Our project is an initial grocery store tenant improvement seeking certification under LEED-CI 2.0 in a new single-story, two-tenant building (shell is not seeking LEED certification). We have targeted EQ 3.1 and EQ 3.2 (option A flush out) and EQ 5, among others, and submit this CIR under EQ 3.2. Please confirm our assumptions below for applying the requirements of these credits to the specific case of a grocery store. We would appreciate a line by line yes/no response to this CIR, rather than referral to previous CIRs. A. Filters 1. Filters to be MERV 8 during construction (for EQ 3.1) 2. Change to new MERV 8 (not MERV 13) filters prior to flush out (for EQ 3.2). 3. Change to new MERV 13 filters at conclusion of flush out (for EQ 5). B. Flush out 1. Conduct building air flush-out after construction ends. Prior to flush out: a. All finishing operations must be complete. b. All work on punchlist items must be complete. c. All broom cleaning must be complete. d. All furniture, fixtures, and equipment must be installed. e. HVAC system testing and balancing must be complete. f. Refrigeration system testing and balancing must be complete. 2. Commence building flush-out prior to occupancy. During flush out both before and after occupancy: a. Commissioning may occur during flush-out period. b. Final cleaning may occur during flush-out period. c. Training of store staff may occur during flush-out period. d. Stocking of food products may occur during flush-out period. e. Cooking of food products may occur during flush-out period. f. Invited guest party on the eve of store opening may occur during flush-out period. 3. Ventilation volumes a. Do not allow occupancy of the space until after a total air volume of 3,500 cubic feet/square foot of floor area has been delivered to the space. b. Conclude flush out after a total air volume of 14,000 cubic feet/square foot of floor area has been delivered to the space. c. Occupancy may occur after 3500 has been achieved, but before 14000 has been achieved. d. Temperature will be maintained at minimum 60 degrees F. e. Relative humidity will be maintained at maximum 60 percent. 4. Occupancy definition a. For a grocery store, "occupancy" is defined as opening to customers for business. b. For a grocery store, "occupancy" is not defined as allowing store staff inside the building for training, stocking product, cooking food, or invited guest party.
The ruling can be summarized as follows: Items A1, A2, and A3 are all YES. Items B1a through B1f are all YES. Items B2a through B2f are as follows: a. Commissioning may occur during flush-out period. YES b. Final cleaning may occur during flush-out period. NO. SEE "APPROACH AND IMPLEMENTION" ON PAGE 297 OF LEED-CI V2.0 REFERENCE GUIDE, SECOND EDITION. c. Training of store staff may occur during flush-out period. YES, AS LONG AS 3500 CU. FT. OF OUTDOOR AIR PER SQ. FT. OF FLOOR AREA OF THE SPACE HAS BEEN REACHED. d. Stocking of food products may occur during flush-out period. YES, AS LONG AS 3500 CU. FT. OF OUTDOOR AIR PER SQ. FT. OF FLOOR AREA OF THE SPACE HAS BEEN REACHED. e. Cooking of food products may occur during flush-out period. YES, AS LONG AS 3500 CU. FT. OF OUTDOOR AIR PER SQ. FT. OF FLOOR AREA OF THE SPACE HAS BEEN REACHED. f. Invited guest party on the eve of store opening may occur during flush-out period. YES, AS LONG AS 3500 CU. FT. OF OUTDOOR AIR PER SQ. FT. OF FLOOR AREA OF THE SPACE HAS BEEN REACHED Items B3a through B3e are all YES. Items B4a and B4b are as follows: a. For a grocery store, "occupancy" is defined as opening to customers for business. YES b. For a grocery store, "occupancy" is not defined as allowing store staff inside the building for training, stocking product, cooking food, or invited guest party. NO. THE INTENT OF THE CREDIT IS TO PROTECT EMPLOYEES AND OTHERS WHO OCCUPY THE BUILDING FOR ACTIVITIES RELATED TO ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE, AS WELL AS CUSTOMERS. AS ACTIVITIES SUCH AS TRAINING AND STOCKING RELATE TO THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF A SUPERMARKET AND WOULD LIKELY INVOLVE MULTIPLE HOURS OF EXPOSURE TO THE AIR IN THE BUILDING, OCCUPANCY IN THIS CASE IS DEFINED AS THE PERIOD WHEN THE PEOPLE WHO ARE INTENDED TO WORK IN OR OTHERWISE OCCUPY THE SPACE FOR ITS PRIMARY PURPOSE ARE EXPECTED TO BE PRESENT. Applicable internationally.