Our building has an inverted sloped roof which is supported by structural trusses. The second floor ceiling is exposed to the underside of the roof deck and trusses. The ceiling height varies from 11\'-0" to 25\'-0". The height of the second floor core is 9\'-6", which is the height of the bottom of the trusses. The copy room and janitor closet are in this core. They are exhausted separately and air is not re-circulated in these spaces. These rooms have an acoustical ceiling. Does this design meet with the requirements of EQ Credit 5 (Entryway systems have been provided)? If not is there any measure that can be taken to gain this credit such as adding a layer of gypsum board or another material to the top of these spaces?
From the design description of the second floor core, it appears that the copy room and janitor\'s closet would not meet the credit\'s space separation requirements. Acoustical lay-in ceilings are not able to contain or adequately isolate any pollutants from leaking into other areas of the building. It would also become problematic in maintaining a negative pressure differential of 7 PA, as outlined in the credit requirements. The suggestion of incorporating a continuous hard (gypsum board) ceiling to the top of the core walls is an adequate alternative to the deck to deck separation requirement, as long as the construction methods and details demonstrate that the assembly is adequate at containing and isolating pollutants/chemicals. Applicable internationally.