Our project is a renovation of the third floor in a university medical laboratory building. Approximately 50 percent of our 16,438 sq ft project consists of laboratory space (i.e. lab benches, study carrels, microscope rooms, etc). The rest of the space contains restrooms, kitchen, storage, equipment space and office space (including designated offices and conference rooms). Study carrels are located along the NE window wall with lab benches extending into the room, perpendicular to the window wall. The laboratory lighting within 5\'- 0" of the windows, for the carrels, is on a daylight sensing system, as is the lighting for all other regularly occupied non-lab spaces with windows. The institutional research lab space lighting requirement is for a constant 80 footcandles average horizontal illuminance at the lab bench when in use. Therefore, the interior lab lighting, starting 6\'-0" from the windows, is not operated on the daylight sensing system but is controlled by the occupancy sensing system. Is this acceptable to meet LEED-CI EQc6.1?
This credit requires that lighting controls be provided for at least 90% of the occupants and all shared multi-occupant spaces. If the research lab space requires a constant 80 fc at the lab bench, without the opportunity for individual adjustment, then the requirements of the credit are not met. However, laboratory projects have special considerations that will be addressed in the LEED-NC Application Guide for Labs currently under development. Until that document is available, as part of the LEED application for certification, project teams should provide additional information and justification concerning the needs of the occupants and the alternatives means of addressing the credit\'s intent. Special circumstances will be evaluated on their merits. Applicable internationally.