Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.1

Inquiry

In order to obtain this credit, does this apply, and if so to what extent does this apply, to school science lab classrooms? School science classrooms sometimes function as "labs" in the sense that chemical experiments where potentially hazardous chemicals are used are done under chemical safety hoods, which are exhausted to the outdoors. These hoods are usually operated at night to maintain the hood interior under negative pressure. Chemicals are stored in cabinets in separate rooms, (prep rooms). Sometimes, however, the classrooms are used for non-chemical-using subjects, such as physics. The questions are: 1. Do all science classrooms fall under this classification? In order to apply for this credit do we need to exhaust classroom labs? Do we need to exhaust the classroom lab if it has no chemical safety hood (examples are physics lab, earth science lab, biology lab, etc.) If distinctions can be made, to what extent must the uses of these rooms be prescribed? 2. Do the prep. Rooms fall under this classification? (Again in order to apply for this credit do we need to exhaust these rooms? Please be aware that the students usually do not have access to these rooms. They are usually locked, and any chemicals are in safety cabinets.) 3. If any of the above applies, can the exhaust rate of 0.5 cfm be reduced during unoccupied periods, such as night and week ends in order to minimize energy usage? If so, should the higher level of exhaust be tied to occupancy sensors, on a timed cycle, or manually operated?