Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Schools, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - Schools 2007, v2 - LEED 2.0, v3 - LEED 2009

Inquiry

This project is a 147,000 call center. The owner procures air quality testing services on all their new and existing buildings and have done so before they ever did any LEED projects. They recognize the value of superior air quality in terms on worker productivity and avoidance of risk. On this new project the contractor was very diligent in ensuring that low VOC paints, adhesives and sealants were used. No wood materials with added Urea formaldehyde were allowed on the project. The contractor collected MSDS sheets on all these materials. All the carpet meets the CRI Green Label Plus certification. The contractor developed and implemented a Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan which followed the SMACNA guidelines for buildings under construction. (The project will not achieve the LEED credit EQc3.1 because there was no MERV 13 filtration provided) In order to ensure superior indoor air quality at the new facility the team is employing air quality testing. Along with testing for the elements required for this credit the team will also test for mold. The testing team is utilizing the EPA Protocol for Environmental Requirements, Baseline IAQ and Materials, for the Research Triangle Park Campus, Section 01445 as required per the LEED Reference Guide credit EQ3.2. The team also referred to the guidelines in the LEED CI Reference Guide credit EQ3.2 for air testing in occupied buildings. The testing began before the building was occupied and the tests for Formaldehyde and total VOC\'s appeared to be within the required levels although all results are not yet in. The testing for particulate level was quite high. The cause of the high particulate appears to be dust in the underfloor area and mechanical rooms. Since the initial testing the building has been about 25% occupied. The underfloor areas and mechanical rooms have been cleaned again. The building ventilation system will provide minimum ventilation rate 3 hours prior to daily occupancy and continue while the space is occupied. The rate of outside air will be at least .30 cfm / sq ft. If levels are exceeded the space will be flushed out by increasing the rate of outdoor air during unoccupied hours. Any additional adjustments to the mechanical system will addressed if needed. Additional testing will be done until all the required test samples meet the concentration levels. Can this method be used to meet the requirements to achieve credit EQc3.2?