Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2

Inquiry

The following are the extracts from ASHRAE 90.1 (Section 5.4.3) for the Air Leakage requirements:- 5.4.3.2 Fenestration and Doors. Air leakage for fenestration and doors shall be determined in accordance with NFRC 400. Air leakage shall be determined by a laboratory accredited by a nationally recognized accreditation organization, such as the National Fenestration Rating Council, and shall be labeled and certified by the manufacturer. Air leakage shall not exceed 5.0 L/sm2 for glazed swinging entrance doors and for revolving doors and 2.0 L/sm2 for all other products. Exceptions to 5.4.3.2: (a) Field-fabricated fenestration and doors. (b) For garage doors, air leakage determined by test at standard test conditions in accordance with ANSI/ DASMA 105 shall be an acceptable alternate for compliance with air leakage requirements. Our project is in Thailand, all the fenestration and doors are field fabricated, with the exception of a two doors at a special Manufacturing Process Room and the Mezzanine Office - this can be as indicated via a floorplan, if necessary. We would like to seek exceptions for compliance to NFRC 400 air leakage test for these two doors based on the following reasons:- 1. There is no accredited laboratory in Thailand that can readily certify the NFRC 400 requirements. To set up the test apparatus specifically for the two doors for this project only will not be cost effective. 2. The air conditioned areas enclosed by these doors are relatively small in comparison to the total factory area which is mainly naturally ventilated. 3. As the doors will be manufactured off-site, the quality and air leakage performance should be able to match that of the field-fabricated type as allowed under exception (a), will this be acceptable?