Under IEQ Credit 5, Indoor Chemical and Pollutant Source Control, the question has been raised by the electrical engineer as to whether eliminating the lead/acid batteries from the Uninterrupted Power Supply (UPS) room would give us a credit point. We are required to have the UPS room due to the essential facilities nature of the project, a 911 emergency center. The UPS room is located adjacent to the main 911 operations area, where employees spend most of their shift. If not possible under IEQ 5, is there an opportunity for a credit point in some other area?
The UPS room is a space where chemical use occurs (battery gases from charging) and thus requires deck to deck partitions, with separate outside exhausting, no air recirculation and negative pressure. Eliminating the pollutant source through source control rather that through isolation would achieve the intent of credit, and an Innovation Credit would likely be granted by the Ruling Body. An explanation of the strategy or technology used to provide the UPS functionality would be required. The other elements of the credit requirements would still need to be met to capture IEQ Credit 5. Applicable internationally.