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LEED v4
Homes Mid-Rise
Indoor Environmental Quality
Enhanced compartmentalization

LEED CREDIT

Mid-Rise-v4 EQc4: Enhanced compartmentalization 3 points

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

Intent

To minimize the exposure of building occupants to indoor air pollutants by preventing the transfer of air between units.

Requirements

Perform a compartmentalization blower door test according to RESNET or the ENERGY STAR testing and verification protocols for multifamily midrise buildings, with an allowable maximum leakage of 0.15 cfm50 per square foot (0.04 cmm50 per square meter) of enclosure (i.e., all surfaces enclosing the apartment, including exterior and party walls, floors, and ceiling).

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Addenda

7/8/2017
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:

A multifamily project we are working on has relatively small units - average unit size of 900 square feet. We've found that meeting the 0.23 compartmentalization threshold is more challenging to meet as units get smaller. Because this project has small unit, can we instead meet the Midrise v2010 compartmentalization prerequisite threshold of 0.30?

Ruling:

Yes, multifamily buildings whose average unit size is less than 1,200 square feet (110 square meters) and single-family houses with less than 800 square feet (74 square meters) of conditioned floor area may meet the following:

For EQ prerequisite Compartmentalization and EQ prerequisite Environmental tobacco smoke control, demonstrate an allowable maximum leakage of 0.30 cfm50 per square foot of enclosure (i.e., all surfaces enclosing the apartment, including exterior and party walls, floors, and ceiling).

For Midrise EQ credit Enhanced Compartmentalization, to earn all 3 points, the 0.15 cfm50 per square foot of enclosure area threshold must be met. But partial credit is available, for 1 point, demonstrate maximum leakage of 0.23 cfm50 per square foot of enclosure (i.e., all surfaces enclosing the apartment, including exterior and party walls, floors, and ceiling).

For Homes EQ credit Enhanced Compartmentalization, for 1 point, demonstrate maximum leakage of 0.23 cfm50 per square foot of enclosure (i.e., all surfaces enclosing the apartment, including exterior and party walls, floors, and ceiling).

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
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USGBC logo

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

Intent

To minimize the exposure of building occupants to indoor air pollutants by preventing the transfer of air between units.

Requirements

Perform a compartmentalization blower door test according to RESNET or the ENERGY STAR testing and verification protocols for multifamily midrise buildings, with an allowable maximum leakage of 0.15 cfm50 per square foot (0.04 cmm50 per square meter) of enclosure (i.e., all surfaces enclosing the apartment, including exterior and party walls, floors, and ceiling).

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