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Good IAQ benefits everyone
Managing indoor air quality (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.) systematically during construction is becoming more and more common as contractors gain more experience with LEED. It benefits the health of everyone who works on the site, not just the eventual occupants of the building.
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16 Comments
SMACNA Chapter 3... Occupied buildings only?
Hi,
The SMACNA Chapter 3 is for “Guidelines for Occupied buildings under construction”, and it seems that a lot of the measures are indeed for renovation projects or projects where part of the building is completed & occupied while construction is carried out.
For completely new buildings, do we still need to meet SMACNA guidelines or can we earn the credit by just meeting the two other LEED requirements?
If SMACNA needs to be followed even in new build, are there specific sections that should be implemented?
Thanks
David Posada replied Sustainability Manager, GBD Architects Mar 09 2010
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.
AHU Filters
Hi,
we are MEP contractors in Abu Dhabi, working on LEED project.
In specifications all AHUs are given 2 sets of disposable filters, prefilter (panel) & main (bag) filter. We are going to use AHUs during construction. So we'll be using MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filter during construction & will replace them by MERV 13 before handing over.
Now, question is, do we use both pre & bag filters of MERV 8 during construction & then before occupancy MERV 13 ratings? It will add cost as good no. of AHUs will be used. Or can we use just one pre or bag filter of MERV 8 & 13 rating?
Thanks in advance
Amruta Kshemkalyani replied Sustainability Engineer, DSI Apr 25 2010
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?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 28 2010
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.
Amruta Kshemkalyani replied Sustainability Engineer, DSI Apr 29 2010
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?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 29 2010
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.
MERV8 filter replacement
Does anyone have any idea how long before a MERV8 filter needs to be replaced? If construction is going longer than three months while using the filters - how can you tell if they need to be replaced?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC May 07 2010
I think this is up to the filter manufacturer and is given in their specs.
Rob Watson replied May 07 2010
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.
Direct Exhaust Systems
Does a project where all exhaust air is exhausted directly to the outside need MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters at each grill to meet EQc3.1?
This is a lab project where supply air is 100% OA. There is no mixing between supply and exhaust.
Has anyone dealt with this in the past? Thanks
Allison Beer McKenzie replied Architect/Director of Sustainability, SHP Leading Design Jul 08 2010
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.
Erik Ruoff replied The Green Engineer, LLP Jul 08 2010
Thanks Allison - much appreciated!
IEQc3.1 and IEQc3.2
According to LEED Online Form, the same 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 would be used in both IEQc3.1 and IEQc3.2.
In IEQc3.2 Form, it is said that "Upload the IAQ Management Plan for the project building; highlight IAQ management practices implemented during construction".
However, IEQc3.2 is about post-construction IAQ management practices.
So, could I apply for IEQc3.2 only? with an IAQ Management Plan which may not meet requirements in IEQc3.1.
Allison Beer McKenzie replied Architect/Director of Sustainability, SHP Leading Design Jul 16 2010
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.
Xing Shi replied Dr., Southeast University Jul 19 2010
Thank you !
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