Hi All,
I'm proposing IAQ testing as requested by a university for a dormitory project. The project will have 154 dorm rooms. I'm trying to determine if I need to use a sampling protocol. 

As you well know, the credit language reads, "

  • "Identify at least one location per ventilation system. Include locations that represent the worst-case zones where the highest concentrations of contaminants of concern are likely to occur.
  • Identify at least one location per floor of the building.
  • Identify at least one location per space type. In most cases, only regularly occupied spaces need to be included. Additionally, for each space type identified, if the air is not well mixed or contaminants are not expected to be uniform throughout the space include more than one location in the space for testing. [BY THIS LINE OF THINKING, IF I LIST DORM ROOM AS A SPACE TYPE, I'D ONLY NEED TO TEST ONE DORM ROOM AND I'D BE TESTING ONE LOCATION FOR THAT SPACE TYPE.] 

Next, determine whether a sampling protocol can be used to reduce the number of testing locations identified in the initial analysis. A sampling protocol is particularly useful if the project has many floors or a large number of ventilation systems. [AS I SEE IT, THE SAMPLING PROTOCAL EXPANDS THE NUMBER OF TESTING LOCATIONS FROM THE INITIAL ANALYSIS, NOT REDUCES THEM.]

  • Identify and group spaces (or floors) that are very similar in their construction, finishes, configuration, size, and HVAC systems. [154 DORM SPACES TOTAL ACROSS 4 FLOORS. FLOORS 2-4 ARE IDENTICAL IN PLAN.]
  • Randomly select one out of every seven identical spaces to include in the testing. In addition, for buildings with a large number of identical spaces (more than 21 spaces in a sample group), test a minimum of three spaces in the sample group. [154/7=22 TESTS]"

Per the first three bullet points, I see that I need to ensure I test a location per ventilation system (there are four systems, one serving each floor). That puts me at a minimum of 4 tests. Then, ensure I test each floor. Again, by testing each ventilation system, I have to test each floor. 4 tests.
Then, test each space type. The project has dorm rooms (floors 1-4), lounge spaces (floors 1-4), offices (floor 1), study rooms (floors 2-4), kitchen/community room (floor 1), hotel rooms (floor 1), a market (floor 1), and an apartment (floor 1). Since some of these spaces are only on floor 1 (5 of the spaces), I can conduct those tests on floor one, and test the doorm rooms on floor 2, lounge space on floor 3, and study room on floor 4 and cover all my floors and ventilation systems. That puts me at 8 tests... This is MUCH lower than implmenting a sampling protocol, listed below. Any advice? At something like $600 per test, this quickly adds up a lot to project cost...

Sampling protocol / 32 Tests

    • Ground Floor = 7 Tests
      • 6 Hotel Rooms - 1 Test
      • Lounge/Gathering Space TYPE - 1 test
      • Lounge in Dorm area (seperated space, seems like it needs to be tested on its own) - 1 test
      • Office TYPE- 1 Test
        • Office
        • HD Office
      • Market - 1 Test
      • HD Apartment - 1 Test
         

Then I get in to whether or not I need to sample:

    • Common area Sampling, floors 2-4: 3 tests
      • 4 Lounge Areas per floor, total of 12 = 2 tests (1 for every seven, 12/7= 1.7 = 2)
      • Study room = 6 total = 1 test.
    • Dorm room sampling, floors 1-4: 22 tests
      • Floor 1: 19
      • Floor 2: 45
      • Floor 3: 45
      • Floor 4: 45
      • Total = 154 identical spaces.