In another thread on this page, a LEED Reviewer mentioned being able to apply v2.2 "LEED Interpretations" to v2009 projects. That did not make sense to me. After digging around for a bit it appears to be allowed. And this may be a source of many phantom requirements.

I'm wondering why? There was suppose to be a clean break in LEED Interpretations between v2 projects and v3 projects. USGBC came up with the "addenda" thing to issue offical changes for v3 updates and modifications. Now we seem to be back to having to hunt thru Interpretations for any possible applicability to the current project.

The example given was #5232. Issued 9/2/09. When I search the GBCI database it shows up. And apparently there is a tab called "Applicability", (that doesn't look like a tab until after you click on it). And sure enough it says it may apply to New Construction v2009 projects.

But I don't know it exists unless I'm told it exists. If I do my due dillagence and search for the key word "Tenant" and filter the search to the rating system "New Construction v2009" and the category "Energy and Atmosphere" I only get (15) results that show up. Not one of them is this #5232. (Only 3 are dated after July 1, 2009 so the other 12 should not have even shown up in a search)

If USGBC wants to use the "addenda" format for updating v2009 requirements then only use addenda. Let's try to keep everyone playing from the same rule book.