Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED O+M: Existing Buildings, LEED ID+C: Commercial Interiors, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED BD+C: Schools

Rating System Version

v3 - LEED 2008, v2 - Schools 2007, v2 - LEED 2.2, v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

Our project is an Equestrian Center comprised of an office facility, two (2) onsite staff residences, boarding stables, equipment and hay storage building, a manure compactor/dumpster containment building ,a covered round riding pen, and a covered riding Arena for shows in addition to fenced grazing pastures. We would appreciate some validation of proposed IEQ interpretations of the specialty areas. 1) The naturally ventilated Equipment, hay, and manure dumpster/compactor storage buildings are isolated in their location (i.e. not connected to habitable spaces), are not regularly occupied / habitable and therefore not applicable for the IEQ credits, with the exception of IEQc4.1 - 4.4. We intend to exclude these square footages when calculating the remaining IEQ credits. 2) The naturally ventilated stables are connected to the Office/Residential components. They are, essentially the horse residences and staff occupy the areas regularly. We intend to exclude the central aisle, wash, tack, and feed stalls as ancillary areas, calculating the Veterinarian, boarding, and lesson stalls as "private offices" as they will only accommodate a horse and two (2) human occupants comfortably (approximately 150 sq ft each ) and will not function as "multi-occupant spaces" regularly. We would apply the appropriate IEQ credits to these areas. 3) The naturally ventilated Covered Round riding pen is open on all sides and has no walls. We would interpret this area as an outdoor facility, thus not being applicable to any of the IEQ credits. 4) The naturally ventilated Covered Riding Arena is open on all sides with the exception of public restrooms. We would interpret this area as an outdoor facility, thus not being applicable to any of the IEQ credits. Please confirm/clarify the following: A) For general USGBC future reference, please define "indoors." Is it based on percentage of wall to fenestration opening? Please confirm that the stables would be considered "indoors" as they have walls and secured points of entry, although they are naturally ventilated and have no glazing at the stall window openings, only solid hinged shutters for security and inclement weather. We are currently planning to include these areas in the IEQc4.1-4.4, IEQc6.1, IEQc8.1, & IEQc8.2 credits. However, we intended to exclude them from IEQc3.2 and IEQc5.0 as they do not seem realistically applicable. B) Per CIR dated 04/19/2004, animal holding areas within a building are not exempt from daylight (and Views) requirements. However, we propose that the horse stalls would not need to comply with IEQc6.1 adjustable task lighting requirements as the horses do not perform "visually critical" tasks. However, overhead lighting will be provided for the staff/human occupants within the stables to supplement day-lighting as required in a "multi-occupant" application. Is this an acceptable approach?