We are certifing a project with two buildings, the first is an offices, the second is a warehouses to rent in Spain.
The question is for the warehouse, this warehouse is not conditioned and the spain law (and UE) doesn't require ventilation for this type of buildings.
We don't Know the use, because it is for rent.
The question is:
To meet the crèdit -Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance- and Leed V.4
does warehouses require ventilation? and if the answer is yes, with natural ventilation is it enough? or require mechanical ventilation?
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for $12.95 »
Gustavo De las Heras Izquierdo
Arch&Eng.82 thumbs up
June 20, 2016 - 5:25 pm
Yes, for sure the warehouse needs to be ventilated.
The warehouse can be either naturally or mechanically ventilated, it's your call.
If the space is going to be rented and the ventilation is beyond your project's scope of work, you have to demonstrate how this requirement will be enforced, typically by means of a binding clause in the tenant lease agreement.
Jared Rickman
Project Manager , EntegrityFebruary 8, 2019 - 5:08 pm
In our warehouse project, we're providing mechanical ventilation by means of exhaust fans and louvers, using the required ASHRAE air rates. The issues we're finding in talking to USGBC reps (LEED Coach):
1. They're saying that the operation of these fans must be automated. In warehouses operating 24/7, this would significantly increase the energy used and often bring in more outside air than is really needed for a handful of occupants.
2. They're saying these fans cannot be shut off by occupants by a control switch. This seems like obviously bad design to us. Are we supposed to instruct building owners to restrict exhaust fan operations completely to BAS control? In intemperate weather (i.e. polar vortex), does a LEED warehouse prevent occupants from having any control over the amount of outside air they're bringing in?
I haven't come across a great solution here. Can we not simply provide the means of minimum ventilation and trust occupants to control these spaces?
Dionisio Franca
Senior Consultant , Woonerf Inc.17 thumbs up
February 11, 2019 - 7:48 pm
Hi Jared,
Warehouses are ventilated for the emissions of the space, not of people. If the facility is designed to be operable 24 hours, it is very different from a facility that will be operated 24 hours, so you'd definitely need different types of control in my opinion.
Maybe it won't help The latest versions of ASHRAE 62.1 (2016) allow some spaces such as offices spaces to control ventilation based on presence sensors. That is something you might try to use if you for office areas. You'd have to follow the ASHRAE 62.1 20016 for everything though. I hope this helps.