Would the book stack area in a library be considered regularly occupied space for the purpose of calculating the percentage of floor area with a view? We propose that the book stack areas should not be included in the view calculations. Library patrons typically occupy the stack area only long enough to locate the books they are looking for. All public reading areas are provided with views. Library staff would occasionally be in the stack area to place and remove books from the shelves but there are no staff members permanently occupying the stack area. Staff offices and workstations are included in the view area calculations and a majority of them are provided with views.
The LEED Reference Guide (July 2001) states on page 263 that, "Direct line of sight to vision glazing from 90% of all regularly occupied spaces, not including copy rooms, storage areas, mechanical, laundry, and other low occupancy support areas." If indeed, "All public reading areas are provided with views," and "there are no staff members permanently occupying the stack area," then this floor area would be classified as either "storage areas" or "low occupancy support areas," or both. Therefore, the book stack area is exempt from the calculation for views required by EQ Credit 8.2. Applicable internationally.