Our project is a Graduate University located in Saudi Arabia dedicated to the research of alternative fuels and renewable energy. The entire campus will be New Construction and will consist of research labs, lab support areas, administration buildings, a library, a commons building, food service, an auditorium, conference rooms, lecture halls, offices and public areas. The project is seeking interpretation for the MERV 13 filtration media requirement in regularly occupied spaces. Some spaces in buildings with underfloor air systems are served by fan powered VAV boxes. The fan powered VAV boxes are used in underfloor air pressurized plenum applications where all air supplied under the floor is filtered by MERV 13 or 14 filters. The Air Handling Units supplying the underfloor plenums contain MERV 13 or 14 filtration media. The fan powered VAV boxes contain MERV 6 filtration media. Since the VAV units do not re-circulate room air, the design team is seeking confirmation that MERV 6 filtration media on the VAV boxes will meet the intent of the Credit. The project design will meet both of the other requirements of this Credit. Please advise if this design meets the requirements of the Credit.
The CIR is inquiring if fan powered VAV boxes, used in conjunction with an underfloor air system, are required to use MERV 13 filtration media. If 100% of the air being supplied to the VAV boxes is filtered by MERV 13 media prior to reaching the box, MERV 13 filters are not required at the individual VAV boxes. Applicable Internationally; Saudi Arabia.