Hi! I was wondering how to interpret the term "contiguous floor area" in IEQ CREDIT 3.2 Option 2 Air Testing. The LEED requirements state that "For each portion of the building served by a separate ventilation system, the number of sampling points must not be less than 1 per 25,000 square feet or for each contiguous floor area, whichever is larger"
Does contiguous floor area mean a sample per room, or per floor (which means that several rooms can be clustered for under sampling point)?
Thanks.
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Tom Nichols
LEED AP (O+M)4 Elements Group
45 thumbs up
February 13, 2014 - 10:12 am
Hi Juliane,
Continuous floor means sample per floor, not room. Several rooms can be in one sampling point if the rooms are being supplied by the same ventilation zone.
Also, one sampling point can not cover more than one floor. For example, 10,000 sf that consists of 2 floors = 2 sampling points even if they are all one ventilation zone.
Also, you can not have one floor >25000 sf even if it is one ventilation zone and only have one sample point. (25001 = 2 sampling points).
I hope this helps.
If you describe your situation I can possible provide insight into the # of required zones.
Lise Dannesboe
COWI86 thumbs up
February 13, 2014 - 10:32 am
Hi Thomas,
Our building is kind of really complex with a lot of ventilation units on each floor. I understand, that each area belonging to a different ventilation aggregate (ventilation zone) has to have their own sample point and if one ventilation area goes over more than one floor there has to be more than one sample point. Furthermore if the area that is served by one unit on one floor is more than 25.000 sf, it needs more than one sample point. I was just wondering, if there are rooms with different kinds of floor materials in one area (under one ventilation unit, on one floor and area is less than 25.000 sf), does that still require one sample or several ones?
Thanks.
Tom Nichols
LEED AP (O+M)4 Elements Group
45 thumbs up
February 13, 2014 - 10:43 am
Different material specifications such as flooring would not require additional sampling points. If all flooring has off gassed enough to pass the testing requirements you all set.
Material specifications become a factor in IAQ sampling when you have multi unit residential or educational buildings where each room has its own individual ventilation unit. In that situation you would default to HERS protocol of 1 in 7 like rooms must be tested.
I hope this helps.
Lise Dannesboe
COWI86 thumbs up
February 13, 2014 - 10:50 am
Helps a lot, thanks!! Our building is an office building. Is there any requirement with regard to when the sampling has to be done, f.ex. 2 weeks after the corresponding areas are finished? Could not find anything on writing about that.. if there is no requirement the sampling could be done when the materials are off gassed as you said, but before occupation.
Tom Nichols
LEED AP (O+M)4 Elements Group
45 thumbs up
February 13, 2014 - 11:12 am
Sampling can take place when punch list is complete, no painting, cutting or installing left to be completed. The HVAC system balancing must be completed and HVAC Filters must be changed prior to testing. The building must be set to occupied mode on BAS and at minimum outside air setting during testing Depending on version of LEED furniture installation is either optional or required. (CI is required).
Correct, before occupation.