Case 1 vs. Case 2 and dimming versus A/V

David Mirabile

LEED AP, BD+C

LEEDuser Basic Member

44 thumbs up

October 5, 2011

OK, I am still a little confused based on some of the comments below, but to me it is 100% clear just by the template alone that it is an either/or and not both. That is definitely diffrent than past versions and puzzling why they did this but the template clearly makes you pick one or the other. Am I missing something here? Also, in case 2, they say use general and A/V mode. Can a manually controlled dimmer be considered A/V or does it have to be a preset A/V level achieved with the push of a single buttton? thanks.

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Carrie Webster

Moseley Architects

LEEDuser Basic Member

44 thumbs up

Wed, 10/05/2011 - 14:56

David, I am also puzzled since both cases are so easy to meet, compared to the Schools 2007 requirements. I have also been using Case 2 since it's easier to document. Since they don't define A/V mode using footcandle limits like they did in 2007, and since the form only requires you to answer a Yes/No question that the classrooms have general and A/V mode, I don't see why dimmers wouldn't qualify. When they previously had the requirement that A/V mode demonstrate a level between 10 and 20 footcandles, they would probably require a pre-set dimming setting. However they no longer define A/V mode and there's no mechanism on the form to describe the type of controls even if you did include a preset level. I still can't shake the feeling that I'm missing something, but that's my interpretation so far!

David Mirabile

LEED AP, BD+C

LEEDuser Basic Member

44 thumbs up

Wed, 10/05/2011 - 15:32

Thanks for the reply. It's hard to shake off things that were done in earlier versions that have become less stringent when you know the mentallity is/should be to be more so. However, I suppose the thought behind this would be that the engineer/lighting pro knows the space and potential for glare and the need for note taking, etc., better than a generic space with a predetermined foot candle amount. So I guess I will go with that until proven otherwise. Now for the explanation of only having to choose Case 1 or 2, who knows. Maybe they have come to realize that if you pick Case 2 in a school building a large percentage of the building will be accounted for and therefore not worrying about the left over spaces is ok???