Hello everyone,
I would like to ask for your views on the selection of baseline system type for industrial objects. As a specific example, we have a production hall with 32,000m2, 11m tall. The building has one floor. Heating source is gas.
When selecting suitable baseline system for the building (as per table G3.1.1A) , the qustion is: what is taking precedence - number of floors, or area?
- If I assume that the building has less than three storeys, I would pick System 3
- If I assume that the building has more than 14,000m2, I would pick system 7
What is your interpretation of the table G3.1.1A?
Thank you for your views.
Anna
Ying Lindsey
6 thumbs up
September 23, 2022 - 10:45 am
Does this project heated-only? If it is heated-only, you need to use system 9. If it is not heated-only you need to use system 7.
Anna Korinkova
Grinity s.r.o.83 thumbs up
September 26, 2022 - 3:04 pm
Hi Ying, thank you for the reply. Majority of the buildings on the project will have cooling, but thanks for pointing to the difference between heated only and others. Anyway, from your reply I can see that area is taking preference before number of floors. Is that always the case? Are there any rules for this, ideally written out?
With many thanks,
Anna
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
September 26, 2022 - 3:42 pm
The second line in the table is only for projects 3 stories or less AND under 25000 sf. So your project does not qualify.
The fourth line is for projects more than 5 floors OR greater than 150,000 sf. So your project qualifies.
Technically your project does not qualify for a Heating Only System 9 since it is not one of the space types in Section G3.1.1 Exception e. In your case you might be able to use it if you can make the case to the reviewer that this type of system is commonly used in these types of projects in your location and this type of project in your location is never built with any sort of cooling system. Hard to say without knowing more about the type of industrial operation. There is also a work around for areas that are heating only where you set the cooling temperature set points very high in the proposed and baseline so that your simulated baseline cooling system does not operate.
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
September 26, 2022 - 3:47 pm
The rules are embedded in the language within the table. The area does not take preference over the number of floors. Make sure to pay careful attention to the AND and the OR in the descriptions. The descriptions are trying to take into account both projects in a more urban location (# of floors) and where land is more available (area of building).
Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
5868 thumbs up
September 26, 2022 - 3:56 pm
In your case you have a nonresidential project heated by gas with cooling so it is either system, 3 or 5 or 7. It is not a System 3 because it is greater than 25000 sf. It is not a System 5 because it is not 4/5 floors AND less than 25000 sf OR less than 5 floors AND between 25000 and 15000sf. It is a System 7 not because it is 5 floors or more but because it is greater than 150000 sf (notice the OR in that description). So just follow the logic sequence to determine the proper baseline system. It can also be viewed as a process of elimination - what it is not will only leave one option. Also always use the predominant condition or space type to determine the proper system type. Hopefully that clears it up, if not let me know.
Anna Korinkova
Grinity s.r.o.83 thumbs up
October 4, 2022 - 5:46 pm
Hi Marcus, thank you very much for the exhaustive answers and appologies for the delayed response. Yes, it is more clear now, I believe I have everything I need at this point.