We are pursuing option 1 Flush Out. Our building includes a large datacenter. The datacenter has certain requirements for cleanness and our datacenter experts would rather not like to flush-out the datacenter with high ventilationrates after everything has been installed.
Should a datacenter be included in a flush-out? Our datacenter is in the basement and there are no windows. People are present only for maintainance purposes.
Thanks
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Dylan Connelly
Mechanical EngineerIntegral Group
LEEDuser Expert
472 thumbs up
September 3, 2013 - 5:36 pm
Juliane,
You could probably consider the data center to be a not normally occupiable space. I'd suggest an CIR. Are you including the data center in your IEQp1 calc?
Lise Dannesboe
COWI86 thumbs up
September 4, 2013 - 2:14 am
Hej Dylan, many thanks.
The datacenter is not a normally occupiable space, it has no windows, and this being requirement for occupiable spaces by law in the projectcountry. Good question with the IEQp1 calc! We have not filled in the form yet, but the credit requires only critical zones to be filled in the form. I don't consider the datacenter as critical zone, since it is not occupied- Would that make a difference - in our argumentation?
Lise Dannesboe
COWI86 thumbs up
September 5, 2013 - 1:01 pm
I actually might have found the answer in between. According IEQ p1 and IEQ c2 only occupied areas have to be included. The datacenter is not occupied and does not need to be included.
With regard to IEQ c3.2, the Space Matrix actually states that datacenters ("Data floor areas including raised floor areas [2]") have to be included in the flush out option. Though does the same matrix indicates for this very room "Design this space as regularly occupied if one or more individuals normally spend time (more than one hour per person per day on average) seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other focused activities inside the building. " But we do not expect persons to work there more than one hour a week. This means that we do not have to design the datacenter like at regularly occupied space and do not need to flush out.
Does that make sense or would you advice a CIR?
Dylan Connelly
Mechanical EngineerIntegral Group
LEEDuser Expert
472 thumbs up
September 5, 2013 - 2:42 pm
CIRs would bring peace of mind. There isn't much black and white with LEED reviewers. I would suggest if you're not intending to flush out the data center that you specifically call out that the space is not regularly occupied and what that means to you.
Lilian Seow
PrincipalLSDesignworks @ Vancouver, BC Canada
12 thumbs up
September 6, 2013 - 5:34 pm
What does Ashrae 62 define?
Andres Schwarz
PrincipalNRG-AR / Green Certification Consultants
13 thumbs up
December 27, 2013 - 10:54 am
Hi, everyone. Please check LEED Interpretation ID# 5217 made on 06/04/2009. There it states "However, data centers would be considered occupiable since personnel are present more than “occasionally and for short periods of time."
According to this, data centers would require flushing out.