We are doing a major renovation on an existing building. The project is seeking LEED NC certification and we are having trouble interpreting how the ASHREAE 62.1 standard needs to be applied to existing spaces, the basement and the penthouse, where no improvements are being made to the ventilation system. The basement has both occupied and non occupied spaces, the penthouse is a non occupied, mechanical space.
Because these spaces are existing and no changes are being made to the ventilation systems in these areas can they be excluded from the scope of the prerequisite? If they do need to be included and improved to meet the ASHRAE standard, do both occupied and non occupied spaces (specifically the mechanical, electrical utility and elevator equipment rooms) need to be improved to the standard?
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Roger Chang
Principal, Energy and Engineering LeaderDLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky
LEEDuser Expert
398 thumbs up
April 9, 2010 - 12:58 pm
On a recent major renovation project, our USGBC reviewer commented that we did need to apply ASHRAE 62.1 to all spaces, including electrical, mechanical, and elevator machine rooms. These spaces are considered non-regularly occupied spaces, but they are NOT un-occupiable spaces (like a crawl space, for example). I think the only way to get around this is to go with LEED-CI and exclude non-renovated spaces. I encourage others to share their experience with this!
Victoria Lockhart
Arup Associates125 thumbs up
August 4, 2010 - 11:50 am
I was also under the impression that electrical and mechanical rooms needed to be entered, but the fact that they are missing from the Credit Form made me think that I had interpreted this "non regularly occupied spaces" too strictly. Also interesting that the exhaust requirements in kitchens and bathrooms are not necessary on the form.
Roger Chang
Principal, Energy and Engineering LeaderDLR Group | Westlake Reed Leskosky
LEEDuser Expert
398 thumbs up
August 6, 2010 - 9:11 am
I think there continues to be confusion on this topic. We submitted an interpretation request to ASHRAE and were told that even on regularly occupied spaces needed to meet 62.1 ventilation requirements.
http://www.ashrae.org/docLib/20100203_IC_621200716.pdf
The same week, another interpretation request on almost the same topic received a different ruling, saying that certain non regularly occupied spaces did not need to meet 62.1.
http://www.ashrae.org/docLib/20100203_IC_621200717.pdf
Addendum d provides additional information which delete electrical rooms from the breathing zone tables, but adds categories for occupiable storage rooms:
http://www.ashrae.org/docLib/20100608_ad62_1_2007_c_d_i_p_102109.pdf
Brian Alessi
Director - Energy & Sustainabilitytk1sc
18 thumbs up
December 13, 2010 - 3:08 pm
So does ASHRAE 62.1 2007 apply to existing spaces of any kind if the areas are not touched in a project where there is a combination of new construction and renovation?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11474 thumbs up
December 28, 2010 - 11:37 pm
Brian, it is a building-wide rating system and credit so yes, in the situation you describe the standard applies everywhere.