Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.2

Inquiry

Project information: Chicago, IL Urban Site, Large Retail Store The project team requests review of the proposed IEQp1 compliance path detailed below: The projects engineering team has found through testing and ongoing performance monitoring, that the air quality in the store can be properly maintained with less than the outdoor air amount required from the ventilation rate procedure method for retail sales. A study field testing the ventilation design, pollutant levels and IAQ of a Prototype Store located in a cold climate, has been completed and documented by an independent research center. The study has been submitted to USGBC for review as part of this CIR. The study evaluates different retail product mixes and tests the stores IAQ through seasonal extremes including warm humid, summers and cold winters. Multiple measurements were performed corresponding to different ventilation values of outdoor air. The outside air quantity shall be varied between a minimum of 0.15 CFM per square foot and 0.30 CFM per square foot based on CO2 measurements in the occupied zones. The minimum of 0.15 CFM per square foot has been determined to provide good indoor air quality in a study performed for the project owner by the Minnesota Building Research Center. When properly utilized, this compliance methodology offers designers the opportunity to optimize energy use, HVAC equipment selection, system design and IAQ. Please advise on whether or not this compliance methodology is acceptable for IEQp1. Thank you for your consideration.