We have a project with office and warehouse. The warehouse is strictly for storage and is occupied only intermittantly for short periods. The warehouse is semi-heated (for freeze protection) and mechanically ventilated. ASHRAE 55 section 2.3 states that the scope of the standard applies to "...spaces designed for human occupancy for periods not less than 15 minutes." Based on this, we do not believe the warehouse should be required to meet the thermal comfort standards of ASHRAE 55.
However, there is conflicting information in CIR's about this. It is clear that other comfort credits do not apply to non-regularly occupied spaces - like daylight and views, thermal comfort and lighting controls - but some of the CIR's insist that all spaces be included in this credit. Can anyone shed light on this? Should'nt we be following the scope of the reference standard?
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Dylan Connelly
Mechanical EngineerIntegral Group
LEEDuser Expert
472 thumbs up
November 4, 2011 - 5:55 pm
I am not sure what CIR you are referring to, but spaces that are not regularly occupied like warehouses and storage rooms do not need to meet comply.
On the form simply only enter in information about the spaces that are regularly occupied. I have not had an issue with this on any project.