I am wondering if IBC Group S-1 Occupancy zones are required to be tested per IEQc3.2.
On this project (vehicle maintenance facility), the specific zones within the S-1 classification are maintenance bays, holding bays, lube rooms, battery rooms, compressor rooms, mechanical rooms, electrical rooms, telecom rooms, and storage which are mostly ventilated with supply fans, exhaust fans and a split system fan coil or two.
Typically when selecting sampling zones I do not consider mechanical, electrical, telecom, and storage rooms as regularly occupied spaces.
I figure lube rooms, battery rooms and compressor rooms are not regularly occupied but what about the maintenance/holding bay's?
I would think testing is not required in those spaces either (since when occupied those spaces will be rife with all sorts of contaminants anyway), yet there will still be persons working there (most likely wearing appropriate PPE).
It would also be awesome for LEED clarify the testing requirements further, possibly base them off IBC or a similar entities occupancy classifications?
Anyone have thoughts, comments or experience on any of the above?
Thanks,
Zach
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Dale Walsh
30 thumbs up
May 16, 2014 - 11:42 pm
Zach,
Remember that the LEED IAQ testing before occupancy has little to do with future indoor air quality (i.e., future chemical exposures of maintenance staff in bays). It is mainly a crude snapshot check of whether low emitting building materials were properly used in the building. Often times it doesn't even accomplish that goal due to last minute use of cleaners, touch up painting, proximity to vehicle traffic, early move-in, etc. causing excessive non-building related chemicals to be present during sampling.
I have tested maintenance bays in the past due to their large square footage (i.e., over 20,000 sq ft) and/or being separately ventilated. As you know LEED doesn't base number and locations of samples on code occupancy types but rather whether a space is occupied at all, separately ventilated and of a limited size. The International Green Construction Code does exempt some types of occupancies from air testing, bet then again that is code. I would warn that if you do sample the bays make sure none of the maintenance chemicals/substances have been moved in yet and that a "low VOC" epoxy-type coating hasn't been applied to the floor recently. I have seen "low VOC" coatings being considered "low VOC" because the VOC in it is not on an EPA list.