We have a mixed use new office / commercial kitchen project with owner occupiers.
Please clarify if there a requirement to include Walk-in Freezers / Coolers and associated compressors in the fundamental Cx scope?
Assuming yes:
The kitchen equipment is being specified by a specialty consultant separate to the MEP + CxA engineering consultant. The Cx team is not positioned to commission this equipment. Could a second specialty kitchen CxA be submitted to complete the terms of the prerequisite?
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
December 20, 2012 - 5:17 pm
Yes, all energy using systems are to be part of the commissioning scope of work for LEED. The need for specialized testing is dependent on what kind of controls are being used for these coolers and equipment. For example, in newer grocery stores, the refrigerated cases have occupancy sensors on the lighting, and there are some other controls that may adjust parameters for the compressors, but it all depends on the sophistication of the controls, not so much the equipment.
If you need special expertise, you could use a sub-consultant.
Richard Woodward
AssociateGKV Architects
December 21, 2012 - 1:14 pm
Thanks Scott,
The LEED 2009 NC handbook [page 217] states under 'Commissioned Systems' that refrigeration systems and associated controls are certainly included in Cx scope. However this sits under the rider "Commissioning process activities must be completed for the following energy-related systems, at a minimum (if they are installed as part of the core and shell project)."
It is this last sentence that we feel is in question. Although this is new construction which is not divided formally into C&S and CI, would not these walk-ins naturally fall into the later category, rather than C&S building systems, and hence not be included in the minimum credit prerequisite?
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
December 21, 2012 - 2:45 pm
I do not think you can apply the distinction of the C&S versus the CI if you are not going to pursue those two products. There are cases where a section of a building is shelled for future use or development as a tenant space, and there are limits to how large that space can be. For example, we have don projects for one owner, where there was a small space that ultimately is intended to be a small food vendor or snack stand, but it would be a tenant arrangement. In that case, the area was small enough it could be excluded from consideration in the LEED certification.
In your case, assuming this is a single building being built for the owners use, I do not think you can depend on separating this. The danger of being rejected for a prerequisite on what I would expect to be a fairly small scope of work (but I clearly do not know your project) would be too high in my opinion. If there is some other issue not expressed here, you should definitely ask for a CIR on your issue. Remember, state your intention and then justify why you feel that is the right way to go.