NC v2.2 EQc3.1: Construction IAQ Management Plan—During Construction

The credit is about indoor air quality and absorbtive materials that were not installed properly or stored properly will degrade IEQ. First, your team should read and research this topic and honestly ask yourselves if you have met this portion of the credit. Second, if the answe ris yes, you'll want photos of material storage (under cover, on pallets) or wet work being done with the absence of absorbtive materials. For example, do you have pictures of the project that catch items on pallets? What about pictures during painting that show that the acoustical ceiling panels are not installed? Did the architect or engineers take photos?

Benjamin, the Checklist tab above gives a helpful step by step guide to earning this credit. You'll see that a lot of pieces are covered there, including duct protection, housekeeping, and more.

Other rating systems, such as CI, allow a narrative from the construction team in lieu of photos for this credit. I can't guarantee it will work, but you can certainly always try submitting a narrative from the construction team explaining the situation and attesting that 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 was followed during construction. It may not fly, but it can't hurt to try.

I would always follow manufacturer's recommendations, but most of what we have been installing in the past couple years can be installed directly from the box/roll.

Assuming this is in the past tense and air handlers were used during construction, I don't know of a way for you to earn the credit.

Thank you for the reply.

If the ductwork was thoroughly cleaned and the proper filtration added after the cleaning would this achieve the credit?

Franklin- there is no existing alternative compliance path that would cover the strategy you are proposing. You could certainly chose to submit your actions in the "alternative compliance path" portion of the LEED template, but since there is nothing that really allows you to use the method you are proposing, it would be up to the GBCI reviewer's discretion as to if you are awarded the credit or not. Since the credit language is so clear in requiring MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8, I would be surprised if they award you the credit.

Erik, you've got an answer to this question over on the LEED 2009 version of this credit forum.

SMACNA 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. Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction recommends protecting HVAC system during construction. Ideally you would like to not run permanent installed system during construction. If possible, try to use a temporary system. If you have to use the system, the return air has to be protected with a MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filter to avoid any particulates and pollutants entering the duct system from the construction interiors. The supply air side also has to be protected, too. If you can’t install the filters then meet other requirements of HVAC protection. The ducts have to be cleaned and started up before occupancy to remove any leftover debris. You may find it helpful to provide a descriptive narrative of the project approach taken to comply with SMACNA guidelines and protect the ductwork in absence of MERV 8 filters. Refer to the referenced SMACNA guidelines http://www.smacna.org/bookstore/index.cfm?fuseaction=search_results&keyw...,

If the newly renovated spaces are independent air supply from construction spaces then they don’t require MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters. Construction spaces would still benefit with filters on return and supply ducts.