Rating System

LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

This credit interpretation request refers to LEED CI EQc5 on Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control that aims to "minimize exposure of building occupants to potentially hazardous particulates, biological contaminants and chemical pollutants that adversely impact air and water quality." The client will be installing printer/copiers and multifunction office equipment in copy/print rooms with average monthly print volumes that range from 200 to 50,000. The client expects to install two machines per room. Based on the low emissions of printer/copiers in this expected monthly volume range as compared to existing standards described below, we believe that floor to ceiling partitions and separate exhaust under negative pressure are not required and request an interpretation based on the following: Based on data collected during the manufacturer\'s rigorous testing, office printer/copier and multifunction devices emit very small amounts of ozone, volatile organic compounds and particulates (paper dust and toner). The room concentrations for these materials were estimated for two "worst case" scenarios using emissions data from Xerox office equipment likely to be installed in the customer site. The room concentration estimates were based on emissions tests made by operating Xerox machines continuously for extended periods in a small test chamber having a well-mixed atmosphere and 100% re-circulated air. Since normal use patterns are not continuous-run, actual room concentrations are expected to be substantially less than those presented here. In addition, the scenarios presented here represent print volumes three to six times greater than maximum monthly volumes expected based on the client\'s actual use history. Predicated room concentrations: Scenario 1: Two installed machines running simultaneously for 1 hr/day (145,200 prints/month) -Ozone 0.02 ppm -Particulates 0.01 mg/m3 -2-ethoxyethanol 0.04 mg/m3 -Toluene 0.12 mg/m3 -Hexanal 0.03mg/m3 -Total VOCs 0.19 mg/m3 Scenario 2: Two installed machines running simultaneously for 2 hrs/day (290,400 prints/month) -Ozone 0.02 ppm -Particulates 0.02 mg/m3 -2-ethoxyethanol 0.08 mg/m3 -Toluene 0.2 mg/m3 -Hexanal 0.06 mg/m3 -Total VOCs 0.34 mg/m3 Reference standards: -Ozone 0.1 ppm OSHA -Particulates 15 mg/m3 OSHA; Particulates (PM 10) 0.05 mg/m3 LEED IAQ limit -2-ethoxyethanol 18 mg/m3 ACGIH; 1.8 mg/m3 OSHA (proposed) -Toluene 188 mg/m3 ACGIH; 753 mg/m3 OSHA -Hexane 176 mg/m3 ACGIH; 1800 mg/m3 OSHA (hexane used as reference since no standards exist for hexanal) -Total VOCs 0.5 mg/m3 LEED IAQ limit