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LEED v4.1
Healthcare
Indoor Environmental Quality
Quality Views

LEED CREDIT

Healthcare-v4.1 EQc8: Quality Views 1-2 points

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View the LEED v4 version of this credit »

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LEEDuser expert

Deborah Lucking

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Fentress Architects
Director of Sustainability

SPECIAL REPORT

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Credit language

USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To give building occupants a connection to the natural outdoor environment by providing quality views.

Requirements

Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors via vision glazing for 75% of all regularly occupied floor area. View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort color balance. Additionally, 75% of all regularly occupied floor area must have at least two of the following four kinds of views:

  • multiple lines of sight to vision glazing in different directions at least 90 degrees apart;
  • views that include at least two of the following: (1) flora, fauna, or sky; (2) movement; and (3) objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the exterior of the glazing;
  • unobstructed views located within the distance of three times the head height of the vision glazing; and
  • views with a view factor of 3 or greater, as defined in “Windows and Offices; A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment.”
Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded. Views into interior atria may be used to meet up to 30% of the required area.
HEALTHCARE
For inpatient units (IPUs), meet the requirements above (1 point). For other areas, configure the building floor plates such that the floor area within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of the perimeter exceeds the perimeter area requirement (Table 1), and meet the requirements above for the perimeter area (1 point).
Table 1. Minimum compliant perimeter area, by floor plate area
Floor plate area Perimeter area
(square feet) (square meters) (square feet) (square meters)
Up to 15,000 Up to 1 400 7,348 682
20,000 1 800 8,785 816
25,000 2 300 10,087 937
30,000 2 800 11,292 1 049
35,000 3 300 12,425 1 154
40,000 3 700 13,500 1 254
45,000 4 200 14,528 1 349
50,000 and larger 4 600 and larger 15,516 1 441
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Addenda

4/9/2021Updated: 4/19/2021
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Revise the last paragraph of requirements to the following: "Occupants must have direct access to the view and be within three times the head height of the glazing. "

Under Step by Step Guidance, revise second bullet to read as:
"Identify interior features that may block the view to the window, such as structural columns. Vertical columns smaller than 1-foot (0.3 meters) wide and horizontal features smaller than 1-foot (0.3 meters) high typically do not block views. Movable furniture and partitions as well as movable glare control devices may be included, but this is not required.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
4/9/2021Updated: 4/19/2021
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Revise the last paragraph of requirements to the following: "Occupants must have direct access to the view and be within three times the head height of the glazing. "

Under Step by Step Guidance, revise second bullet to read as:
"Identify interior features that may block the view to the window, such as structural columns. Vertical columns smaller than 1-foot (0.3 meters) wide and horizontal features smaller than 1-foot (0.3 meters) high typically do not block views. Movable furniture and partitions as well as movable glare control devices may be included, but this is not required.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/9/2020Updated: 2/3/2021
Form Update
Description of change:
Updated to align with v4.1 November 2020 Addenda
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/9/2020Updated: 11/30/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Add the following language under Guidance:

"Behind the Intent
Beta Update
Specific criteria for the glazing characteristics have been added to address challenges with determining acceptable levels of clarity, frits, fibers, patterns, tints and to minimize conflicts with the Pilot Credit for Bird Collision Deterrence.
The view requirements were also revised to better differentiate criteria for view content from criteria for view access and to eliminate potentially redundant requirements.
The requirements for healthcare have been revised for clarity.

Step-by-Step Guidance

Step 1-3. Refer to these steps in the LEED v4 reference guide

Step 4. Identify Site Lines to the Exterior
On floor plans or furniture plans, identify the locations of perimeter and interior glazing and all permanent interior obstructions.
• Determine whether the perimeter and interior glazing meets the credit requirements for VLT, frits/patterns, and tints.
o Recommended frit patterns to reduce bird collisions and preserve quality views are no thicker than 1/8 inch (3.175 millimeters) and spaced every 2 inches (5.08 centimeters) vertically and 4 inches (10.16 centimeters) horizontally.
• Identify permanent interior obstructions (see Definitions in the LEED v4 reference guide). Small vertical and horizontal features are acceptable per the credit requirements. Movable furniture and partitions as well as movable glare control devices may be included, but this is not required.
• Consider performing an initial rough assessment before performing detailed assessment of view quality. Determine whether the regularly occupied floor area with proximity to vision glazing is at least 75% of the total regularly occupied flor area.
Step 5. Assess View Quality
Identify whether the view includes nature, urban landmarks or art, or objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the exterior of the glazing.
Step 6. Confirm Compliance
Complete the tracking table to confirm that at least 75% of the regularly occupied floor area has access to a quality view. For warehouses and distribution centers and Healthcare projects, See Further Explanation, Rating System Variations section in the LEED v4 Reference Guide. "

Under Further Explanation, add:
"Healthcare projects refer to the following sections in the LEED v4 Reference guide: Calculations perimeter area, special considerations for healthcare projects,
Required Documentation
 List of regularly occupied spaces, qualifying floor area in each space, and view features
 Sections, elevations, diagrams, renderings, or photos indicating sight lines to glazing do not encounter permanent interior obstructions
 Floor plans or diagrams identifying the views to nature, urban landmarks, or objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) accessible to the occupants.
 Glazing specifications confirming compliance with VLT, frit/pattern, and tint requirements.
"
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
11/14/2019Updated: 11/14/2019
Form Update
Description of change:
LEED v4.1 Daylight and Quality Views calculator published
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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LEEDuser expert

Deborah Lucking

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Fentress Architects
Director of Sustainability

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Intent

To give building occupants a connection to the natural outdoor environment by providing quality views.

Requirements

Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors via vision glazing for 75% of all regularly occupied floor area. View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort color balance. Additionally, 75% of all regularly occupied floor area must have at least two of the following four kinds of views:

  • multiple lines of sight to vision glazing in different directions at least 90 degrees apart;
  • views that include at least two of the following: (1) flora, fauna, or sky; (2) movement; and (3) objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the exterior of the glazing;
  • unobstructed views located within the distance of three times the head height of the vision glazing; and
  • views with a view factor of 3 or greater, as defined in “Windows and Offices; A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment.”
Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded. Views into interior atria may be used to meet up to 30% of the required area.
HEALTHCARE
For inpatient units (IPUs), meet the requirements above (1 point). For other areas, configure the building floor plates such that the floor area within 15 feet (4.5 meters) of the perimeter exceeds the perimeter area requirement (Table 1), and meet the requirements above for the perimeter area (1 point).
Table 1. Minimum compliant perimeter area, by floor plate area
Floor plate area Perimeter area
(square feet) (square meters) (square feet) (square meters)
Up to 15,000 Up to 1 400 7,348 682
20,000 1 800 8,785 816
25,000 2 300 10,087 937
30,000 2 800 11,292 1 049
35,000 3 300 12,425 1 154
40,000 3 700 13,500 1 254
45,000 4 200 14,528 1 349
50,000 and larger 4 600 and larger 15,516 1 441

LEEDuser expert

Deborah Lucking

AIA, LEED AP BD+C

Fentress Architects
Director of Sustainability

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