In a school project, we are using a great deal of the roof area as play space for the kids. This area will have an appropriate surface for play and will not meet the urban heat island SRI requirements for a roof. We are trying to figure how to count this space. Would it be considered roof? Would it be considered pedestrian oriented hardscape ? If considered pedestrian oriented hardscape, could it count toward SSc5.2? Or can it be ignored completely since it is a roof area used as an occupied space? The latter would work well for us with regard to SSc7.2 as the remaining roof area is mostly white or vegetated.
Looking forward to your thoughts.
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11478 thumbs up
December 15, 2010 - 1:00 pm
I think you would most likely have to consider this a roof, since it is a horizontal exterior surface over conditioned space. So, I think you would have to count it under SSc7.2. I suppose you could try to to count it under SSc7.1, under the argument that it's more like a non-roof surface, if you thought that would be advantageous, although you'd have to get a CIR or hope for the best during review. I certainly couldn't see it being ignored—not clear how you could argue that. If it's occupied space that it would have to have roof above it, right?I could see it being counted as pedestrian-oriented hardscape under SSc5.2 if you're also earning SSc2.Thoughts?
Marcio Alberto Casado Pereira
181 thumbs up
May 9, 2011 - 4:24 pm
We are having the same problem on a football arena. The project has a big area which serves as roof for part of the occupied areas and is the main access of the stadium, functioning as a large circulation area. However, if we specify a material finish with a high SRI, wouldn't it be unconfortable for the pedestrians since it is a horizontal surface? If we specify an 29 SRI wouldn't it be enough?
Thank in advance for your answer.
Mara Baum
Partner, Architecture & SustainabilityDIALOG
674 thumbs up
May 24, 2011 - 2:33 pm
Any of these surfaces over conditioned space would be considered a roof and would need to meet the SRI requirements accordingly. Although use of roof space for these activities is clearly commendable -- in may receive credit in other areas of LEED -- a dark surface would not meet the intent of this credit. Note that roof covering occupied but not conditioned spaces are not counted in this calculation.
I would not rule out a pedestrian-appropriate high SRI surface -- a lot of products have been developed in the last few years that meet the SRI requirements without feeling highly reflective. The stadium condition is somewhat unusual, though, so I don't know offhand of anything appropriate. You won't likely find products for the play space.