We have a project that is struggling to meet the prerequisite requirements of a 20% reduction from the LEEDv4 baseline as the fixtures and fittings are required to be minimum flow rates and flush volumes as required by the English Care Quality Commission (to reduce spread of infection, etc.). Can anyone recommend what steps we could take to achieve the prerequisite if we cannot change the flow rates/flush volumes of fixtures or fittings? Has anyone had experience of the GBCI altering the baseline flow rates/flush volumes for certain projects?
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Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1296 thumbs up
February 9, 2018 - 8:33 am
Can you tell us more about the limitations you have? What country? What flow rates? If people know a little more, they may have suggestions for you that will help or a better example of how to merge your requirements with the LEED program.
Meike Borchers
BüroleiterinWSP Deutschland AG
5 thumbs up
March 22, 2018 - 10:39 am
Hi Susan, the project is located in the UK and the flow rates for urinals and hand basin taps are summarised below:
- Urinals: 7.5 lpf (LEEDv4 baseline is 3.8lpf)
- Hand basin taps for staff areas and visitor spaces: 7.5 l/min (LEEDv4 baseline is 1.9l/min)
Nicole Isk
Senior ConsultantES EnviroSustain GmbH
22 thumbs up
March 26, 2018 - 9:16 am
We are facing similar difficulties with our project in germany.
The german Drinking Water Ordinance and VDI6023 do not give certain flow rates. But water exchange every 72 hours is required to minimise risks of microbiological growth in the installation of healthcare projects. There are very strict limits concerning the allowed number of microorganisms which are examined by official body twice per year. Meeting this requirement affects the flow rates depending on assumed usage of the fixtures. We are working on a nursing home; elderly people do not shower that often anymore or are rather washed by a nurse. Therefore we are struggeling meeting 9.5lpm: with that we cannot meet the required water exchange.
Thanks for your input and thoughts on that!
emily reese moody
Sustainability Director, Certifications & ComplianceJacobs
LEEDuser Expert
476 thumbs up
April 1, 2018 - 6:08 pm
For both circumstances above (UK and Germany), I would contact GBCI directly through this link, under "Certification Question": http://www.gbci.org/contact. Explain the restrictions and provide direct links to the requirements for the project if you can. They may ask you to submit an official Interpretation Request and use it to make a ruling applicable to other international projects that would be required to meet the same restrictions.
Otherwise, I did find the following text in the Reference Guide. It won't solve the whole problem, but may help clarify the scope of the calculations:
Also make sure you categorize the sinks accordingly for public vs private:
Also make sure you use the correct default fixture durations and uses. For residents, hospital inpatients, hotel guests, prisoners, or any other residential occupants who use the building for sleeping accommodations, use the default residential fixture usage assumptions (see the table in the Reference Guide under Further Explanation, Default Durations and Uses).
The info above won't answer all of the questions, but may help narrow your questions to GBCI.
Please keep us informed if you get responses. I'm sure there will be other projects in the same situations.
Nicole Isk
Senior ConsultantES EnviroSustain GmbH
22 thumbs up
June 15, 2018 - 9:23 am
We contacted the GBCI and had a very positive dialog with senior reviewers. Long story short, due to the special circumstances our project is approved to pursue a holistic, whole project approach to water use reduction.
Water use and hygiene are very important issues in healthcare projects. We highly recommend to reach out to the GBCI if you hit severe difficulties meeting this prerequisite. The team is quite constructive and really helps you on.