Query on grates/grilles in factory building for LEED NC Project

Hi JP, I believe you would not be granted an exemption. Steel grates can be installed that will bear the same weight as a concrete slab. If needed the grate could rest on a slab (in a recessed pocket) if the costs of steel structure/support need to be avoided. I would, however, be concerned about the functionality of the grates when handcarts (with smaller diameter wheels) are used, if that is the case.

One other aspect to confirm is that the ventilation design is fully met (negative pressurization and no air remix, meaning direct exhaust to outside.) Also, don't forget the self-closing doors for these chemical storage/handling spaces. And deck-to-deck partitions or hard lid ceilings. Yikes! I think this is the most onerous of all LEED credits...

Good luck to you. David

Good question. In case of parking garages you do not have to provide the grills and grates for the vehicular areas, just at the entry point of the occupants to the other areas of the building. However, parking areas are not permanent work place.
I would give it a try and submit a CIR for this issue.

I can't find it now, but I seem to remember discussion on this forum about a similar situation where the project successfully installed the walk-off mats in between the warehouse area and the office area, essentially treating the warehouse as "exterior". This approach makes sense to me from a contaminant control perspective, if it is impossible to keep contaminants from vehicle traffic from entering the warehouse/industrial spaces. I am considering this approach on a project that has warehouse and office modules. Can someone please confirm that walk-off mats can be placed to "protect" all entrances into an office module if the warehouse module is impossible to "protect" (forklift traffic tracking in dirt), and the warehouse is occupied on extremely rare occasions? Thank you.

As long as you have walk off mats for entryways for pedestrians, and even as noted, between the factory side and the warehouse side, there should be no issue. You do not have to have grilles for vehicles.

I agree with Todd. The intent is to protect people in the occupied building from contaminants that come in on the feet of other people, not vehicles. Warehouse workers are people too. Protect regular pedestrian entries to occupied spaces.

Michelle, does it make sense to you, to place walk-off mats between an office space module of a building and a "warehouse/storage" module of a building (which is rarely occupied)? Thank you.

If the warehouse is "dirty" and people are walking back and forth from the warehouse to the office, then yes there should be walk off mats. Think about how often a contractor or the cable guy comes to your house. I still want them putting on their booties or taking off their shoes when they come in.