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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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9 Comments
temporary use of hvac during construction
I have another question similar to above. We have a project that is substantially complete with construction, the cleaning crews are in right now. Only flooring remains to be installed. The concrete floors have a moisture content that is too high and the contractor is asking if he can run the hvac to dehumidify the spaces and get the moisture content to acceptable limits for final flooring installation. Can we approve this as long as the MervMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters are used at the return air intakes? Do we interpret this rule correctly for this instance? Thanks!
And a more subtle question, the contractor is considering "occupancy" the end of construction. The local municipality is awarding occupancy without having completed installation of the flooring (rubber flooring, stained concrete and carpet). They are suggesting that construction is completed and they can run the hvac without filtering and not violate the intent because construction dust is over. But the intent includes all airborne elements right, the intent of this credit is to prevent all elements entering the return air ducts, including anything related to the installation of flooring, is this correct? I know the answer, just looking for confirmation. Thanks.
Keelan, I'm sorry for the slow answer to your question, but I hope it will comfort you to know that your logic appears sound in both instances.
Using temporary air handling units
Our project developed and implemented a Construction IAQ Management PlanA construction IAQ management plan outlines measures to minimize contamination in a specific project building during construction and describes procedures to flush the building of contaminants prior to occupancy. that followed the referenced SMACNA Guidelines. The project documentation states that MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. 8 filters were installed during construction when the permanent HVAC system was in use. A copy of the project's Construction IAQ Management Plan and photos highlighting the implemented IAQ measures have been provided. In our photo log we identified that temporary AHUs were used during construction to protect permanent HVAC systems.
The LEED construction reviewer is requesting documentation showing MERV 8 filters were used for the temporary AHUs used during construction, however, this is not a credit requirement. The credit requires MERV 8 filters be used to protect the permanent HVAC systems. There is no requirement in the LEED guidelines that states that the MERV 8 filters be used for temporary air handler units and the LEED manual suggests the use of temporary air handlers to protect the permanent HVAC systems.
The manual requirement for LEED for Schools 2007 states "If permanently installed air handlers are used during construction, filtration media with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 8 shall be used at each return air grille, as determined by ASHRAE 52.2-1999. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy."
We started up our HVAC system at the end of construction and used the MERV 8 filters to comply with the credit requirements, however a few months earlier in the project we used temporary air handlers that are not part of the permanent HVAC system.
Is there a requirement for MERV 8 filters to be used during construction on the temporary AHU's when the permanent HVAC system is not in use?
Alison- you are correct, there is no requirement for any specific MERVMinimum efficiency reporting value. for temporary heat. If I were in your shoes, I would politely point this out to the project reviewer in a narrative.
Thanks Allison! It's good to get confirmation that we adhered to the requirements.
Hi Alison,
Can you follow-up on what happened to this particular credit? I find it strange whenever a LEED Reviewer asks something that is not in the credit requirement. Does anybody know, if we appeal/contest a credit and is granted, should we be refunded for the fee?
Manny
Romano,
I think it's unlikley you'll get a refund, but it can't hurt to ask!
I have heard of appeal fees being waived in cases where the GBCI review team was really out of line. Good luck!
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