 feet."

So I dont understand how the grid should be.

Another question, do measurements need to be done at an specific hour?

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Jill Dalglish, PE Founder & Senior Engineer, Dalglish Daylighting Sep 13 2011 LEEDuser Expert 2863 Thumbs Up

Measurements can be done at any day, any time.

I don't know about the 10 ft vs. 5 ft spacing, but I would use the NC guide that says spaces that are 150 sf or larger use a 10 ft spacing and spaces that are smaller, must have at least 4 points.

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Chi-Chung Sue Steven Leach International Asia Inc. Taiwan Branch
May 03 2011
LEEDuser Member
3487 Thumbs Up

Daylight & Views Supplemental Spreadsheet: VIEWS, OPTION 2

In regards to the Daylight & Views supplemental spreadsheet which is now available under the 'Credit Resources' link in LEED Online:

When selecting to pursue Option 2, Views - this spreadsheet contains the following language under tab F "Views":
"1 Measures are defined as follows:
Measure 1. Multiple lines of sight to vision glazing in different directions at least 90 degrees apart
Measure 2. Views that include at least 2 of the following: 1) vegetation, 2) human activity, or 3) objects at least 70 feet
from the exterior of the glazing
Measure 3. Access to unobstructed views within 3 times the head height of the vision glazing
Measure 4. Access to views with a view factor of 3 or greater, per the Heschong Mahone Group study, Windows and Offices;
A study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment. (Refer to page 47, http://www.h-m-g.com/_vti_bin/
shtml.dll/downloads/Daylighting/day_registration_form.htm)"

Although these requirements have never been mentioned previously in the reference guide - are these now required in order to document compliance with this credit? If yes, are all areas with views required to comply with all 4 measures, or should each view comply with at least 1 measure?

For buildings in dense urban areas, would a view of an occupied adjacent building with windows be considered 'Measure 2: A view that includes human activity, and objects at least 70 feet from the exterior of the glazing?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 14 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

Jason, I haven't double-checked the spreasheet so I'm not sure about this, but those sound like the Exemplary PerformanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements. requirements for Views -- and thus most projects don't need to document them.

Does that make sense?

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Sonrisa Lucero Owner / Energy Engineer / Sustainability Consultant Sustainnovations, LLC
Mar 25 2011
LEEDuser Member
884 Thumbs Up

Views and Line of Sight

If only a HORIZONTAL direct line of sight from 42" to the exterior window will ultimately allow an area to qualify as having a view, why have the discussion about glazing from 30" to 90" at all? If there is a direct line of site at 42", it is already in the range. Is there something I am missing?

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Allison Beer McKenzie Architect, Director of Sustainability, SHP Leading Design Mar 30 2011 LEEDuser Expert 4604 Thumbs Up

I agree that this is really confusing and I don't know if the logic that I am using to rationalize these seemingly conflicting issues is correct, but I'll share it in case it helps. The LEED reference guide talks about views at 42", but it also discusses that other view heights may be more appropriate for areas with younger occupants or areas where work is done standing or in elevated areas. So, my thinking is that you have to meet both requirements: the horizontal viewThe approach used to confirm that the direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing remains available from a seated position. It uses section drawings that include the installed furniture to make the determination. at 42" or whatever height you justify as appropriate and through glazing that is 30" to 90" AFF. So, this would eliminate, for example, using a horizontal view of less than 30" for a younger occupancy.

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Sonrisa Lucero Owner / Energy Engineer / Sustainability Consultant, Sustainnovations, LLC Apr 06 2011 LEEDuser Member 884 Thumbs Up

Thanks for the comment, Allison. You logic is is consistent with LEED NC where the 42" could be substituted for a height that makes more sense for the occupants' use of the room. However, I still don't see why having the range is relavant unless they were allowing someone from a seated position at 42" having a direct DIAGONAL line of sight to a window at 30" or 90". I will continue to puzzle about it after I submit a template with only 42" HORIZONTAL lines of sight. :-|

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Peter Locke Sustainability Consulting Director, McKinstry Aug 17 2011 LEEDuser Member 63 Thumbs Up

Can someone please clarify this basic question for me?

The cube partitions are higher than 42", therefore seated horizontal viewThe approach used to confirm that the direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing remains available from a seated position. It uses section drawings that include the installed furniture to make the determination. is disrupted. This is a fast fail for view correct? Or does the 30"-90" still give me a chance to earn views?

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Devani PERERA Green Building Consultant, ELAN Aug 19 2011 LEEDuser Member 110 Thumbs Up

What do you think of the following explanation to rationalize these seemingly conflicting issues: The horizontal viewThe approach used to confirm that the direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing remains available from a seated position. It uses section drawings that include the installed furniture to make the determination. at 42" applies to discrete locations/points (the reference guide seems to require 1 point for each space, I am assuming they mean 1 point for each working station). Glazing from 30" to 90", on the other side, pertains to the entire surface of the area and not only to a few localized points. Any thoughts?

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Melissa Merryweather Director Green Consult-Asia
Jan 25 2011
LEEDuser Member
1119 Thumbs Up

Calculation Spreadsheet

I can't use the Supplemental Spreadsheet. I believe it might be because its not designed to be very compliant with Mac software, though this is a guess. Its asking to unprotect it, then it asks for a password, and none of the relevant passwords are accepted. I've sent the problem through to "feedback" on the on-line screen and also through the GBCI through the "contact" links, but neither really feels like the right vehicle for making technical assistance requests. So this is 2 questions, really, first --is anyone else having this problem and is there a solution? and second--if I have a problem like this what is the correct avenue for assistance? thanks!

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Chi-Chung Sue Steven Leach International Asia Inc. Taiwan Branch Jan 27 2011 LEEDuser Member 3487 Thumbs Up

I am having the same problem on a non-Mac computer.

Additionally, when I began my project, the calculation supplemental spreadsheet was not mentioned on the IEQc2.4 LEED Online form (BETA version) and I now find that this supplemental spreadsheet has additional information not listed in the Reference Guide --- after I have completed all documentation using a self-made excel spreadsheet.

Is it appropriate to upload my own excel file if I am having difficulty with the LEED Online spreadsheet?

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Melissa Merryweather Director, Green Consult-Asia Jan 27 2011 LEEDuser Member 1119 Thumbs Up

Jason,

I can answer one of my previous questions: I have received a reply from GBCI and they confirmed that Feedback is the correct venue, but I've not yet had a reply from Feedback. I will report back with any further reply I get from Feedback's technical assistance.

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Chi-Chung Sue Steven Leach International Asia Inc. Taiwan Branch Feb 08 2011 LEEDuser Member 3487 Thumbs Up

Melissa -

Have you received any additional input regarding the spreadsheet issue?

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Melissa Merryweather Director, Green Consult-Asia Feb 08 2011 LEEDuser Member 1119 Thumbs Up

Jason, I have not. I have the luxury of time on this one since we just began the Performance Period, and I expect it will be sorted out with future upgrades, but I'm thinking the same way as you, that I'll try my own excel sheet if this does not materialize in time. It might be a good idea to send your comment through Feedback as well; we can't be the only ones experiencing this problem!

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Michael Miller Project Architect Feb 09 2011 Guest 1487 Thumbs Up

Has the spreadsheet been pulled from Credit Resources for EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. IEQc2.4? The only file in there is 'skylight diagram for table.pptx'. (Or had you found it somewhere else?)

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Michael Miller Project Architect Feb 09 2011 Guest 1487 Thumbs Up

Oops. Never mind -- apparently the spreadsheet isn't available under Credit Resources until you after you get upgraded from the beta form.

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Chi-Chung Sue Steven Leach International Asia Inc. Taiwan Branch Feb 09 2011 LEEDuser Member 3487 Thumbs Up

That's our experience as well --- and that is the reason we had previously created our own spreadsheet for a project. Once we updated forms form BETA to Non-BETA, the Credit Resource spreadsheet appeared.

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Lauren Fakhoury Research Assistant, Sustainable Design Consulting, LLC Apr 11 2011 LEEDuser Member 577 Thumbs Up

The supplemental calculation spreadsheet isn't supposed to be unlocked, but you should be able to fill everything out without having to alter any of the cells. You might just have to enable macros.

I'm having a problem with the spreadsheet now where in the "views" tab it isn't summing the floor areas correctly. For 2 lines, I'm getting the "#REF!" message, but since the sheet is locked it's impossible to figure out where the error is coming from! All of my rooms are listed in the views tab correctly, there are just these two extra error lines that are coming from out of nowhere!

Has anyone else had this problem? Thanks.

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Apr 22 2011 LEEDuser Moderator

No, I haven't seen this... I would ask GBCI for help.

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Pablo Fortunato Suarez Principal ESD Consultant/Architect GreenArc Sustainable Building & Architecture
Nov 29 2010
LEEDuser Member
2483 Thumbs Up

solar light tubes/daylight scoops

Will solar light tubes and daylight scoops be acceptable is they are able to bring in the minimum illumination level prescribed in Path 3 or is this credit solely for windows, clerestories and skylights?
- this means these areas are much farther from where windows are normally able to effectively deliver these illumination levels.

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Eddy Santosa Sustainable Design Coordinator, HMC Architects Dec 01 2010 LEEDuser Expert 2211 Thumbs Up

Pablo,
Yes, you can consider those in your path 3 measurement. Solar light tubes are consider as skylight.

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Pablo Fortunato Suarez Principal ESD Consultant/Architect, GreenArc Sustainable Building & Architecture Dec 01 2010 LEEDuser Member 2483 Thumbs Up

Thank you Eddy. Regards.

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Chi-Chung Sue Steven Leach International Asia Inc. Taiwan Branch
Nov 25 2010
LEEDuser Member
3487 Thumbs Up

Views Documentation - Section Drawings?

I am currently working on a high rise building that would like to achieve the views credit. I understand that the floor plan drawings must be documented in order to calculate which 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. have access to views. However, the LEED reference guide indicates that section drawings should also be provided.

Given that this is a high rise building with a different floor plan layout on each floor, and a project with no available as-built building section drawings - are we required to provide a new section or even multiple sections for every floor of the building? There is no "typical section" in this case.

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Dan Ackerstein Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Jan 24 2011 LEEDuser Expert 6634 Thumbs Up

Jason - If I were in your shoes I would provide section plans for some kind of representative sample of layouts. Explain your situation to the reviewer and note the % of SF represented by your samples. You are basically illustrating that you know how to do the calculation correctly, which will go a long way towards the reviewer being comfortable approving your credit without seeing a plan for every space.

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Ashu Gupta Project Engineer
Jun 11 2010
Guest
535 Thumbs Up

Guest room in Hotels

In our hotel project the workspace of all permanent employees is in basement which does not meet the requirement of this credit. but if we include the guest rooms which having the more window area, we can achieve this credit. so my question is that can we include the guest areas as regularly occupied areas in this credit calculation or not?

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Jun 11 2010 LEEDuser Moderator

Guest rooms would be considered regularly occupied, so they must be included in credit calculations, which sounds like it's to your advantage here.

In order to decide which steps to take to earn the credit, I recommend our checklist under the Checklists tab above (which is a paid membership feature).

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Jeff Benavides Sr. Project Manager, ecoPreserve: Building Sustainability Nov 04 2010 LEEDuser Member 1425 Thumbs Up

Ashu and Tristan,
Would this same approach be considered for a convention center? Instead of guest rooms (meeting rooms or exhibit halls). Thanks!

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Tristan Roberts LEED AP BD+C, Editorial Director – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, Inc. Nov 12 2010 LEEDuser Moderator

I would say that meeting rooms would be considered 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., since the are similar to classrooms, which are considered regularly occupied. I'm not sure about an exhibit hall—doesn't seem like it meets the definition.

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Jordan Friedberg
May 25 2010
Guest
328 Thumbs Up

Furniture blocking light/views?

Does office furniture need to be included in these drawings? The cube setup in some shared offices (of which there are many) changes periodically. Some of the cube furniture reaches almost to the ceiling, blocking light and the view behind it. How do I account for this? Thanks!

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David Posada Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects May 25 2010 LEEDuser Expert 11746 Thumbs Up

I find there's some ambiguity in the LEED 2009 EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. Reference Guide on this issue. Page 410 shows a diagram with a "permananent partition" for the Toplighting part of the requirements, but doesn't address furniture or movable partitions specifically in the sections on daylighting.

On page 415 bottom it says "movable furnitureMovable furniture and partitions are those that can be moved to provide access to the view by the user without the need for tools or assistance from special trades and facilities management. and partitions are included in the scope of this credit. See Figure 14." but my impression is that this only affects views calculations, since that what the rest of the paragraph and Figure 14 address. That impression is reinforced by finding this same paragraph in the 2009 BD&C Reference Guide for the Views credit EQc8.2 on page 567, but I couldn't find anything in the 2009 BD&C EQc8.1 credit language that addressed furniture or non-permanent partitions in regards to Daylighting calculations.

In NC v2.2, EQc8.1, Daylight, they did specifically exclude partitions and never mentioned systems furnitureSystems furniture includes panel-based workstations comprising modular interconnecting panels, hang-on components, and drawer and filing components or a free-standing grouping of furniture items designed to work in concert., so we never included those in our daylight calcs and drawings for 2.2 projects. In NC 2.2 EQc8.2 Views, "moveable partitions and furniture are not included in the scope of this credit calculation." so we didn't include them there, either.

It's understandable that NC wouldn't address furniture and movable partitions since that is typically outside the work scope of new construction.

One might assume that EBOM would address systems furniture and movable partitions, since that's a part of space planning and O&M, but it's not clear if that's the intent of the credit or if only permanent partitons are the issue (page 413 middle).

The 4-14-2010 Addenda added "MRc2.2 Sustainable Purchasing - Furniture" to the list of Related Credits, but didn't say more than that. Hopefully others may have gotten reviewer feedback on this or a hint of an Addenda to come.

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Dan Ackerstein Principal, Ackerstein Sustainability, LLC Jun 22 2010 LEEDuser Expert 6634 Thumbs Up

I think this is an issue where the intent of the credit is paramount. EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. simply wants to understand if a given occupant (in their workspace) is enjoying the benefits of views/daylight. If furniture, movable partitions, etc... interferes with that in such a way as to eliminate the view or to reduce the amount of daylight provided, the space probably doesn't meet the intent, regardless of the original design or other factors. With views this may be a bit easier to ascertain that daylight, but both should keep the ultimate delivery of the benefit in mind.

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Michael Miller Project Architect Feb 09 2011 Guest 1487 Thumbs Up

There's another clue in the EBOMEBOM is an acronym for Existing Buildings: Operations & Maintenance, one of the LEED 2009 rating sytems. 2009 Reference Guide in addition to those David reviewed: In the Implementation section, 'Views', it states:

"Consider utilizing opportunities created by churn1. Churn is the movement of workstations and people within a space. 2. The reorganization of office space due to relocation of an employee from one workstation to another, employee turnover, or reorganization of an entire office. to incorporate greater access to views. With an existing building, creating building management specifications for future space upgrades and _systems furnitureSystems furniture includes panel-based workstations comprising modular interconnecting panels, hang-on components, and drawer and filing components or a free-standing grouping of furniture items designed to work in concert. purchases_ that incorporate views will increase the likelihood of credit achievement in future certification endeavors." (p. 414, emphasis added)

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Chris Munn Director, National Operations Chelsea Group, Ltd.
Feb 19 2010
LEEDuser Member
1302 Thumbs Up

Regularly Occupied

Does "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." exclude vacant tenant spaces? If a floor plan is designed but currently does not have a tenant, couldn't you included the square footage of any private offices on the perimeter in those vacant suites?

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Jenny Carney Principal, YR&G Feb 22 2010 LEEDuser Expert 5845 Thumbs Up

Chris,

In general, if your vacant space is less than 10% of the floor area, you can choose to include or exclude it from any given credit at your whimsy. If vacant areas are greater than 10% up to 50% of the floor area, you need to follow the guidelines for accounting for those spaces in the technical guidance document issued by USGBC - info about the maximum allowable vacancy and a link to the guidance document can be found here: http://www.usgbc.org/News/USGBCInTheNewsDetails.aspx?ID=4190

Looks like for this credit, vacant spaces "may be excluded." This hints that you can include them if you'd like, but doesn't explicitly seem to offer that. Assuming you can include them, I'd think you'd definitely need to wholly do one or the other, and not selectively pick the vacant perimeter offices to include and leave out other vacant spaces in the interior that would be regularly occupied if the building were full.

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