I know that residential kitchens are considered regularly occupied. However, one thing that doesn't always get consistently documented is how the area of the kitchen that is in an open floor plan (open to dining/living areas) get defined. Is it the outer extent of countertop surfaces or is the regularly occupied area actually to the face of the cabinetry, accounting for only the clear floor area where a user can walk around (areas of countertops whether against the wall or in an island/peninsula excluded)? Is this area handled the same for ventilation vs. views?
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David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1976 thumbs up
March 21, 2018 - 3:15 pm
Since daylight is often evaluated on the "work plane" of a desk or table, it makes sense that we would include all counter top areas in the regularly occupied spaces and not just the clear floor area. Same goes for views. Although I don't recall any official guidance on full-height cabinetry such as a pantry, fridge, or a wall ovens it might be acceptable to exclude those areas for daylight and views (but not for ventilation calcs).
You'll probably be asked for a narrative to justify any variations in floor areas used in different credits, especially if the regularly occupied area reported in a credit differs more than 10% from other credits such as ventilation, which needs to account for the total interior area that has, well, air.
We've seen a review comment where the area used for ventilation calculations in EQp2 differed from the total conditioned space area reported in the PI forms. In the review response the mechanical engineer had to provide a table showing areas excluded from the total conditioned area. These were mechanical & elevator shafts, exit stairwells, interior & exterior wall thickness & structural columns, IDF equipment room, and exhaust only spaces: electrical & mechanical equipment rooms, and public restrooms. (I doubt residential bathrooms could be excluded from conditioned space.)
Does that make sense?
Rose Winter
2 thumbs up
March 21, 2018 - 4:04 pm
It does, especially if thinking of the work surface of the kitchen like a work surface of a desk in an office. I've seen it documented both ways (including it and excluding it) and was hoping for some more consistency.