LEED states that it requires MERV 13 filters for all outdoor and indoor AHUs. Does this include spaces that are unoccupied such as equipment rooms and data centers. According the "Reduced Occupancy Guidance for LEED 2009 Existing Buildings" document:
"• Air delivery systems must be physically capable of delivering MERV 13 or better filtration throughout the entire building according to the normal credit requirements.
• In actual use the building is permitted to employ lower MERV filters for any completely vacant or unused spaces while they are vacant. All fully occupied and partially occupied portions of the building must use MERV 13 or better filtration in actual use."
Would this imply that those spaces, such as equipment rooms and data centers, be exempt as long as the system could hold a MERV 13 filter?
Thanks,
Wendy Gibson
Jean Marais
b.i.g. Bechtold DesignBuilder Expert832 thumbs up
May 18, 2010 - 3:02 am
Practically speaking, assuming that the AHU and ducting are dedicated to equipment rooms (non-regularly occupied spaces) and therefore the air does not mix with air served to humans, I see no advantages to anyone in using MERV13 filters for equipment room air quality. In fact it sounds a bit rediculous. The main purpose of conditioning these spaces at all is for temperature control and to possibly avoid build up of toxic off gassing. But maybe there's something I'm not thinking of...
Wendy Gibson
156 thumbs up
May 19, 2010 - 5:34 pm
Jean - I agree. I just can't find anything that specifically exempts these areas, which I feel would be stated if they are. I'll keep digging. Thanks for the advice.
Dan Ackerstein
PrincipalAckerstein Sustainability, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
819 thumbs up
May 28, 2010 - 3:33 pm
Wendy - I think your question is a valid one, but I would be wary to employ the Reduced Occupancy Guidance to support your conclusion. That guidance is intended specifically for portions of the building that are usually occupied but are vacant during the performance period (unleased tenant space, for example), rather than areas that are unoccupied by design (mechanical rooms or storage areas, for example). For the latter space types, I think you've got a logical point about MERV 13 being a bit much for those spaces. However, the credit language as I read it does not suggest that such an exception is allowed, envisioned, or presently accommodated. I think that short of a CIR getting approval for excluding those spaces, you probably have to assume that the entire building has to get MERV 13 filtration.
Robert Neil
11 thumbs up
October 21, 2011 - 4:27 pm
To the person who stated their system wouldn't take MERV 13 filters, have you looked at what's available lately? They're coming out with more adaptable filter systems. Check out this site for some examples of current furnace filters