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Exemplary Performance for EA Cr3 Enhanced Commissioning

Deborah Lucking

Director of Sustainability

Fentress Architects

LEEDuser Expert

224 thumbs up

September 24, 2010

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Tristan Roberts

Representative

Vermont House of Representatives

LEEDuser Expert

7780 thumbs up

Fri, 09/24/2010 - 20:58

I haven't gone down this path but I want to make sure you saw the post above about resources supporting BE Cx.

Deborah Lucking

Director of Sustainability

Fentress Architects

LEEDuser Expert

224 thumbs up

Fri, 09/24/2010 - 21:12

Just did; thanks. I'm also asking the guys at the Building Enclosure Council if they know of any such successful projects.

Scott Armstrong

Manager, Building Science & Sustainability

MMM Group Limited

LEEDuser Basic Member

4 thumbs up

Tue, 10/19/2010 - 00:56

In Canada, we have a Regional Priority credit (used to be MRc8 in LEED Canada-NC) for a "Durable Building". The primary focus of the credit is on envelope durability but it also addresses structural components. I have provided durable building consulting for a number of projects but I'm not aware of anyone in the US achieving an ID point for a similar approach. For references, see CSA S478, NIBS Guildeline 3, and ASHRAE Guideline 0.

Deborah Lucking

Director of Sustainability

Fentress Architects

LEEDuser Expert

224 thumbs up

Fri, 10/22/2010 - 22:04

I have since heard of a project that did achieve the Innovation credit for EECx. Stay tuned for more details.

Eri Spaulding

Ashley McGraw Architects, DPC

LEEDuser Basic Member

68 thumbs up

Fri, 12/10/2010 - 19:11

I am having a conversaiton with my commissioning agent about envelope commissioning and which standards/references to follow. This is helpful. Deborah - is there an update to the project that you mentioned above?

Deborah Lucking

Director of Sustainability

Fentress Architects

LEEDuser Expert

224 thumbs up

Fri, 12/10/2010 - 21:53

Nothing specific. We know of 2 projects that did achieve this exemplary point, and a couple more pursuing it. The 2 biggest challenges are 1. the expense involved in skin commissioning 2. the party best qualified to undertake the commissioning is usually the exterior envelope consultant, who would typically already be on your team.

Eri Spaulding

Ashley McGraw Architects, DPC

LEEDuser Basic Member

68 thumbs up

Tue, 12/14/2010 - 17:12

Thanks. Do you know which guildelines they followed? I've obtained the NIBC guildline and it is massive 337 pages. Do USGBC really want us to implement such guildline? I wish they are more specific on they are looking for. Right now we are thinking to perform pressurization/depressurization testing based on ASTM 1827-96 with calibrated blower door assemblies on the entire building. Do you think this is enough for LEED's sake?

Chris Ladner

Partner

Viridian

LEEDuser Basic Member

154 thumbs up

Tue, 12/14/2010 - 20:26

The most applicable ASTM standard relating to building air tightness testing is ASTM E 779. Unfortunately, this standard was developed primarily for residential applications. The US Army Corps of Engineers has developed a test protocol (based on ammendments to ASTM E 779) for use on their facilities. We have applied this test to military facilities and we use it for testing of private commercial buildings. It is the best I have seen for air tightness testing. Note that this may not be considered a comprehensive "building envelope test" but it is a good comparative measure that can serve as an indicator for the quility of the envelope, in general. Vapor transmission and water transmission is not specifically addressed by this test but if you don't have air leaks it is a good bet you have minimized related vapor and water leaks. Let me know if you need additional information. We may have to take this conversation off-line.