Hey All,
Our ME has determined that we do not need to have 'no air recirculation.' He references ASHRAE Interpretation IC 62.1-2007 25.
I do not find a LEED Interpretation that addresses this matter. Does anyone know if this point has been successfully argued? For reference, here is an excerpt of the text in the ASHRAE Interpretation stating that 100% outside air is not required in copy rooms.
In this interpretation, several specific examples are listed, including the following 2:
Reference: This request for interpretation refers to the requirements presented in ANSI/ASHRAE
Standard 62.1-2007, Section 6.4 and Table 6-4, regarding design documentation and exhaust rates for
copy/printing rooms.
Background: ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2007, Table 6-4 requires copy/printing rooms to be
exhausted at a rate of 0.5 CFM/SF and classifies the exhaust air leaving the space as Class 2 (i.e.,
inappropriate for transfer or recirculation to spaces used for different purposes). Modern, digital
printers used in general office applications, including multi-purpose (copy/print/scan/email/fax)
printers, typically utilize inkjet or laser printing processes and are often certified to meet
environmental standards related to emission rates. Digital printers differ greatly from traditional
printing methods such as letterpress, offset printing, lithography, etc.
Interpretation No.1: Modern, digital printers, including multi-purpose printers, used in general
office applications are not required to be enclosed in a separate room and exhausted in
accordance with the occupancy category “Copy, printing rooms” per Table 6-4. It shall be noted
that this interpretation is consistent with the design approach taken at ASHRAE Headquarters in
Atlanta as part of the recent renovation.
Question No.1: Is this interpretation correct?
Answer No.1: Yes
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Interpretation No.3: High volume, modern, digital printers, including multi-purpose printers,
that produce more than 40,000 pages (20,000 double-sided) per month are required to be
enclosed in a separate room and exhausted in accordance with the occupancy category “Copy,
printing rooms” per Table 6-4. It shall be noted that this interpretation is consistent with the
requirements of LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations, IEQ Credit 5.
Question No.3: Is this interpretation correct?
Answer No.3: No
Comments: The standard does not have requirements for enclosing printing equipment. The decision of
installing enclosures and then selecting the appropriate space classification is left to the design team. The
standard only requires that the ventilation requirements for the selected space type be met. The
requirements of Section 5.6 of the standard, “Local Capture of Contaminants,” may also apply.
Lyle Axelarris
Building Enclosure ConsultantBPL Enclosure
60 thumbs up
May 10, 2018 - 5:00 pm
I've only skimmed the ASHRAE citation that you provided, so my response may not be complete, but here's my inititial thought:
The ME seems to be confusing LEED IEQc5 compliance with ASHRAE 62.1 compliance. For LEED IEQc5, copy rooms need to be negatively pressurized and have self-closing doors, etc. (if there are 40,000 pages/month...). That is completely separate from any ASHRAE requirements which may or may not be applicable for the project. Engineers sometimes like to say they don't have to do something to meet LEED because ASHRAE says .... That line of thinking works for building code compliance, but not LEED. In many cases, LEED requirements are above and beyond ASHRAE (or other) standards, building codes and all the other considerations that engineers are used to working with.