Based on comments on this forum, I assumed it was okay to permanently install walk-off material. In my specific project, there was existing 'typical carpet' that we a) removed, b) recycled, and c) replaced with walk-off specific carpet to meet the intent of this credit. The walk-off material has a longer loop and rougher texture to effectivly capture particulates. We did this because the property manager did not find it aestictically acceptable to put an additional/removable walk-off mat on top of the existing carpet. This was done at extra expence and effort to the project.
The preliminary comment only requested that we distinguish systems from the other buildings submitted in the block because 'they looked identical'--lesson learned: do not submit as a block, it created more problems where the reviewer thought we only submitted data for one building (because the 4 buildings on a campus looked similar).
And then we got this comment in the final review:
"However, although the photographs identifyexterior grilles and interior mats, it is unclear thatthe installed entryway systems are compliant as it appears that permanently-installed carpet is being utilized as an entryway system. Typical buildingcarpeting does not satisfy the requirements of IEQc3.5, as it is not designed to effectively capture dirt, dust, pollen, and other particles entering thebuilding. The documentation does not demonstrate credit compliance."
This is very frustrating becasue we did the right thing, primarily to get the LEED point because this was a secondary entrance, and we still did not get recognized because the reviewer raised new comments in the final review--I didn't think they were allowed to do that. Similar to my comment in the IEQc3.2 forum, we will not appeal becasue we already achieved our desired level of Gold.
This is just a friendly warning to other project teams who are using permanently installed carpet/matting as a walk-off device. Be sure you provide manufacturer's data confirming that it is walk-off specific material...and beware of 'Review Team C'!
also, they would not let us count the recycled carpet in MRc9 because it didn't qualify as a 'facility alteration' as described in the introduciton of the rating system. Which again, is frustrating because we did the right thing, but are not getting any credit.
Megan Meiklejohn
Sustainability Operations Director, East CoastHealthy Buildings
69 thumbs up
November 21, 2011 - 7:14 pm
Alyson, I feel your pain! It can be very frustrating when you are doing the right thing, even go beyond the credit requirements, and not earn the point for your efforts. It seems the credit was denied because the reviewer did not understand that typical carpeting was replaced with walk-off mat material, but not because it was permanently installed. In fact, the credit requirements are to employ permanent entryway systems (grilles, grates, mats). Did you submit a cut sheet of the walk-off carpet material? I think this would have cleared up the confusion.
I am not surprised that the project did not receive credit for MRc9 though. A facility alternation is defined as an alternation that includes construction activity by more than 1 trade specialty and includes substantial changes to at least 1 entire room. Therefore carpet removal would be considered a minor upgrade. But at least you can feel good about keeping the old carpet out of landfill!
Jason Franken
Sustainability ProfessionalLEEDuser Expert
608 thumbs up
October 29, 2012 - 2:09 pm
I wanted to post an important updated to this forum thread. In October 2012, USGBC published a LEED Interpretation that officially approves walk-off carpet tile as an acceptable entryway system. The Interpretation language can be found here: https://www.usgbc.org/leedinterpretations/LIDetails.aspx?liaccessid=10252.
The product must be "specifically designed for entryway system or similar use, have performance attributes equivalent to other acceptable entryway systems (such as high pile height), and must be regularly maintained". This ruling is applicable for all v2009 rating systems, including EBOM, and similar language may find its way into the LEED v4 draft language.