Hello - We are in the process of certifying an interior fit-up which utilizes a number of small "huddle rooms" which are enclosed spaces roughly the size of a private office, but furnished with occasional/lounge furniture for informal discussion (rather than a more formal conference table/chair setup). ASHRAE, Core Performance, and Local Code do not provide an specifics on how to treat Huddle Rooms w/r/t EAc1.3 Option 1 Zoning and Controls. They have been treated, conditioned, and controlled as open spaces due to their size, and expected utilization/occupancy of 2-4 persons at a time for short periods of time. In other words, they often share zones or controls with nearby spaces.
Our LEED Reviewer has requested that each Huddle Room be classified as a conference room requiring individual controls per room.
Question: Is there a formal LEED interpretation or other document that outlines the exact treatment of Huddle Rooms as they pertain to EAc1.3 Option 1? Has any other project team successfully pursued this credit and NOT provided individual controls for rooms like these?
Thank you!
Theresa Schroeder
Senior Project EngineerWhitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP
10 thumbs up
July 17, 2014 - 1:01 pm
While I don't have experience with any projects using Huddle Rooms, as an outsider looking in I don't think you will be able to get this without the individual control.
What you have created with the Huddle Room is an enclosed space with a different load profile from the open office outside. Like it or not, these rooms still behave much like a conference room thermally, in that it is a more densely occupied space than the surrounding open office. The fact that they are used sporadically only serves to strengthen the argument that they should be controlled separately from the surrounding area. The intent of the credit is to ensure as much energy savings as possible given the limited impact most CI projects can have on the central HVAC system. Thus the requirement to turn off as much as possible when it isn't in use.
I am not a LEED official, but this is how I would interpret the issue. You can always ask further questions of your reviewer, or try to get them on the phone to plead your case.
Brian Salazar
President, LEED AP, WELL APEntegra Development & Investment, LLC
56 thumbs up
July 21, 2014 - 9:12 am
They are the same size as offices, so if they were reclassified as offices, could we still pursue the credit, all else being equal?
Theresa Schroeder
Senior Project EngineerWhitman, Requardt & Associates, LLP
10 thumbs up
July 21, 2014 - 9:54 am
They will still need separate thermal controls if they are renamed as offices. Check out LEED Interpretation #10263 to see what constitutes active controls for different types of spaces: http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=10263&=Search
Brian Salazar
President, LEED AP, WELL APEntegra Development & Investment, LLC
56 thumbs up
July 26, 2014 - 8:39 am
Thanks Terry. This is one of the most cost prohibitive credits in the LEED Reference Guide.