We have a project outside the U.S., which is planning to attempt the enhanced commissioning credit. Would our project be required to follow the U.S. standards and procedures during the commissioning tests for any of the engineering systems? For example, ASHRAE 62 recommends SMACNA duct leakage testing manual but the requirements and criteria (e.g., leakage rates) under this manual significantly exceed the requirements and criteria under the local standards that the project is subject to. Would the project still be obligated to follow the U.S. procedures and manuals in the system tests?
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Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
519 thumbs up
December 17, 2014 - 10:03 am
Typically, unless there is a Alternate Compliance Path, you must meet the standard being referenced in the credit. In this case EAc3 does not reference ASHRAE 62 directly, but of course individual owners, engineers, and commissioning agents will have testing they wish to complete. Normally the CxA would not specify a duct leakage test, but would discuss testing with the engineer who would then specify it in the testing and balancing section.
In my experience, only very complex systems, laboratory systems, portions of healthcare projects, and any ductwork which is routed outside of the conditioned envelope are specified to be tested for leakage. So this is not a typical test on all projects by any means.