Shell Only Assessment - Compliance with ASHRAE 90.1 Mandatory Provisions

My decision in such situation would be so:
- Make a draft of tenant lease agreement (TLA)
- Force client to sign official obligation/letter with TLA as an annex, that such terms TLA would be obligate to sign any tenant that whants to be at the building

This TLA must contain minimum performance requirements to lighting, HVAC, etc. For instance - lighting power allowance for office must be not higher than 6 W per sqm. If lower - ok.The same for fan SFP, chiller/split/VRF system COP (SEER) and so on.

Minimum performance of equipment from TLA must be implemented at proposed/project case model at energy simulation.

TLA also must contain requirements for Cx process when tenant occurs and would install equipment.

Cx process must be done without systems that are absent – only in part that is present (power rooms, etc.)

Hi Andrey,

Thank you for your response. I’m attempting to move forward with this, but it seems they are not interested in being involved in the fit-out or tenant scope of work—they only aim to achieve the certified level.

If I manage to get a tenant lease agreement, I believe most of the issues will be resolved (although it has to be signed by the tenant not the client - I have heard there is a high ridsk that the reviewers will not accept if is not from the tenant). However, the concern is, what happens if I can't persuade them to sign it?

Based on your feedback, the commissioning (Cx) process seems clear: we should commission only the systems that are implemented (e.g., renewable energy systems, rainwater system, etc.). I assume the same approach applies to the ASHRAE 90.1 2016 Mandatory Provisions. What are your thoughts?

What’s less clear to me is how to handle the lighting sensors in the energy model. Should they be included as part of the baseline?

Thank you again for your input.

It's better to emphase that without TLA project can fail to achieve minimum energy efficiency requirements and fail to get even certified level (and this is true).

In my experience with TLA an LEED 2009 C&S project it was accepted even without actual tenant, since it was officially stated by client that such requirements would be applied to any tenant.

If you would fail to force client to sign TLA - you are in trouble. 

Per Cx - yes, you are commissioning only what is present at the time Cx occures.

AFAIK lighting sensors are not included in baseline. I would re-chek.

I believe that lighting controls included in Section 9.4.1.1 of Standard 90.1-2016 are mandatory so only them must be included into baseline. Check me if I'm right.

I've been involved with several v4 Core & Shell projects that did not include a MEP system. They would include lights for safety and temporary heating units for freeze protection. In this instance the mandatory ASHRAE 90.1 provisions were not required to be met by GBCI - since they were not included in the CS scope of work; likewise the projects were exempt from the ventilation and monitoring requirements of EQp Minimum IAQ Performance. 

The energy model is able to claim savings from the envelope if it is an improvement from 90.1. All other future systems were are required to modeled the same in the baseline and proposed model. (unless the project team can prove the local energy code is more stringent then the LEED baseline energy code)

if further, more detailed direction is needed, I'd suggest sending the inquiry over to LEED Coach - they are extremely helpful. 

Hope this helps, Good Luck!