Pilot-Credits EQpc124: Performance-based indoor air quality design and assessment 1-7 points

Credit language

Intent

Pilot Credit Closed
This pilot credit is closed to new registrations
The Indoor Environmental Quality Technical Advisory Group (EQ TAG) is actively discussing new pathways for performance-based design and assessment in LEED. If you would like to be involved in these conversations or are wanting to use IAQP to comply with the minimum indoor air quality prerequisite please contact loaks@usgbc.org.

To contribute to the comfort and well-being of building occupants by minimizing indoor air quality problems associated with construction and renovation and establishing minimum standards for indoor air quality (IAQ). To provide awareness of baseline indoor air contaminant levels to support indoor air quality management.

Requirements

Tier 1: Contaminant-based IAQ design (1 point)

Comply with the following two requirements:

1. Design the building so that during occupancy, the indoor air does not exceed the concentrations for the specified contaminants in Tables 1 and 2, plus any other contaminants of interest. Perform an engineering analysis (such as a mass balance calculation per Appendix D of ASHRAE 62.1-2010) to confirm and optimize the design.

   Design assumptions for contaminant removal efficiency must be based on a standard third-party test method for gas-phase air cleaning devices such as ASHRAE Standard 145.2-2011, Laboratory Test Method for Assessing the Performance of Gas-Phase Air-Cleaning Systems: Air Cleaning Devices and ASHRAE Standard 55.2-2012 Method of Testing General Ventilation Air-Cleaning Devices for Removal Efficiency by Particle Size.

   Electronic air cleaning devices must also be third-party tested to produce no harmful byproducts, including Ozone, formaldehyde, ultrafine particles, and other VOCs. An active monitoring device must be installed at all times to continuously monitor contaminant levels and appropriate mitigation measures must be performed for above average levels.

2. Comply with ASHRAE 62.1-2010 sections 4, 5, 6.5, 7, and 8.

AND/OR Tier 2: Baseline IAQ evaluation (1-3 points)

Test the indoor and outdoor air for the contaminants specified in Path a or Path b and perform an occupant satisfaction evaluation with focus on perceived indoor air quality. Conduct the testing and surveying thirty to sixty days after the issuance of certificate of occupancy. The occupant satisfaction responses must be collected from a representative sample of building occupants making up at least 30% of the total occupants. The test plan and proposed contaminant list must be pre-approved by USGBC and GBCI before conducting the test. Discuss test results with building owner, highlighting any areas of improvement or concern as well as areas of strength. Tier 2 points are awarded for performing the testing and evaluation. See Tier 3 for points awarded for meeting specific performance levels.

Path a. LEED-specific contaminant list (2 points)

See Tables 1 and 2

AND/OR Path b. Project-specific contaminant list (1 point)

Develop a contaminant list relevant to the project, including the test method and an associated cognizant authority health-based limit. At a minimum, the list should have the following four contaminants: formaldehyde, Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), CO2, and PM2.5.

AND/OR Tier 3: Demonstrate IAQ Performance (3 points)

Demonstrate from the Tier 2. Baseline IAQ evaluation, measured concentrations in the indoor air are at or below the concentration limits and occupant acceptability is at or above 80%. Table 1. Mandatory indoor VOC contaminant testing

Contaminant VOC Compound (CAS#)	Concentration Limit (µg/m3)	Concentration Limit reference*	Allowed Test Methods**
Acetaldehyde 75-07-0	140	Cal EPA OEHHA CRELS	ISO 16000-3, 6, EPA IP-1, EPA TO-17, ISO 16017-1, 2; ASTM D6345-10
Benzene 71-43-2	3
Styrene 100-42-5	900
Toluene 108-88-3	300
Naphthalene 91-20-3	9
Dichlorobenzene (1,4-) 106-46-7	800
Xylenes-total 108-38-3, 95-47-6, and 106-42-3	700
Formaldehyde 50-00-0	20 (16 ppb)	NIOSH	ISO 16000-3, 4; EPA TO-11, EPA comp. IP-6 ASTM D5197
Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)***	500	LEED v4	ISO 16000-6

Table 2. Mandatory inorganic contaminant testing

Contaminant non- VOC inorganics	Concentration Limit	Concentration Limit reference*	Allowed Test Methods	Measure indoors and outdoors
Ozone	137 ug/m3 (0.07 ppm)	EPA NAAQS	ASTM D5149-02, ISO 13964, and/or monitoring devices**	Yes
Carbon Monoxide (CO)	10 mg/m3 and no greater than 2 mg/m3 above outdoors (	EPA NAAQS	ISO 4224, EPA IP-3, and/or monitoring devices**	Yes
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)	CO2 concentration equivalent to ASHRAE 62.1 Ventilation Rate Procedure level using the methods in ASHRAE 62.1–2010, Appendix C.	ASHRAE 62.1-2010	ISO 4224, EPA IP-3	Yes
PM 2.5	35 ug/m3 or 12 ug/m3***	EPA NAAQS	EPA IP-10, and/or monitoring devices**	Yes

Point allocation

This pilot credit is an alternative approach to achieving several indoor air quality-related credits in the Indoor Environmental Quality credit category. Projects may earn points for this pilot credit as follows:

Tier	Requirement	Points awarded
Tier 1: Contaminant- based design	Contaminant-based design	1 point under Enhanced indoor air quality strategies
Tier 2: Baseline IAQ evaluation	Perform LEED-specific mandatory testing (contaminant limits in Table 1 and Table 2) + occupant evaluation	1 point under Indoor air assessment and 1 point under Innovation
	Perform project-specific contaminant testing + occupant evaluation	1 point under Enhanced indoor air quality strategies
Tier 3. Demonstrate IAQ performance	Achieve pass criteria for contaminants in Tier 2, + 80% occupant acceptability	1 point under Indoor air assessment and 1 point under Construction indoor air quality management plan and 1 point under Low-emitting materials
Projects that achieve Tier 1, Tier 2. Path a, AND Tier 3, achieve the minimum indoor air quality performance prerequisite. Additional requirements outlined in the prerequisite, such as the 62.1-2016 ventilation rate procedure for mechanically ventilated spaces, are not required.		Achieve Prerequisite Minimum indoor air quality performance

Documentation Requirements

General

• Participate in the LEEDuser pilot credit forum
• Complete the feedback survey:

Credits 116-125

Credit Specific

	Tier 1	Tier 2	Tier 3
Description of engineering analysis, including any associated calculations and design assumptions.	x
Supporting documentation for electronic air cleaning devices, confirming third-party testing and active monitoring device to be installed.	x
Confirmation that project complies with ASHRAE 62.1-2010 sections 4, 5, 6.5, 7, and 8.	x
Training and experience documentation for individuals involved in the IAQ evaluation and testing.		x
Copy of test plan and proposed contaminant list with pre-approval from USGBC/GBCI		x
IAQ evaluation report		x	x
Results of occupant satisfaction survey		x	x

Survey questions:

• Would the team apply this method to another building in the future? Why/why not?
• Why did you pursue this pilot credit, which aspects of the pilot did you end up pursuing?
• How did the cost of this method compare to the cost of the Ventilation Rate Procedure?

See all forum discussions about this credit »