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You can earn this credit by developing an IAQ management plan for facility alterations or additions on your project site—even if there are no actual alterations or additions conducted during the performance period.

Elements of a good plan

Your IAQ management plan must include two major components: 

  • your plan to meet or exceed SMACNA control measures; 
  • and your plan for a ventilation flush-out of the impacted area after completion of construction activities.

In addition, your IAQ plan should outline procedures for protecting absorptive materials from moisture damage. Also, use the plan to specify the level of filtration required for HVAC systems used during construction in the impacted areas of the building.

Different filtration requirements

For the HVAC systems that will be used during construction, you should use MERV 8 filters to meet the requirements of this credit. If your building is also pursuing IEQc1.4: IAQ Best Management Practices—Reduce Particulates in Air Distribution, replace the MERV 8 filters with MERV 13 filters after the ventilation flush-out, for long-term operation of the building.

Keep staff in the loop

In many cases, facility alterations and additions are infrequent events. Project teams should include provisions in the IAQ plan to ensure that the right people are informed of the need to follow the IAQ management plan when construction eventually occurs. This would include facility managers, construction staff, contractors, and the IAQ manager identified in IEQ1.1: IAQ Best Management Practices—IAQ Management Program.

Consider these questions when approaching this credit

  • Are any facility alterations or additions planned in the near future? If so, coordinate development of the IAQ management plan with the contractors and/or in-house staff that will be conducting those activities, and be sure that the plan is ready to be implemented prior to the start of construction. If not, you can still earn the credit just for developing the plan.
  • Does your HVAC system have the capacity to flush out impacted areas after construction before they are occupied? If not, can you use temporary equipment to perform the flush-out?
Credits
IEQc1.5