Retail Loading docks

The reviewers have been pretty consistent that any door that is regularly used, even if only for deliveries, needs to have entryway systems. The only time I have seen them exempt doors on a regular basis is for doors that are only to be used as emergency exits.

LI#5177 made on 01/23/2009 states  that loading docks are exempt. This Interpretation doesn't seem to have been considered for LEED 2009, though—it's applicable to v2.2.

Does anyone have a recent update on the need for mats in industrial buildings? The v4 requirements for mats appear to mirror the v2.2 LI and we are entering the design phase for a v3 office/industrial building.

As Tristan noted in his February 2013 post, LI#5177 had not been deemed applicable to LEED-2009. However, this has changed. The current Interpretation Database indicates that the list of applicable credits for LI#5177 was updated in October 2013 to include LEED-2009: http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=5177. This link also includes an related update to LI#2021. These updates appear to align with v4 reqirements. Still, when you submit your documentation for IEQc5, be sure to indentify all exterior doors, indicate which are “regularly-used” entrances requiring walk-off systems, and provide justification for anywhere that you have omitted them. Cite LI#5177 or #2021 explicitly at loading docks. Case in point: In a June 2013 review of a LEED NC-2009 lab project, LEED Reviewers challenged us for not including walk-off systems at a pair of delivery doors at the loading dock. We had done so based on LI#5177 and that this was not a regularly-used entrance, but we failed to explain our rationale in the initial submittal. In our response, we did not try to argue the point. We just documented that the Owner was providing roll-up mats at this door. We might have avoided this if we had made our reasons clear in the first place.) (Note: This was a regular pair of hinged doors. Reviewers did not require mats at the roll-up truck dock door.)

Note that the LI#2021 update DOES require walk-off systems at doorways connecting the loading dock to the adjacent, occupied building.