Under Requirements, Option 3. Pressure Balancing, replace “difference of more than 3 Pa” with “difference of less than 3 Pa”
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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To improve thermal comfort and energy performance by ensuring appropriate distribution of space heating and cooling in the home.
Requirements
Case 1. Forced-Air Systems
Option 1. Multiple Zones (1 point)
Install a system with at least two space-conditioning zones with independent thermostatic controls. In houses with both a heating system and a cooling system, each must have at least two zones.
Single-family houses with less than 800 square feet (74 square meters) of conditioned floor area and multifamily buildings whose average unit size is less than 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) automatically meet the requirements of this credit.
AND/OR
Option 2. Supply Air-Flow Testing (1 point)
Have the total supply air-flow rates in each room tested using a flow hood with doors closed, or another acceptable method, per RESNET or ACCA Quality Installation Specifications.
Supply air-flow rates must be within +/- 20% (or +/- 25 cfm or 11 lps) of calculated values from ACCA Manual J.
Test multirate or multispeed HVAC systems at the rate for which they were designed. Supply air-flow requirements must meet the higher of the cooling or heating designed air flow for each room.
Ductless systems qualify for this credit.
Option 3. Pressure Balancing (1 point)
For each bedroom, demonstrate a pressure difference of less than 3 Pa (0.012 inch w.c.) with respect to the main body of the house when doors are closed and the air handler is operating on highest speed.
Case 2. Radiative Systems
Option 1. Multiple Zones (1 point)
Install an HVAC system with at least two zones with independent thermostat controls. Each zone must have a separate loop and separate pump controlled automatically by a thermostat control. For HVAC systems with radiators, see Option 2.
Houses with less than 800 square feet (74 square meters) of conditioned floor area and multifamily buildings whose average unit size is less than 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) automatically meet the requirements of this credit.
AND/OR
Option 2. Room-by-Room Controls (2 points)
Design the HVAC system with room-by-room thermostatic controls, such as flow-control valves on every radiator.
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See all forum discussions about this credit »Addenda
10/5/2018 – Updated: 10/5/2018
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/2/2017 – Updated: 10/20/2017
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Remove 9 instances of references to qualified energy rater in LEED v4 Homes and Midrise rating system requirements, as indicated below.
(Instances 1 and 2) EA PREREQUISITE: MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE (MIDRISE), Option 2. Commissioning using Prescriptive Path:
Requirement 1. Reduced Heating and Cooling Distribution System Losses for In-unit HVAC: remove the phrase "verified by a qualified energy rater." at the end of the second sentence under 1.
Requirement 4. Multifamily Midrise Thermal Enclosure Inspection Checklist: replace the first sentence under 2 with the following text: "Inspect and verify each item on the checklist."
(Instance 3 & 4 ) EA CREDIT: AIR INFILTRATION (HOMES): Delete sentence in both Case 1 and Case 2 "The rate of air leakage to outside must be tested and verified by a qualified energy rater" from credit language.
Instance 5) EA CREDIT: ENVELOPE INSULATION (HOMES): Delete sentence "Installation must be verified by a qualified energy rater conducting a pre-drywall thermal enclosure inspection" from credit language.
(Instance 6 and 7) EA CREDIT: HEATING AND COOLING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Option 2. Ductwork in Unconditioned Space: Delete the phrase ", verified by the qualified energy rater." after the sentence that begins with "for each installed system" under requirements for both Large Homes or Multifamily Units and under requirements for Small Homes or Multifamily Units.
(Instances 8 and 9) EQ CREDIT: BALANCING HEATING AND COOLING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Option 2. Supply Air-Flow Testing: Delete the phrase "by a qualified energy rater" from the sentence that begins "Have the total supply air-flow rates in each room tested ."
Option 3. Pressure Balancing: Delete the sentence "The testing must be verified by a qualified energy rater."
(Instances 1 and 2) EA PREREQUISITE: MINIMUM ENERGY PERFORMANCE (MIDRISE), Option 2. Commissioning using Prescriptive Path:
Requirement 1. Reduced Heating and Cooling Distribution System Losses for In-unit HVAC: remove the phrase "verified by a qualified energy rater." at the end of the second sentence under 1.
Requirement 4. Multifamily Midrise Thermal Enclosure Inspection Checklist: replace the first sentence under 2 with the following text: "Inspect and verify each item on the checklist."
(Instance 3 & 4 ) EA CREDIT: AIR INFILTRATION (HOMES): Delete sentence in both Case 1 and Case 2 "The rate of air leakage to outside must be tested and verified by a qualified energy rater" from credit language.
Instance 5) EA CREDIT: ENVELOPE INSULATION (HOMES): Delete sentence "Installation must be verified by a qualified energy rater conducting a pre-drywall thermal enclosure inspection" from credit language.
(Instance 6 and 7) EA CREDIT: HEATING AND COOLING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Option 2. Ductwork in Unconditioned Space: Delete the phrase ", verified by the qualified energy rater." after the sentence that begins with "for each installed system" under requirements for both Large Homes or Multifamily Units and under requirements for Small Homes or Multifamily Units.
(Instances 8 and 9) EQ CREDIT: BALANCING HEATING AND COOLING DISTRIBUTION SYSTEMS
Option 2. Supply Air-Flow Testing: Delete the phrase "by a qualified energy rater" from the sentence that begins "Have the total supply air-flow rates in each room tested ."
Option 3. Pressure Balancing: Delete the sentence "The testing must be verified by a qualified energy rater."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To improve thermal comfort and energy performance by ensuring appropriate distribution of space heating and cooling in the home.
Requirements
Case 1. Forced-Air Systems
Option 1. Multiple Zones (1 point)
Install a system with at least two space-conditioning zones with independent thermostatic controls. In houses with both a heating system and a cooling system, each must have at least two zones.
Single-family houses with less than 800 square feet (74 square meters) of conditioned floor area and multifamily buildings whose average unit size is less than 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) automatically meet the requirements of this credit.
AND/OR
Option 2. Supply Air-Flow Testing (1 point)
Have the total supply air-flow rates in each room tested using a flow hood with doors closed, or another acceptable method, per RESNET or ACCA Quality Installation Specifications.
Supply air-flow rates must be within +/- 20% (or +/- 25 cfm or 11 lps) of calculated values from ACCA Manual J.
Test multirate or multispeed HVAC systems at the rate for which they were designed. Supply air-flow requirements must meet the higher of the cooling or heating designed air flow for each room.
Ductless systems qualify for this credit.
Option 3. Pressure Balancing (1 point)
For each bedroom, demonstrate a pressure difference of less than 3 Pa (0.012 inch w.c.) with respect to the main body of the house when doors are closed and the air handler is operating on highest speed.
Case 2. Radiative Systems
Option 1. Multiple Zones (1 point)
Install an HVAC system with at least two zones with independent thermostat controls. Each zone must have a separate loop and separate pump controlled automatically by a thermostat control. For HVAC systems with radiators, see Option 2.
Houses with less than 800 square feet (74 square meters) of conditioned floor area and multifamily buildings whose average unit size is less than 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) automatically meet the requirements of this credit.
AND/OR
