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NC-2009 EAp2:Minimum Energy Performance

Atrium entrances

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Chilufya Lombe
Sustainability Consultant
Solid Green Consulting
LEEDuser Basic Member
23 thumbs up

Hi, we have a large, naturally ventilated atrium in the middle of our building. All entrances to the building are via this enclosed atrium. My understanding is that the vestibule requirement is to reduce energy infiltration from the outdoors and its associated energy impacts. Are vestibules required at the entrances of the atrium? There are separate lobbies that lead to lifts to access the building within the atrium.

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Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow
7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
4454 thumbs up

Thu, 03/05/2015 - 15:32

It is very hard to say without seeing the plans. If the atrium is enclosed with a roof one may be able to count the atrium as a very large vestibule. Does one have to go through two sets of doors to get inside the building? Section 5.4.3.4 contains many exceptions, do any of them apply?
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Chilufya Lombe
Sustainability Consultant
Solid Green Consulting
LEEDuser Basic Member
23 thumbs up

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 05:03

None of the exceptions apply. You have to go through the main doors, into the atrium and then a separate set of doors into any tenancy.
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Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow
7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
4454 thumbs up

Fri, 03/06/2015 - 21:27

So there are the two sets of doors. If it has a roof I would say you have one big vestibule! The whole idea is that the air outside is tempered by at least a semi-dead air space before the main entry doors are opened.
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Chilufya Lombe
Sustainability Consultant
Solid Green Consulting
LEEDuser Basic Member
23 thumbs up

Mon, 03/09/2015 - 05:25

Great, thank you for the feedback.
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Chilufya Lombe
Sustainability Consultant
Solid Green Consulting
LEEDuser Basic Member
23 thumbs up

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 09:43

Hi, sorry to resurrect this thread. We encountered a problem keeping our atrium 100%naturally ventilated. What we have done now is to exhaust the excess fresh air from the office space via the atrium. This tempers the air in the atrium slightly. Whilst not being active air conditioning, does it now mean the atrium can no longer be considered a vestibule?
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Marcus Sheffer
LEED Fellow
7group / Energy Opportunities
LEEDuser Expert
4454 thumbs up

Fri, 05/29/2015 - 14:25

A vestibule can be conditioned. It is common in our cold climates to semi-heat a vestibule. Still sounds like a vestibule to me.

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