A project I am currently working on is undergoing an exterior renovation project. The project consists of removing large granite pavers and either replacing or salvaging these pieces back onto the building with sealants and mortar.
The project is using all local granite and limestone, allowing us to achieve the 50% sustainable purchasing. In addition, the project is recycling all materials that are being discarded besides the used sealant, which we predict will put us well above the 75% recycled rate.
As for the IAQ Management Plan, the contractor is abiding by all control measures listed in SMACNA IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction.
It does not affect more than 50% of building floor area, does not affect usable space, does not affect just one room, BUT it is a construction project affecting the exterior façade of the building.
It is confusing because the project is only affecting exterior space and the credit language focuses on entire floor area.
Will this project fit the mold under LEED EB to earn MRc3, MRc9 and IEQc1.5?
David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1976 thumbs up
June 12, 2012 - 1:45 pm
Even though materials used on the exterior of the building don't appear to be excluded from MRc3 and 9, it's not clear if your project meets the minimum threshold for "Facility Alterations and Additions" or if it may just be considered routine maintenance and repairs. It may depend on the size/extent of your project.
If the work is being done outside the weather barrier I suspect it wouldn’t apply to IEQc1.5, unless there is a lot of dust or other issues that could compromise indoor air quality.
It sounds like your project may involve roofing pavers or some part of the building skin, which would be part of the "base building" so it might comply. One statement that suggests exterior work may be counted toward these credits is on page 320 of the EBOM reference Guide (2009 Edition) for MRc9: "Include on-site concrete, masonry, or asphalt that is crushed and reused." I suspect this might be assumed to apply mostly for Additions, since there will be work done to the building exterior and hardscaping. The inclusion of “brick and other masonry products” at the bottom of page 275 also suggests exterior materials may be included.
So even if exterior work and materials are not explicitly excluded from MRc3 and 9, the section IX. Facility Alterations and Additions on page xxiii of the Introduction gives us the most specific guidance on whether a project will count toward these credits:
Since an Addition must increase the total building floor area by at least 5% to be eligible, that suggests projects affecting a small portion of the building skin or exterior might be considered “repairs, routine replacements, or minor upgrades” and not be counted toward MRc3 and 9.
If your project could be considered a “substantial change” such as re-cladding large areas of the building skin, you might have a strong argument that the work should be included in the MR credits, but the challenge is to show it’s not a routine repair or minor upgrade.
If there’s a lot at stake here, you’ll probably need a CIR to find out for sure, but if it’s not a deal breaker whether you include this project or not you could try including it with your submission with a narrative to explain the situation.