Hi, I would like to know if minisplit (non-ducted) units have to comply with Standard 62.1-2010, Section 5.8, "...p0articulate filters or air cleaners with a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of not less than 6 ...". Because this kind of units have no space nor the necesary pressure to allocate this filters.
Thank you
Ben Stanley
Senior Sustainability ManagerWSP - Built Ecology
LEEDuser Expert
250 thumbs up
January 11, 2018 - 1:22 pm
Hi Paula,
Based on the language in section 5.8, it looks like you would have to install MERV 6 filters somewhere upstream of the miniplits that serve occupiable spaces. In the case that you have a fresh air fan or dedicated outdoor air unit supplying ventilation upstream of the minisplits I would think that you could install the filtration at that level as opposed to installing the filters at each minisplit. Units serve non-occupiable spaces like IT or electrical rooms wouldn't need to comply.
Lawrence Lile
Chief EngineerLile Engineering, LLC
76 thumbs up
January 11, 2018 - 2:50 pm
THis is a severe limitation of using minisplits on LEED projects. I've been rejected on the "Merv 6" requirement because the terrible little filters on minisplits don't comply. Even if you filter your outside air, the room filter doesn't meet the MERV requirements. They don't have enough fan, or physical room, to put in a better filter. We seem to have gotten by with one minisplit in an IT room as you said. Additionally, minisplits don't provide outside air. If you are going to comply with ASHRAE 62, you'll have to implement a Direct Outside Air System (DOAS) to provide minimum fresh air to all spaces. Minisplits without DOAS will not fly. DOAS can provide tempered fresh air right at the unit or separately into the room. You might also get clobbered with poor air distribution from your DOAS, making it less effective. I've had reviewers argue us down to a 50% effectiveness on DOAS systems, causing havoc at the end of a project.
Paula Hernandez
MRS.PAH&A
85 thumbs up
June 26, 2020 - 10:34 am
Hi, I understand that according to ASHRAE 62.1-2010, to comply with Section 5.8, you have to installed a minimum MERV 8 upstream the cooling coil, not MERV6, which makes it worse for systems like VRF.
Am I right?
Dionisio Franca
DirectorWoonerf Inc.
30 thumbs up
June 27, 2020 - 1:51 am
Created on Apr 09, 2019LEED Interpretation
ID#
10489 merv 6 exception small systems
Credit NameEQ101 - Minimum indoor air quality performanceCredit CategoryIndoor environmental qualityInternational ApplicableYesCampus ApplicableNo
Ruling
Yes, for the EQ prerequisite Minimum indoor air quality performance, small indoor fan coils such as VRF fan coils can be exempted from the ASHRAE 62.1-2010 Section 5.8 or ASHRAE 62.1-2007 Section 5.9 particulate matter removal requirements subject to the following constraints: 1. The fan coil may not introduce outside air directly from the outdoors. The fan coil must either be a 100% recirculating system, or have outside air delivered from a Dedicated Outside air system that filters the outside air. 2. The fan coil cooling capacity must not exceed 30,000 Btuh (9 kW)