Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction, LEED BD+C: Core and Shell, LEED BD+C: Schools

Rating System Version

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

Inquiry

Our project is a multifamily residential building and we would like an interpretation on the requirements of this credit: For Interior Lighting: Based on the type of spaces and their occupancy hours, we intend to use both option 1 and option 2 to meet the interior lighting requirements: a) Option 1 for all corridors since they are required to be lit during the night for the safety of the residents. Please confirm. b) Option 2 for all the other common areas- clubhouse, maintenance rooms etc, since these will function during business hours only. Please confirm. c) Per CIR ruling 1/28/2008, 'Defensible exceptions can be made at entrances and exits to the building where required for safety'. Therefore the stairwells (which are means of egress and have to be lit at a certain light level per code) will be excluded from meeting the requirements of either option 1 or 2. Please confirm. d) We feel that the residential unit lighting should be exempt from meeting the interior lighting requirements because of the following reasons: i) For the residential units regular business hours do not apply-hence option 2 will not be applicable. ii) In order to meet option 1 photometric data of the luminaires is required to ensure that the angle of the maximum candela of each installed luminaire intersects opaque surfaces and not exit out through the windows. Residential grade fixtures do not have photometric data available -so the design team is unable to determine the angle of maximum candela for each interior luminaire to meet requirements of option 1. iii) It can be assumed that most lights in the residential units will be turned off during the late night period so there will be minimal light escaping through the windows. iv) Further, the light will be prevented from escaping through the windows because of the interior blinds that will be provided at each window. v) Finally, it appears from CIR ruling 1/28/08 that the dormitory areas are exempt from meeting the interior lighting requirements. Based on the above, we would like to know if the permanently installed interior lighting in the residential units can be exempt from meeting the interior lighting requirements of this credit? e) The garage is surrounded by units on four sides,however there is a 15 foot gap between the garage and the units. The garage is open on two sides to be classified as an open garage. Since the garage is surrounded on all sides, the living units prevent light from spilling out beyond the building perimeter. Does this meet the intent of option 1? For exterior lighting We will be providing all exterior lighting fixtures to meet the requirements of this credit. Clarification is needed for the wall mounted light fixtures in the recessed covered resident balconies -should they be assumed as building façade fixtures or would they be regarded as canopy/overhang fixtures?