Hi, I have a 14 story office building (6 below ground and 8 above). The above grade floors are offices and the below grade floors are mostly parking garages and (for simplification purposes) for activities other than office. However, the above ground floors are divided in two towers and the towers themselves do not connect with each other. 1_ (for above grade floors only) As per ASHRAE 90.1 - 2007 G3.1.1, I am supose to model each floor with an HVAC system 8 (eletric only). Does this mean that I have to model a system 8 for each floor of each tower? Or may I join the towers' floors? (for example, joining in the same HVAC system 8 both towers' 6th floor?) I do not know if I was clear enough in this matter. Thank you in advance!

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Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 15:43

If they are not connected I think they should be treated as separate floors. So a system 8 for each floor for each tower makes sense to me.

Santiago Velez

ASHRAE BEMP HBDP - LEED GA, Building Performance Consultant

Zonda

LEEDuser Basic Member

14 thumbs up

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 16:07

If they are not connected other than with underground parking, shouldn't they be considered as two separate buildings and therefore be certified separately?

Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 16:14

Since the buildings are connected they can be considered one project for LEED. Check out the MPRs for more details on separate certifications and when they are required.

Santiago Velez

ASHRAE BEMP HBDP - LEED GA, Building Performance Consultant

Zonda

LEEDuser Basic Member

14 thumbs up

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 16:33

Yes, but according to the 'Supplemental guidance to the MPRs' they should be connected by gross floor other than parking. "Defining ‘one building’... "Such super-structures may... be considered a single building if ...a)Space that can be included in the gross floor area of the project that serves a purpose other than parking or the circulation of people is contiguous throughout the structure."

Marcus Sheffer

LEED Fellow

7group / Energy Opportunities

LEEDuser Expert

4454 thumbs up

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 16:46

Yes I made some assumptions but ultimately we do not have enough information to make this MPR determination so I answered the specific issue that was questioned assuming it was one LEED submission. Could it be more than one, yes of course it could. The original post referenced some spaces other than parking below grade so it is hard to say for sure.

Ricardo Sá

Director of Sustainability

Edifícios Saudáveis Consultores (503 910 767)

LEEDuser Basic Member

79 thumbs up

Tue, 08/30/2016 - 17:20

Yes, as I mentioned before, there are underground floors that are mostly occupied spaces and the project should indeed be only one. Thank you for your quick responses Marcus and Santiago!

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