I am part of a LEED NC 2009 for Retail project that intends to pursue Option 2 -- Air Quality Testing -- for this credit. The retail requirements differ from the NC requirements in that projects are allowed to perform air quality testing up to 14 days into the occupancy period, because "retail project turnover typically happens fast."
I understand that if one or more air quality samples exceeds maximum concentrations, projects may flush out and then repeat until all samples are in compliance. I am unclear about the allowed timing for repeat tests. Must a project 'pass' air quality tests by 14 days into occupancy (or, by time of occupancy for normal NC projects) in order to earn the credit, or is it permitted to perform repeat tests as necessary after this 'deadline' as long as the initial test occurred beforehand?
Dylan Connelly
Mechanical EngineerIntegral Group
LEEDuser Expert
472 thumbs up
April 29, 2012 - 1:54 pm
Something to consider is that air quality testing results can take a week or longer to get back.
Dylan Connelly
Mechanical EngineerIntegral Group
LEEDuser Expert
472 thumbs up
May 8, 2012 - 12:01 pm
Anders,
I had some more time to look into the NC requirements.
In the credit language it says "All measurements must be conducted prior to occupancy." Later in the manual it specifically says "The project team should resample and confirm compliance before allowing occupancy".
If the Retail requirements allow you to shift the occupancy period out 14 days for the flush out method, IMO you could make that your deadline for passing the testing requirements.
Like I said above you will need to factor in the fact that it could take 1-2 weeks to get test results back to even know if you have passed.
Adrienne Lynn
Sustainability ManagerClark Builders
9 thumbs up
May 8, 2012 - 12:26 pm
Anders & Dylan,
I work with the LEED Canada program and for our projects we have the option of using portable equipment as per CIR #505. I imagine that the USGBC may allow something similar. With portable equipment you can receive instantaneous results and therefore you will know if you pass or fail the same day. This will method would save you lots of time if you are able to utilize this option with the USGBC's LEED program.
The following equipment was allowed by the CaGBC through CIR #505;
- Portable Photo Ionization Detector (PID), calibrated with the help of gas cylinders at 0 and 7.5 ppm of isobutylene for detection of VOC’s.
- Portable electrochemical oxidation detector for carbon monoxide, calibrated with the help of gas cylinders at 0.5 and 105 ppm.
- Continuous photometric particulates detector, with a built-in separation head for particulates of 10 microns (PM10).
- Portable formaldehyde detector that measures the coloration of a chemically treated paper patch after 30 minutes of exposition.
I hope this helps.
Adrienne
armando chamorro
CIH, LEED AP, CBCPCIH Environmental Solutions
4 thumbs up
May 8, 2012 - 4:17 pm
Adrienne
In the US, the testing protocols do not allow direct reading instrumentation for compliance for some of the IAQ parameters. For example, for VOC, which photoionization would be a great tool for TVOC must be analyzed individually using GCMS laboratory procedures. Direct reading can be used in some cases as a screening tool prior to collecting the final air samples. Same scenario is for formaldehyde. In the other hand CO can indeed be measured used the direct reading instrumentation.