Two aspects of this credit seem to make it not achievable for new residential buildings - Reverberation Time <0.6 seconds for residences, and STCc 50 from residences to corridors.
Has anyone even attempted to meet this credit, let alone achieved it? STC rated doors for residences are cost prohibitive, and I've seen it noted elsewhere in this forum that furnishings cannot be assumed in calculations for RT. What would be the process to petition to waive these two portions of the credit, or will the LEED reviewers not accept any deviation?
Ken Shook
PartnerLongman Lindsey
LEEDuser Expert
5 thumbs up
May 30, 2018 - 5:11 pm
We encountered an issue with the RT requirement on a similar project and were told by the LEED consultant we should not assume furnishings in the apartment. Unfortunately, this prohibits compliance with the credit: meeting the RT goals would require a fully furnished apartment, and even then it would be a stretch, requiring plush furnishings to provide enough acoustic absorption, etc.
You could always submit a credit interpretation ruling to ask them about the issues for your specific project.
Sana Hafsa
1 thumbs up
February 9, 2023 - 3:38 am
Hi Andrew,
Did you ever receive further information about the STC rating from residences to corridors? Was there any exemption that was accepted by GBCI?
Emily Purcell
Sustainable Design LeadCannonDesign
LEEDuser Expert
319 thumbs up
February 9, 2023 - 4:20 pm
Hi Sana,
Not sure about the above issue, but GBCI has allowed me to subsitute the LEEDv4.1 Multifamily version of this credit for the residential spaces in a multifamily building. I recommend asking GBCI to confirm you can use it, as it wasn't super recent for me and they asked me to upload their email response that this was allowed. This version is much more in line with what our acoustic consultant recommends for residential units!