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NC-2009 IEQp1:Minimum IAQ Performance

walk-in closets in residential

I would like to know if there's any way I can consider walk-in closets in a residential building as unoccupied spaces. The IEQ Space Matrix lists them as occupied, but this seems silly, since nobody spends any significant time there. According to the definition of regularly occupied spaces (1 hr per person per day), walk-in closets are definitely unoccupied. Furthermore, CIR #1888 states, "Note that walk-in closets are excluded from the Standard, since they cannot be considered as "occupiable space" by the Standard's definition (page 4 of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2004)." So it seems like the CIR and ASHRAE 62 both disagree with the IEQ space matrix. Also, NYC Mechanical Code, where this project is located, classifies walk-in closets as unoccupied. So if I take this all together, it seems like there may just be a typo in the IEQ Space Matrix, since the CIR, ASHRAE (and NYC Code) all disagree. Has anyone had any experience with walk-in closets? Can I get away with not ventilating them? Thanks in advance.

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Profile picture for user GreenKat
Kathryn West
LEED AP BD+C, O+M, Green Globes Professional
JLL
LEEDuser Basic Member
112 thumbs up

Thu, 06/11/2015 - 15:36

Wow, I am glad you brought this up because I wouldn't have even thought of a walk in closet as being occupiable. You point out a serious discrepancy between ID #1888 and the IEQ Space type matrix. I'd email leedinfo@usgbc.org about this otherwise you might have trouble during your LEED review. I think they are just changing their tune on this since the LEED Interpretation. Even though it is not regularly occupied the "equipment retrieval" (getting clothes) is not "occasional" since presumably people get dressed every day. Therefore according to note #14 they would want you to ventilate it. I think "regularly occupied" only applies to IEQc8, IEQp1 relates to "occupied" vs "non-occupied" spaces.

Fri, 06/12/2015 - 13:40

Thanks Kathryn...I emailed that address; I'll let you know what happens!
Profile picture for user nadiaayala
Nadia Ayala
Architect / LEED AP BD+C
KILTIK Consultoría
LEEDuser Basic Member
36 thumbs up

Thu, 08/20/2015 - 20:19

Hi Alfonzo, have you had any news on this walk-in closet matter? If so, could you share it? Thank you!

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 02:24

I have a follow-on question. We have built-in closets in our bedrooms and doing final calculations, we find that the selected operable window is only 3.9% of the total GFA of the room. If we exclude the closets we'll be OK. Can we do that?

Thu, 07/20/2017 - 02:36

They are not normally occupied spaces. According to my interpretation, you can definitely exclude them.

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