LEED EQ Credit Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies requires, for mechanical ventilated spaces (OPTION 1), interior cross contamination prevention, i.e., to “sufficiently exhaust each space where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present or used (e.g., garages, housekeeping and laundry areas, copying and printing rooms), using the exhaust rates determined in EQ Prerequisite Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance or a minimum of 0.50 cfm per square foot (2.54 l/s per square meter), to create negative pressure with respect to adjacent spaces when the doors to the room are closed. For each of these spaces, provide self-closing doors and deck-to-deck partitions or a hard-lid ceiling”.
We are involved in the LEED certification of a building that will store housekeeping and other domestic use chemicals inside a room that is highly ventilated (grilled door, high level large openings) and has no communication to other indoor spaces (the only opening is a door that opens directly to an outdoor carpark). Is it possible to achieve compliance with Option 1 of this credit without installating mechanical ventilation in this room?
Melissa Kelly
Sustainability SpecialistGensler
85 thumbs up
October 5, 2017 - 10:54 am
Hi Pedro,
This requirement applies to mechanically ventilated areas only. Does this room meet the requirements for naturally ventilated spaces under Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance? If so, then from my understanding you shouldn't need to install additional equipment.