Best Practices

Projects may use a combination of Option 1 (rate and quantity calculations) and Option 2 (stream protection) to meet the requirements of this credit.

When alarms are activated by CO₂ monitoring devices, facilities personnel and building occupants, if appropriate, need to be aware of the needed corrective measures, such as opening windows or changing

Train facilities personnel to use systems as intended. Facilities personnel should be given all appropriate product data.

Occupant behavior is likely to evolve over the first few months of occupancy. If the building has a BMS, the control sequence, timers, thermal setpoints and other parameters might need to be tweaked for some time. Use the outdoor air monitoring and CO₂ sensors to maintain good indoor air quality as well as efficiency.

The monitoring and alarm systems need to be included in the commissioning plan for EAp1: Fundamental Commissioning with the appropriate sampling rate.

Outdoor airflow monitors may be integrated within AHUs and ventilation equipment specifications.

In laboratory and health care facilities, consider continuously measuring additional air quality factors such as TVOCs, carbon monoxide, and other small airborne particulates to reduce ventilation rates down to two air changes per hour (ACH), as conditions permit, in order to save energy.

Airflow measurement devices are installed as part of the air duct system and are designed to measure airflow and transmit a signal when airflow deviates from established set points. Two common types of these devices are those that measure intake volume directly by measuring air velocity (advanced thermal dispersion) and those that measure differential pressure across a fixed opening (pitot arrays and flow-rings). Both can provide the accuracy required for the credit. Advanced thermal diffusion is more accurate and requires less maintenance, but is more expensive.

For mechanical ventilated spaces that are installing a BAS or BMS, the system should be capable of integrating with the CO₂ sensor and outdoor air flow monitors for immediate response with increased fresh air, such as demand-control ventilation.

All densely occupied spaces in mechanically ventilated buildings require the installation of at least one CO₂ sensor per space. Non-densely occupied spaces require an outdoor airflow (OA) monitoring device.