Template issues for Option 1

renee jimenez

principal

mnk architects

LEEDuser Basic Member

8 thumbs up

March 20, 2012

Per the LEED reference guide it states that for Option 1 we are to “Confirm that 100% of all ceiling areas (excluding lights, diffusers and grilles) in all classrooms and core learning spaces are finished with a material that has a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of 0.70 or higher." however on the LEED on-line template it states "Option 1. Minimum NRC1. The project team will complete a table to confirm that the total area of materials in the room with a Noise Reduction Coefficient (NRC) of 0.70 or higher equals or exceeds the ceiling area." The table further asks for the following information: Ceiling Area sf; Area of Lights, Diffusers and grills on ceiling sf; Material Description; Area of Material; NRC Coefficient of specific materials. With this information it then calculates Ceiling area excluding lights, diffusers and grilles and Area of qualifying high – NRC material (sf). I have filled in the required information in both the following ways and the form still indicates that I do not meet the requirements. Am I misunderstanding the form? If not which way should I be filling in the form. Classroom Square footage = 817sf my ceiling area is the same sf of this area 96sf is Lights, Diffusers and grills on ceiling. My ceiling is Armstrong Fine Fissured 1824 which has an NRC of .70. Example 1 Example 2 Example 3 Ceiling Area sf: 817 817 721 Area of Lights, Diffusers and grills on ceiling sf: 96 96 96 Material 1 Description: Armstrong Fine Fissured 1824 Area of Material 1: 721 721 712 NRC Coefficient of material 1: .70 .70 .70 Material 2 Description: acoustical wall panels Area of Material 2: 100 NRC Coefficient of material 2: .70 Ceiling area: 721 721 625 (excluding lights, diffusers and grilles) Area of qualifying high – NRC material (sf). (must equal or exceed ceiling area) 721 821 721 In all the examples above we are following the statement on pg 428 for option 1 of the reference guide which is “Specify ceiling finish material with an NRC of .70 or higher for 100% of the ceiling area, excluding diffusers, grilles, and light fixtures.” Which in all examples would be 721sf. Am I missing something or is the template not confirming that I meet this credit for option 1stated in the referance guide?

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Daniel Hicks

Daniel Hicks, E.I., INCE

Geiler & Associates

LEEDuser Basic Member

175 thumbs up

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 20:50

Hi Renee: The formatting didn't quite come through, but it looks like you're filling out the form correctly. Did you also upload the spec sheets for the ceiling tile and wall panels that indicate that the materials have an NRC 0.7? The form won't say that it's completed until you do that as well. If that still doesn't work, I would just check the box at the end of the form under "Special Circumstances" and explain the situation. Through various stages of upgrades and LEED revisions, I've had more than one time where a form didn't work for me and I had to explain what was wrong with it.

LEEDuser Expert

472 thumbs up

Tue, 03/20/2012 - 21:03

Renee - I was going to suggest that you ensure you have the most recent version of the Form. There is a v4.0 of the form for this prerequisite per the LOv3 Form Fix Log (https://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=9144). The form version is listed in the lower right corner of the form. That might be part of the problem. You can ask your Project Administrator to update the Form by contacting USGBC. Note: LOv3 Help says: "What if problems continue with the form? USGBC encourages all customers to use the Feedback link (see Feedback Form for guidance) for any issues encountered when trying to complete a form. All issues are reviewed, handled on a case-by-case basis, and rolled into future form versions as necessary. Regardless of the issue, a member of our team will follow-up with you directly."