I am trying to locate a document or more information from USGBC regarding the Principal Project Building Activities. I am working with a lodging client and we are trying to sort out the 6 different definitions (really just 4 of them).
I went first to LOv3 Help (https://www.leedonline.com/irj/go/km/docs/documents/usgbc/leed/config/co...) that directed me to the CBECS Glossary - http://www.eia.gov/emeu/cbecs/glossary_1.html. Principal Building Activity's definition then directs you to a dead/bad link (Description of CBECS Building Types) but I found it on CBECS page here - http://www.eia.gov/emeu/cbecs/building_types.html. However, Lodging is only 1 building type with 6 subcategories that do not match exactly with the dropdown on PIf3. So, how is USGBC defining: Lodging: Hotel/Motel/Resort, Limited Service vs. Lodging: Hotel/Motel/Resort, Select Service vs. Lodging: Inn vs. Lodging: Other Lodging?
David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1976 thumbs up
November 5, 2012 - 3:09 pm
Hi Michelle,
Since the Principal Building Activity links to EAp2 and EAc1 you'd think there would be technical differences between the 6 types of lodging and criteria for when to choose one or the other. I couldn't find any definitions of those lodging sub categories in ASHRAE 90.1, the Energy Star Documentation, or the new LEED Glossary on the USGBC website that's set up to be the central reference point for all LEED definitions (link is at the bottom of most of the site’s pages). In the linked EA forms, I haven’t seen this data field affecting the rest of the forms, so I couldn’t see any implications for choosing one activity type over another. There might be some situations or prescriptive EA paths that do get triggered by different choices, so it might be worth checking on the EAc1 forum.
In the absence of any reference or definitions, my assumption is these activity names are "descriptive" rather than technical definitions, and are being used to provide the reviewer with a general sense of the building use. If that’s the case, it would be up to our judgment or the client’s direction to choose the most appropriate one.
I’ll see if we can find some more detail on this.
RETIRED
LEEDuser Expert
623 thumbs up
November 21, 2012 - 10:27 am
David - I wanted to share this information with you and for others. I met with Megan Sparks, LEED Certification Reviewer at GBCI, at the LEED Certification Work Zone at Greenbuild last week. She indicated that there are not definitions for the Principal Building Activities. She indicated that “it's up to the team, whatever we think fits best.” Your assumption that these “activity names are ‘descriptive’ rather than technical definitions, and are being used to provide the reviewer with a general sense of the building use” is spot on per my conversation with Megan.