In our first floor computer server areas, we will have some workbenches where equipment is tested and repaired. Occasionally workers have to fix a connection with a soldering iron. Typically, these soldering irons have been located at each workbench for occasional and very short use. It is an industry standard practice to allow the soldering to occur at work benches for convenience and efficiency (rather than to require it be done in an enclosed room). The company\'s EHS leaders are not concerned about soldering smoke inhalation because it is very brief. Moreover, these server areas are provided with ample air changes well above even the LEED EQ 2 Increased Ventilation credit (this is needed just to keep the servers cool). However, these air changes probably don\'t provide the amount of pressure required for this credit (EQ 5). How does EQ 5 Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control apply to this situation? We propose several options for addressing this, in order of difficulty for our client: 1. Do nothing. The soldering is very limited (typically just a few seconds and very infrequent), and comparable to the amount of fumes produced by typical desktop office equipment such as desktop printers (which are also exempt from the exhaust requirement). 2. Provide portable fume hoods to employees for soldering use. 3. Provide carbon filters in the air return to make sure even the small amount of fumes are cleaned from the air before it goes through a cycle. 4. Provide the soldering irons at each workbench for short use, but also provide an enclosed/exhausted room for workers to use when performing more intensive soldering activities longer than a few seconds. (This would be a large expense where square-footage is at a premium.) 5. Restrict all soldering to an enclosed/exhausted room. Please let us know which option(s) would allow us to maintain the LEED credit.
The CIR has indicated that minor computer repairs, involving minor soldering, takes place within the computer server areas and is inquiring if special IAQ control measures are required to enable compliance with the intent of EQc5. Although the soldering that takes place in the computer server areas is minor and intermittent as indicated by the CIR inquiry, there are still emissions being introduced into the air for the computer server room. The inquiry has indicated a number of options to comply with the intent and requirements of EQc5. The two options that are acceptable to satisfy the credit requirements for this specific project case are: Option 2 - Provide portable fume hoods to employees for use when field soldering components*; and Option 5 - Restrict all soldering to an enclosed room with appropriate separations, negative pressurization, and separate exhaust. *The portable fume hood must be capable of achieving the negative pressurization required for chemical use areas and must have onboard filtration media to remove generated contaminants from the air that is exhausted back into the computer server areas. The project team should/must provide manufacturer\'s documentation for the selected fume hood to confirm the performance complies with the noted requirements. Applicable Internationally.