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Easy credit for most buildings
Buildings that provide views to the outdoors have proven to enhance productivity, testing performance, and overall occupant comfort and well-being. This credit is easy to achieve if you also plan to design for open space planning, placing occupied spaces near exterior windows with large glazing areas. and design spaces to use furniture that does not block views from a seated position, such as low or transparent partitions between workstations. If there is a standard design for every floor or standard spaces that are repeated throughout the design, this credit calculation may be relatively easier as calculations can be duplicated for each floor. Designing for compliance with this credit will likely be complementary with IEQc8.1: Daylight and Views—...
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8 Comments
Question Regarding Requirements
I am trying to understand the requirements of this credit as it relates to the vision glazing and direct line of sight requirement. The requirement states, "Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoor environment via vision glazing between 30 inches and 90 inches above the finish floor.....". Does this mean the glazing must be continuous between 30 and 90 inches or can it occupy an area between 30 and 90 inches? And, if the glazing need not be continuous, in regards to the direct line of sight at 42", if the glazing started at 46" would this window meet the requirements of this credit?
Thanks so much for your thoughts on this matter.
Joshua Radoff replied Principal, LEEDuser Primary Author, YRG sustainability Sep 30 2009
John,
The glazing doesn't have to be contiguous. And it can be anywhere in the hight range (2.5" to 7.5"). The idea is that an occupant, sitting down, can see outside in some fashion or another without obstruction. But they want you to be able to orient yourself to the outside, so looking up to the sky through a skylight or above 7.5" doesn't give the same visual cues (the way looking out the window at an airplane can be disorienting).
That said, I've worked on a LEED prison project, and we were advocating for views for the inmates, and it was never clear how much area would be required to see out of. Would a tiny slit (which is all they were providing) be sufficient? We thought not and didn't submit for the credit, but I wonder if anyone knows of a lower limit here.
Thanks,
Josh
Direct Line of Sight @ 42" w/ glazing starting at 46"?
Josh,
Thanks for your insight. It does make sense that the glazing wouldn't need to be contiguous but I had a GBCI reviewer make a remark that made me think that it needed to be. Now I only need to understand the direct line of sight at 42", and whether glazing beginning at 46" and going up to 90" would hinder meeting this portion of the requirement. When I am reading the requirement they refer to "obstruction to the perimeter glazing". Looking at Figure 1 on page 567 of the BD+C reference manual they show the glazing beginning below 42" but the intent of the credit is to be able to see over obstructions and have a view to the outside. I would love to hear from anyone who pursued this credit with glazing beginning above 42" and either did or did not achieve this credit.
Thanks,
John Drigot
Eddy Santosa replied Sustainable Design Coordinator, HMC Architects May 16 2010
John,
You might refer to page 568 that explains "horizontal viewThe approach used to confirm that the direct line of sight to perimeter vision glazing remains available from a seated position. It uses section drawings that include the installed furniture to make the determination. at appropriate eye height".
You may allow using higher eye height level if you can provide narrative that your typical eye height for your room is higher than 42" (typical seated eye height). For example, you can use higher number for car showroom if you can explain that majority occupants will do their activities by standing up. For school application example, it may apply to dance classroom.
As I remember, there was a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide regarding this one.
Creating the Floor Plan to show direct access to views
I still don't quite understand how those lines are determined on the floor plan? Do i take a line at a 45 degree angle from the center point of each window? Where they intersect I'm assuming is NOT the access to view so that area will be deducted from my room area.
I have seen many examples of the floor plan - but nowhere does it explain HOW to show the direct access.
Thanks,
Kim
Joshua Lloyd replied Phillip Markwood Architects Oct 08 2009
What we have done to determine the access to views is to start your line on the outside edge of the window and take it to the opposite inside edge of the window. And then just extend those lines until they hit a wall. So in most cases, your angle is much greater than 45% from the center point.
Glazing in Doors
Can someone confirm that we are allowed to count glazing in doors for this credit? I realize that the door glazing will have to meet the same criteria as the windows. Thanks for your help.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Feb 12 2010
Yes, glazing in doors is fine as long as it provides the required line of sight.
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