I'm working on a hotel project where the guest room units will be built modularly off site. How does this affect the LEM credits? Are the units expected to be tested as a whole for emissions, or would we test individual components? How would we classify this unit if we had to test the whole thing?
Thank you
Deborah Lucking
Director of SustainabilityFentress Architects
LEEDuser Expert
258 thumbs up
November 2, 2020 - 3:27 pm
I assume these guest room units have products that fall into several of the VOC categories. It would make sense that each product has its own emissions documentation. I cannot imagine how you would test an entire unit. If anyone else has more information - please share!
Our experience is that this Credit has become pretty onerous and difficult to achieve. You may want to strategically consider which VOC categories to pursue.
Chyanne Husar
PrincipalhusARchitecture
3 thumbs up
November 3, 2020 - 9:12 am
I agree with Deborah that both the IAQ is fairly challenging from a documentation standpoint, though with a modular unit, you might have an easier time calculating the quantity of materials. I would also recommend reaching out to your LEED coach for guidance on this, I'd assume that wall materials still count as walls etc and it might depend on how much of the room is built off site - are you drywalling and patching and hanging curtains? I'd assume there would still be plenty of finish work that happens in the field that would allow you to follow the traditional compliance path. Finally, I strongly recommend looking at substituting v4.1 for this credit, you'll have a much easier time if you run into non-compliant materials.
Leanne Conrad
Project ManagerEntuitive
20 thumbs up
November 3, 2020 - 10:34 am
We regularly deal with modular units on our school builds. We treat the materials that are used in the modulars as if they were installed onsite instead of offsite. We add the materials to the appropriate LEM categories, being sure to use the value of all the units installed, not just per unit which it is often reported as. Be sure you have an IAQ plan for the modular construction site and that you have an inspection report to submit with your site construction IAQ credit documentation. You do not need to track the waste however for the waste credits.
If your testing question refers to the after construction testing credit, yes we either flush or test the modulars as a whole after they are constructed just like we would any other room.