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What schools need to do
All 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. (like classrooms or auditioriums) must have at least one occupant comfort control.
For individual spaces or open-plan offices, at least 50% of occupants must be able to control their individual comfort conditions.
A lot of options...
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6 Comments
Is listing info for multi-occupant spaces actually optional?
If in the Reference Guide one of the Requirements for the credit is to "Provide comfort system controls for all shared 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. to enable adjustments that meet group needs and preferences" and the Intent mentions classrooms as a multi-occupant space, why does the LEED Online template, under Table IEQc6.2-1 list the check-off item "Project includes shared multi-occupant spaces" as optional? It seems to me if the project is a school, that there would automatically be classrooms, so it would automatically have multi-occupant spaces. So is this documentation really optional?
Renee, I think you are misunderstanding the LEED Online form. If you have 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., this requirement is not optional. The form allows it to be checked or unchecked depending on the project specifics.
Unless I'm missing something?
You were right Tristan - I do have to include it in the documentation. My issue was the use of the word "Optional". I got the following response from USGBC:
Issue: [abbreviated version] is this documentation REALLY optional, since classrooms are part of a school? Even if controls are provided to these spaces, do we truly have the option to NOT provide the documentation. This "option" seems very confusing to be offered to a Schools project.
USGBC Response: You raise a valid point. The shared multi-occupant documentation is required for all projects that include shared 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.. The “(optional)” is meant to acknowledge that there may be projects that do not include shared multi-occupants spaces, NOT to indicate that this section is optional if the project does include these types of spaces (however unlikely this may be for schools projects).
The “Optional” aspect of this section of the form will be clarified in the next version of the form; it will be replaced by a required selection: “Does the project include shared multi-occupant spaces? (Y/N)”. If your project includes shared multi-occupants spaces, please check this box and provide the related documentation.
Air Speed Control
Is a ceiling fan with individual control considered a thermal comfort control under IEQ6.1 for a multi-occupant space? (air speed)
Yes, I would say so, based on the credit requirements as explained above. It would probably need to affect the air speed in the whole room, so it would have to be sized/designed properly.
Also, it depends on what is your heating and cooling strategy for the space. if ceiling fans is the only means of achieving thermal comfort, then ability to individually control them would be considered compliant. Hope that helps.
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