Dear all,
1) Thanks to LEED User for uploading sample documentation. This was very helpful.
2) the M&E working on the project would like to demonstrate compliance using a software program. Are there any programs (best if free) you recommend?
Any idea as to where can thet get the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Program from ?
3) From the documentation provided, I noticed one called "Psychrometric Analysis for Induction System, that is an output of HAPv 4.4 . Would this suffice to document compliance ? Or do we need to upload the results from the ASHRAE program tool as well?
Many thanks for your help,
Brandon Dachel
Associate Vice President | Senior Mechanical EngineerMEP Associates, a Salas O'Brien Company
4 thumbs up
April 29, 2011 - 10:28 am
I am also looking for the same thing. We spoke to ASHRAE Bookstore over the phone and they stated the ASHRAE Thermal Comfort Tool is not compliant with ASHRAE 55-2004. They stated a new version of the software is supposed to come out any day now but they aren't sure when and I don't have the time to wait. Mainly I am a little lost on how to document compliance for spaces that don't have metabolic rates between 1.0 and 1.3 met, using the PMV/PPD calculation. 55-2004 5.2.1.1 states we cannot use the graphical method if we fall outside these ranges. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Barbara McCrary
Mechanical Engineer, PE, LEED AP BD&CHHB Engineers, P.C., Prattville, AL
119 thumbs up
May 11, 2011 - 12:26 pm
I just downloaded the free tool from Climate Consultant listed under the Resources Tab, Software Tools part of this credit here on LEED user. I have not submitted this to USGBC yet, but it seems to be a fairly easy way to input CLO, MET, and expected velocity from fan-forced systems, and get a psychrometric chart with the two comfort boxes outlined (one for winter clothing and one for summer clothing).
Barbara McCrary
Mechanical Engineer, PE, LEED AP BD&CHHB Engineers, P.C., Prattville, AL
119 thumbs up
May 11, 2011 - 12:33 pm
Brandon - also scroll down to a discussion on how to show compliance for a small fitness area of a larger office building. James Del Monaco posted some helpful information on how to document since MET falls out the ranges of ASHRAE 55.
Christopher Frantz
Mechanical Engineer, LEED APGMEP Engineering
4 thumbs up
May 24, 2011 - 3:14 am
Hi all. I joined so I could see this completed LEED Online form in the toolbox with matching psych charts. My first question is: Everything on the LEED online form seems to match the ASHRAE 55 calculations EXCEPT the air velocity - noted as 200 fpm on the LEED online form, but a mere 19.7 fpm on the calculator...? What am I not understanding that would allow everything between these two to match except the air velocity? (what I'm currently hung up on my current project)
My issue is that we have become accustomed to designing per ACCA Manual D specifications to meet CalGreen standards which note recommended air velocities to be at 600 fpm. Obviously 600 fpm is extremely high compared to 40 fpm, but this project was certainly not designed for such low velocities (the diffusers would have to be literally giant)? The design reviewer is requiring the "Computer Model Method must be used to evaluate draft risk for local discomfort, and make operative temperature adjustments for elevated air speed." I would prefer to not go buy more software to document this credit. I saw the "comfort calculator" but as noted it was unclear whether it would be accepted by LEED Online. Any help or feedback would be greatly appreciated, thank you so much, I'm fairly stuck and this is the last hurdle for the design phase.
Christopher Schaffner
CEO & FounderThe Green Engineer
LEEDuser Expert
963 thumbs up
June 9, 2011 - 2:35 pm
Where are you measuring the air velocity? 600 FPM sounds like a duct velocity. What we care about here is the velocity at the occupant, not in the duct or at the diffuser discharge. 600 FPM = 6.8 MPH.