Our signage currently reads:
"The Fulton County
Clean Indoor Air Ordinance
Prohibits Smoking
In this Building"
Just received this comment from the GBCI,
"However, although the signage communicating the smoking policy prohibits smoking within the building, the signage does not prohibit smoking within 25 feet of all entries, outdoor air intakes, and operable windows, as required.
TECHNICAL ADVICE: Please provide photographs of building signage communicating the exterior smoking policy prohibiting smoking within 25 feet of all entries, outdoor air intakes, and operable windows."
Project Team Clarification: We will install (and photograph) additional language to the signage to clarify a buffer.
Question to LEED Users: Is it sufficient to add,
‘And Within 25 Feet of All Entries’
-or-
must we explicitly state,
'within 25 feet of all entries, outdoor air intakes, and operable windows'?
notes: The building does not have any operable windows, and the average FTE does not know what an outdoor air intakes looks like. Adding these words will a) make the sign too long for people to actually read and b) seems irrelevant to this specific project.
We cannot afford to have this denied again so I'd really appreciate some feedback on specific language used on signage.
Lastly, I've had this credit approved on 3 project with signage that states 'no smoking' so it is odd that all the sudden the requirements are much more specific and stringent.
Michael Miller
Project Architect236 thumbs up
January 13, 2012 - 11:37 am
Alyson,
I can't give any advice based on previous GBCI reviews. That said, I believe you should be able to add signage or language only as appropriate, provided you clearly explain in the review response that there are no operable windows and what the situation is re: air intakes.
Your strategy would vary depending on the project's circumstances: If there are places where a person *could* smoke within 25' of an air intake (vertically, as well as horizontally), then you should post additional signage at those locations indicating no smoking within 25'. Or you could include the entry and air intake language on all signage, at entries as well as at any site entry points if someone could travel past air intakes before they reach the signage at an entry.
In any case, be sure to explain why you've omitted some of the typical language. You might also consider marking up a site plan or floor plan showing entries, air intakes, and signage locations.
SIG - Sustainability Main Account
Sustainability ConsultantsSustainable Investment Group (SIG)
86 thumbs up
January 13, 2012 - 12:27 pm
Thanks for the quick reply Michael. I like the idea of marking up a mechanical plan to show where outdoor air intakes are. I will submit that as well.
It just seems excessive to post signage at seemingly 'random' locations that may be within 25 vertical feet of an OA intake....since we know that people often ignore signage.
What does the community think about this language.
The Fulton County
Clean Indoor Air Ordinance
Prohibits Smoking
In this Building
And Within 25 feet of Building, Except at
Designated Area on 2nd floor of Parking Garage
(the format is with the intention to leave existing language in place and only add whats necessary)
We would like to direct smokers to the designated area that happens to be up against the building, but 25' away from door, OA intake, and operable windows.