I am working on a residential building, and we are deciding whether or not the kitchens in each residential unit would be included in the daylighting calculations. The units are mostly open layouts with different flooring to separate the kitchen space. Considering residents do not spend much time in the kitchen area, it seems like it would not be regularly occupied. However, due to the open layout, GBCI may think of the entire unit as a single regularly occupied space. Has anyone resolved this issue in other projects?

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Emily Catacchio

Sustainability Specialist

Wight and Company

LEEDuser Basic Member

415 thumbs up

Thu, 10/27/2011 - 13:20

Hi Green,Though I do not have experience with residential projects, in commercail projects it is not the walls that define which spaces are regularly occupuied. For example, in an open office plan the "corridors" between the cubicals may be excluded since they are not regularly occupied, even though they are not contained by walls. However, the definition of regularly occupied spaces for commercial projects is basically if work occurs in that area. I am not sure what the definition is for residential projects. Anyone else?

TODD REED

Energy Program Specialist

PA DMVA

LEEDuser Expert

626 thumbs up

Thu, 10/27/2011 - 16:57

Kitchens must be included in your calculations for residential units. Regularly occupied is not so much as the time spent in the space, but if the occupants and the activity of the space benefit from daylight.

David Posada

Integrated Design & LEED Specialist

SERA Architects

LEEDuser Expert

1361 thumbs up

Thu, 10/27/2011 - 17:02

We've typically included kitchen areas of our residential projects as regularly occupied space. Often these are open to other living spaces, and do see a lot of use. Although I can't find a CIR interpretation to verify this, I seem to recall guidance that said residential kitchens were considered regualrly occupied space.

Eddy Santosa

Director of Sustainability

DBR Engineering Consultants

LEEDuser Basic Member

244 thumbs up

Fri, 10/28/2011 - 00:35

If it hasn't amended, please see the ruling dated on 1/2/2002. The ruling includes the kitchens in residential facility as a regurlarly occupied space.

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