NC 2009 IEQc3.1: Construction IAQ Management Plan—During Construction

You don't need MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 13 filters for the flush out. Only MERV 8. Then for EQc5 you would need to use MERV 13 where required by that credit.

Sharon- reviewers have been very specific in the past that MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters must be used if permanent HVAC systems are used during construction. You could consider using temporary heating systems to increase the temps and still be eligible for the credit.

Thanks Allison for your reply. It seems the intent of using MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8
Filters in permanent HVAC would be to prevent contamination of the ductwork. The daikon system units are permanent but are non-ducted. They are essentially super efficient space heating & cooling devices.
To bring in space heaters would be extra labor, gas, travel... Which seems to defeat many goals of LEED. There is filtration in the daikon units but no where close to MERV 8 rating. Any other ideas of who I could contact at USGBC to review this specialized system? Thanks again for your comments & suggestions.

You should be fine as long as it is protected when it stored as well as once it is installed.

Thanks Allison. I was looking for all the RefGuide and other documents and couldn't find any info about on-site building. But I think as you say, that storing and protecting on installation will work. Tx.

You can still apply for the credit.

However, you still need to create an 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. Management Plan for the project. Also you will also need to ensure "absorptive materials (installed or stored on-site) were protected from moisture damage during the construction and preoccupancy phases."

Then select the option "Permanently installed air handling units WERE NOT operated during construction" on the form.

In my past LEED projects some 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. Management Plans During Construction required the use of only one entrance at a time; some didn't. All were approved by the LEED reviewer.

As long as the integrity of the credit is upheld using more than one entrance should not disqualify you from this credit.

I am surprised a LEED reviewer required the construction team to only use one entrance. Did EQ C3.1 get denied due soley to this item?

They did deny it originally because we didn't have a photo of the mat and I think we were missing some "scheduling" photos.

Thanks,

Brad- this obviously isn't ideal, but it won't necessarily prevent credit achievement because the credit doesn't specify exactly have absorptive materials need to be protected. Any GWB that gets wet will definitely have to be replaced. I would also insist on some sort of regular monitoring of the installed GWB to make sure any board that has gotten wet will be identified. I would also see if the can install some protective sheeting over either the installed GWB or the open curtainwall areas to minimize likelihood of exposure.

Michelle- I find this odd as well, but I unfortunately don't have an answer for you as far as why this is the case. Since the credit requirements haven't really changed, though, we are just going about the credit the same way we always have.

I heard a while back that it was not intentional that photo documentation of only moisture control measures was being asked for, and the form would be updated to be broader. However, I would have expected the form to be updated by now, so I don't know if this is still in the works.

Caroline- I am a little bit confused about you attempting to certify phase 2 only and not phase 1. Make sure you're meeting the Minimum Program Requirements that require the certification of a whole building. As long as you are meeting that requirement, you should simply protect the ductwork installed earlier (including ducts that remain that have been in place for years) by wrapping them, sealing them etc. during the phase two construction as part of your 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. management plan during construction.

Allison,

Thank you. I thought sealing them would be adequate but wanted to sound off on the forum to see if that's how others felt also.

As for excluding Phase 1, it gets a bit complicated. Phase 1 involves a minimal amount of work. Since Phase 2 is so extensive it requires whole building certification. While we are being cautiously aware of what may affect final certification we did not have the time to begin the documentation during Phase 1.

I think you would want to do everything possible to limit interior machine exhaust, but I'm not sure I would go so far as saying that it disqualifies you from earning the point. How many heaters would you be using, for how long? How much ventilation would the space be getting, i.e., how open is it?

Keerthi- I don't know of anything specifically regarding termite treatment, but you should follow typical SMACNA guidelines of exhausting the space during use, keeping the product away from absorptive materials and covering or removing the product container from the site when application is complete.

Can you give an example of what you mean by pre-conditioned?

I can't think of an example where this is required, but without hearing more from you I don't want to rule it out.

well, im guessing that my client is talking about materials such as cabinets that will need to be worked on, onsite that will distrupt the 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. for the construction site.

If the cabinets are being worked on onsite, this falls under the "Source Protection" part of your 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. management plan, and there would be requirements around that. For more see the Checklists tab above, and the Documentation Toolkit.

It is definitely possible to do IEQc3.2 without doing IEQc3.1. While it is common to do both and therefore have an 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. management plan that covers both, it is not required. While the form gives you the option to pull in a plan that has been uploaded through IEQc3.1, it also gives you the opportunity of uploading a new or different plan as well. If you did not use an IAQ management plan during construction, you simply would not have any practices implemented during construction to highlight, because your IAQ plan would only have procedures used after construction such as information on the flush-out you performed.

Thank you !

Erik- I've had this exact situation before! The good news for you is that since you are not using any return air as part of your supply system, you do not have to use the MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters, as the MERV 8 requirement only applies to return air, not outside air. You still want to take steps, though, to make sure that construction dust and debris does not end up in your supply duct work by making sure the system is closed and sealing any branches that are not being used during construction.

Thanks Allison - much appreciated!

In this case, how would you fill out the IEQc3.1 2009 template? Assuming the HVAC/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. was being operated during construction. The LEED Online form asks you to select an option and this option would require filling information about the filtration media so I am just wondering how you could circumvent that via LEED Online. Maybe select the "special circumstances" option?

Courtney, the 'special circumstances" box sounds like the best option for this, I agree.

I think this is up to the filter manufacturer and is given in their specs.

It mostly has to do with the dust-holding capacity of the filter and how dusty the air is. Generally, when your pressure drop gets above 1.5 inches you need to change your filter. If there's a lot of plastering and sanding going on, then you might need to change the filter in less than three months, but if you're doing a "normal" amount associated with drywall taping only, then you should not have to change the filter more than once every 3 months.

The previous question was a bit silly.
We are thinking of using MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 or equivalent filter as pre filter & EU7, bag filter during construction.
& these filters to replace by EU4, pre filter & MERV 13 bag filter, just before occupancy.
Does it comply with IEQ c3.1?

Amruta, the requirement is to have a MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filter at "each return air grille" during construction. Would you be meeting this requirement? I am not familiar with how EU7 compares with MERV 8.

Thanks Tristan,

So if we use MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filteration media at each return air grille; then we can use any type of filters (pre & bag in this case) at 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.?
is it right?

One more question, grades of EU also give same dust spot efficiency & arrestance% as MERV.
So can we use EU filters instead of MERV? (As suppliers here, don't know much about MERVs)
But then how to write it down in LEED submittal, there is no column for MERV equivalent?

Amruta, the requirement is for MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters at each return grille, so I don't see any issue with doing that, and then using any type of filter on 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..

I believe that EU and MERV testing protocols are different, so you can't just substitute then for each other. I think it would take a bit more research to better understand this and to be able to justify that.

Maya,
Even though it was written for occupied buildings, the standard is still required under LEED for new construction as the measures can provide greater protection of building materials from absorbing moisture and air-borne contaminants, and keep dust and contaminants from settling inside HVAC equipment and duct work.
The 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. Management Plan that is written up and submitted for the project needs to list and describe the SMACNA measures that would apply to the specific project, and would need to include measures from all 5 of the major areas - HVAC Potection, Source Control, etc. You'll also want to photograph the main measures implemented during construction as that's often been needed for documentation.