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LEED v4
Schools – New Construction
Indoor Environmental Quality
Acoustic performance

LEED CREDIT

Schools-NC-v4 EQc9: Acoustic performance 1 point

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Credit language

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Requirements

HVAC Background noise
Achieve a background noise level of 35 dBA or less from heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in classrooms and other core learning spaces. Follow the recommended methodologies and best practices for mechanical system noise control in ANSI Standard S12.60–2010, Part 1, Annex B; the 2011 HVAC Applications ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 48, Sound and Vibration Control, with errata; AHRI Standard 885–2008; or a local equivalent.
Sound Transmission
Design classrooms and other core learning spaces to meet the sound transmission class (STC) requirements of ANSI S12.60–2010 Part 1, or a local equivalent. Exterior windows must have an STC rating of at least 35, unless outdoor and indoor noise levels can be verified to justify a lower rating. See all forum discussions about this credit »

What does it cost?

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

Frequently asked questions

Are we required to have an acoustical consultant in order to attempt this credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

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See all forum discussions about this credit »

Addenda

7/11/2017Updated: 7/18/2017
Form Update
Description of change:
Updated Sound Transmission (Isolation) tab to allow for "other" space type
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised tab for Sound Transmission (Isolation) , added note to clarify each room should have multiple assemblies. It is not acceptable to list a single STC value for the room, each surface (plane surrounding the space) should have a separate assembly, so at least one floor/ceiling & one wall assembly must be entered.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change 'Equation 1' to 'Equation 2' so the first sentence reads "Equation 2 must be calculated separately..."
Renumber Equation 1 to Equation 2.
Renumber Equation 2 to Equation 3.
Renumber Equation 3 to Equation 4.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised Instructions and Summary tabs to include ID+C rating systems

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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LEED AP BD+C

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

Requirements

HVAC Background noise
Achieve a background noise level of 35 dBA or less from heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems in classrooms and other core learning spaces. Follow the recommended methodologies and best practices for mechanical system noise control in ANSI Standard S12.60–2010, Part 1, Annex B; the 2011 HVAC Applications ASHRAE Handbook, Chapter 48, Sound and Vibration Control, with errata; AHRI Standard 885–2008; or a local equivalent.
Sound Transmission
Design classrooms and other core learning spaces to meet the sound transmission class (STC) requirements of ANSI S12.60–2010 Part 1, or a local equivalent. Exterior windows must have an STC rating of at least 35, unless outdoor and indoor noise levels can be verified to justify a lower rating.

Cost estimates for this credit

On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.

Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.

This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.

Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »

Are we required to have an acoustical consultant in order to attempt this credit?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

7/11/2017Updated: 7/18/2017
Form Update
Description of change:
Updated Sound Transmission (Isolation) tab to allow for "other" space type
Campus Applicable
Yes
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/5/2016Updated: 4/7/2016
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised tab for Sound Transmission (Isolation) , added note to clarify each room should have multiple assemblies. It is not acceptable to list a single STC value for the room, each surface (plane surrounding the space) should have a separate assembly, so at least one floor/ceiling & one wall assembly must be entered.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Change 'Equation 1' to 'Equation 2' so the first sentence reads "Equation 2 must be calculated separately..."
Renumber Equation 1 to Equation 2.
Renumber Equation 2 to Equation 3.
Renumber Equation 3 to Equation 4.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
10/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Form Update
Description of change:
Revised Instructions and Summary tabs to include ID+C rating systems

Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No

LEEDuser expert

Ken Shook

LEED AP BD+C

Longman Lindsey
Partner

See all LEEDuser forum discussions about this credit » Subscribe to new discussions about Schools-NC-v4 EQc9 View the LEED v4.1 version of this credit