The intent of this credit states, "Provide a high level of thermal, ventilation, and lighting system control by individual occupants or specific groups in multi-occupant spaces (i.e. classrooms or conference areas)." For an elementary school project, we would like to clarify if we can exclude the Gymnasium, Cafeteria, Staff Lounge, Library, and Health Suite Rest Area from our calculations. Though these spaces are typically occupied every day by different groups of students for short intervals of time, they do not meet the definition of "Regularly Occupied Spaces" as outlined in the LEED-NC Version 2.1 Reference Guide for EQ credit 6.1: "Regularly occupied spaces are areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building."
The intent of this credit is to encourage projects to incorporate strategies that provide the occupants a higher level of comfort through options to directly control their indoor environments. Schools are unique building types where the rooms and spaces are experiencing a continual flux of occupants (mostly as groups) and functions. The credit\'s group and individual multi-occupant instructions were created to address this type of programming. In regards to the definition of "regularly occupied," there is no minimum time limit on spaces where people work. Please review ALL of the definitions on page 291 of the LEED-NC v2.1 Reference Guide to understand the total context. Even though K-12 students\' exposure to a particular space may come in relatively short intervals, overall they are fulltime occupants of the building and are affected by each room they occupy during the day. The faculty and staff also need to be served by this credit if it is to be achieved. The students are served even though they rely on the faculty and staff to control the lighting, etc. for their benefit. It would not be acceptable for maintenance staff to have the controls locked away such that only they can make adjustments. Gymnasiums, cafeterias, conference rooms, and libraries are all required to meet the credit because they are "group multi-occupant" spaces. The Health Suite Rest Area must comply as appropriate to its expected use. The Staff Lounge may be exempted only if it serves solely as a break room for short breaks. It is most likely the space where faculty work while not in classrooms, in which case it can not be exempted. Applicable internationally.