Best Practices

Use temporary ventilation systems instead of the permanent HVAC units during construction. This prevents contamination of new ductwork during the construction process. 

Develop documentation customized for LEED submission—complete with LEED-related notes, callouts, and details—concurrently with the finalized construction documents. 

Locate hazardous waste storage containers away from outdoor air intakes. 

Confirm that chemical disposal areas meet local codes for separate drain lines or containment drains. 

If roll-out mats are used, make selections appropriate to the climate. The following specifics are also recommended in the LEED Reference Guide: 

• fire retardant ratings better than DOC-FF-1-70, such as NFPA-253, Class I and II   
• electrostatic propensity levels < 2.5 kV 
• a contract for weekly cleaning of roll-out mats (required).

Hazardous storage containers should be located in a secure area outdoors and away from air intakes. 

Strategies for space planning may include:

Determine the type of entryway system that's best for your project. If you install permanent grates, grilles, or slotted entry systems, you will not be required to have a plan for cleaning, although those systems will still need periodic cleaning (less frequently than roll-off mats). However, if you decide to use rollout mats, you'll need to have a contract in place for weekly cleaning. The contract for weekly cleaning can be incorporated into any existing contract but must be clearly spelled out. 

Include mechanical engineers and design consultants for special-use spaces such as science labs early in the design process. 

Refrigerants are not harmful to the environment until they are released into it. That’s most likely to occur during installation, maintenance, and removal. Hire a contractor that uses best-practice refrigerant management techniques to minimize leakage rates during operations and when installing new or removing old equipment.