I am dealing with a complex commercial center containing a indoor ski center and a ice rink, which clearly fall outside of the comfortable zone of ASHRAE 55. The feedback from GBCI required us to provide DESIGN strategies to improve thermal comfort and meet the intent of this credit. Does anybody know any design strategies that can be applied to ski center and ice rink?
Many thanks!!
Cam Fitzgerald
Energy Engineer7group
25 thumbs up
July 28, 2015 - 7:57 am
Design recommendations for ice rinks are included in the 2015 ASHRAE Applications Handbook, Chapter 5 (as well as earlier versions), but indoor ski centers seem be too new/uncommon to have standard design recommendations. However, it would seem reasonable that the same criteria (or similar) would apply for both since they depend on keeping the space cold enough to maintain snow/ice and the occupants have an expectation of cold conditions within the space. Describing how the design aligns with the recommendations in the handbook or similar generally accepted standard should suffice. Also LEED Interpretation 10279, although not specifically related to your issue touches on spaces that are not generally comfort conditioned. Keep in mind that different explanations may be required for spectator areas; the activity level is different and often radiant heat is provided for additional spectator comfort.
Scott Bowman
LEED FellowIntegrated Design + Energy Advisors, LLC
LEEDuser Expert
520 thumbs up
August 1, 2015 - 8:28 am
I agree with Cam that first looking for guidance from ASHRAE on what would be the standard of care for that kind of application. From personal experience with ice rinks or hockey arenas, it is all about humidity control. This is both for the ice and the spectators. Radiant heat works to help around the outside of the ice, but you have to control the humidity to feel comfortable.