The project is a renovation and expansion to an existing Visitor\'s Center for a historic village in Southern New Jersey. The entire facility will consist of an exhibit area, auditorium, library, retail store, and various office spaces. The project has reached substantial completion in that all finishes have been installed and all major construction has been completed. The occupants and their furniture will not be moved in until after the flush out, in accordance with the requirements for Eqc3.2. The nature of the sequence of the construction schedule allows for the punch list to be performed prior to the installation of the museum exhibits since the entire building has reached substantial completion. The exhibits in the exhibit area consist of showcases and graphic displays on platforms and panels. All exhibit displays and platforms are being fabricated off site and comply with the Low-Emitting Materials requirements of Eqc4.1. We are proposing to complete the punch list and all punch list related items and then perform the 2-week flush out of the building. After the punch list items have been completed and completion of the 2-week flush out, the exhibit installation will commence and the occupants will return to the building. In the USGBC cir ruling dated 3/8/2004, it states that it is critical that the flush-out occur AFTER substantial completion of construction. Since we have reached this stage including the installation of all major IEQ - relevant punch list items, please let us know if this sequence is acceptable.
You are proposing a schedule which can be summarized as: 1) reach substantial completion, 2) complete punch list items, 3) perform 2-week flush-out, 4) install exhibits and furniture, 5) occupy the building. This approach is consistent with recommendations given in previous CIRs and is acceptable. Note that LEED-NC prefers, but does not require, the flush to occur before furniture installation. This is to allow the credit to be obtainable for projects that have furnishings installed under a different contract after the construction of walls, etc., which is a common practice in commercial buildings. Flushing after the installation of furnishings and, in this case, museum exhibits, would be beneficial to indoor air quality. Applicable internationally.