We have a project in Vietnam in which the local standard (5.5 lps/person) is more stringent than ASHRAE 62.1.
Q1: Does a more stringent standard means higher fresh air requirements?
Q2: LEEDOnline forms doesn't accomodate for local standard, so should we document this using Special Cisrcumstances?
Q3: I understand that in this case I don't need to fill in the ASHRAE 62.1 calculator, is this correct?
Zsuzsanna Gidro
Sustainability Consultant, Energy ModelerDVM Group
7 thumbs up
April 29, 2021 - 11:57 am
Hi, in Hungary we also have more stringent requirements.
Q1: no the LEED requirements are the same ( Ashrae 62.1)
Q2: no, you should use the Calculator, and complete according to your design
Q3: no, see answer above.
Hope this helps!
Omar Elrawy
Green Building Consultant | ResearcherGreenA Consultants
56 thumbs up
April 29, 2021 - 9:00 pm
Thanks Zsuzsanna for your prompt reply,
Just to be sure, when your local code requires Fresh Air which is higher than ASHRAE 62.1, do you still use ASHRAE 62.1?
If so what is the justification for this.
Zsuzsanna
Zsuzsanna Gidro
Sustainability Consultant, Energy ModelerDVM Group
7 thumbs up
April 30, 2021 - 9:23 am
We must comply with the more stringent local code, regardless what LEED requires. So this means that we can easily fulfill the ASHRAE 62.1 requirements, because our fresh air rates are always higher.
Casey Cullen-Woods
Associate, SustainabilityThornton Tomasetti
12 thumbs up
April 30, 2021 - 3:11 pm
I'd urge you to be certain before filling out a local equivalent that you confirm all aspects of local code are more stringent. Does local code also require a certain exhaust rate, air flow monitoring, etc. If you indicate local equivalent, the review team may wish to know more about that code and compare in a pre or post submission call. For example, New York City requires a certain exhaust rate that is equal or higher to ASHRAE in most spaces. However in residences, ASHRAE requires Kitchen and bathrooms to be exhausted- which turned out to be more stringent than local code.
Agree therefore with Zsuzsanna that the easiest pathway would be to use the ASHRAE calculator form template from LEED, but input your design rates. This should raise the fewest questions.
Amir Rezaei
High Performance Building AnalystCannonDesign
December 16, 2021 - 3:46 pm
How about a situation where a building occupancy is covered by a code completey different than 62.1 and the total OA required for the building are higher than 62.1 values? We are working on a mental health facility with resident patients where "patient rooms" (although they practically are like dorms and not a hospital patient room) are goverened by healthcare code. The LEED reviewer is requesting us adjusting the baseline OA CFM values for these spaces, which are the majority of program expect support and circulation, to 62.1 min OA values which are substantially lower than design valuues. What would be the justification for that?