ASHRAE definition of "kitchenette"

ASHRAE does not define what a kitchen or a kitchenette is. Generally, if a small kitchen does not have an oven, and it is small in area, it can be called a kitchenette.

In a kitchen, you can do full food preparation because there is not enough room to do that; the countertop area is too small. In a kitchenette you basically store and reheat precooked food, or cook very simple meals.

I disagree. Kitchens and kitchenettes both have ovens. A kitchenette is not the same as a break room that requires outdoor air. Kitchenettes have small residential style ovens (usually just one) and kitchens have industrial equipment for mass food production. If you have a small room for food preparation (eg. with a microwave), I would consider it a break room and not require exhaust but require outdoor air.

Well I disagree back. Kitchenettes do not typically have ovens. The reason you need additional exhaust in a kitchen/kitchenette is to control humidity (5.10.1, Exception). Kitchens that have industrial equipment should be considered commercial kitchens.

ASHRAE does not define the differences between kitchenettes, kitchens (residential), or commercial kitchens, but each of these require a different exhaust rate in the standard. You are left to your own to figure these out, but an oven does increase humidity so should require special exhaust which is not required for a simple break room.

If humidity control is the method to evaluate wether or not to exhaust a space, then the table shows us that kitchenettes have ovens. Both need exhaust per table 6-4.
But humidity is not the criteria because 5.10.1 exempts kitchens from humidity limits.
Ovens in kitchens and kitchenettes produce significantly contaminated exhaust. Microwaves in break rooms dont.
Notice that showers dont have exhaust requirements.

Rudolph,

Humidity is the criteria to determine whether a kitchen rate applies. Humidity is not a criteria for break rooms. If a break room has a microwave it should be okay to claim the space as a break room. If a break room has an oven or range top cooker, then use the ASHRAE required exhaust rates.

Microwaves do create odor and generate humidity. This is easy to observe if you wrap a meal in a ceramic container with clear plastic, like Saran Wrap. The wrap traps in the moisture, and if you open it after the food is cooked it releases a lot of steam (humidity). I believe it is okay to exclude microwaves from exhaust requirements because they not heavily used in break rooms.

In terms of showers, I have yet to see a project that did not include exhaust in shower rooms. ASHRAE 62.2 has an exhaust requirement for bathrooms. Bathrooms are any room containing a bathtub, shower, a spa, or a similar source of moisture. Controlling humidity in moisture generating spaces is not a requirement, as you noted.

Ritwik,

Use your own judgement. Just be aware that the LEED reviewers might question your assumptions. Make sure your assumption are reasonable, and logical, and make some references to the ASHRAE Standard.