Forum discussion

NC-v4 EQc5:Thermal comfort

Do jail cells need to have thermal controls?

I am currently working on a project that has short term jail/holding cells that are classified as inidividual occupant spaces. Under LEED should these spaces be included in the thermal controls individual occupant spaces? Currently the spaces do not have thermal controls in the cells themselves, but can be adjusted else where. 

This isn't the forum for it, but the lighting controls credit is very similar and I have the same problem and controls situtation outside of the cells. 

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Wed, 01/13/2021 - 20:14

LEED Interpretation ID#li-5145 for thermal comfort states "inmate occupants may not be excluded from the thermal comfort verification requirements" which leads me to believe that yes your jail/holding cells would need to be included in thermal comtrols for individual occupant spaces.

Similarly LEED Interpretation ID#li-5143 states that inmate holding cells cannot be excluded from the requirements of Lighting Controls and that "not all credits are applicable to all projects. In this case, as occupant control of lighting does not meet the program requirements of the project, it appears that this credit is not applicable."

Whereas LEED Intrepretaiton ID#li-2533 states that some control with automatic override in inmate cells does meet credit intent.  So without thermal or lighting controls in cells, these credits are likely unachievable. 

Thu, 01/14/2021 - 14:47

We design jails as well. Never done a LEED jail though, but also similiar question to the Daylight credit. "regulary occupied spaces" like the cells typicall dont have any exterior windows. They get their daylight exposure in the dayroom. I would assume that LEED has exceptions for the cells and would only require the dayroom to meet the daylight coverage requirement.

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