Construction

Before completing LEED documentation, the architect or responsible party revisits the tabulation of existing and reused elements to confirm that the percentage of reused building elements is above the threshold required for LEED.

Protect existing elements during demolition and construction so that they can be reused. Renovation and restoration may be labor-intensive; make realistic plans in advance.

Take photos of exposed cavities to document complicated structural systems and future use in installation of utilities or planning renovations.

To document the credit, develop a floor plan showing the location of existing structural components, floors, roof deck, exterior walls, and internal structural walls, and identify each that are reused. See the Documentation Toolkit for an example floor plan and elevation.

Work with the restoration contractor on appropriate demolition and restoration activities that support this credit and other resource reuse credits.

A no-smoking policy for construction workers is not required for this prerequisite, but is a good practice, especially after the

If smoking is to be allowed in certain areas (Case 1, Option 2 and Case 2), fill out LEED template and upload all supporting documentation to LEED Online.

The cost of a blower door test will vary by region and project, but expect an average of  $500–$800 per test.

Conduct blower door tests, which in multifamily and hotel applications typically require a sampling of one out of every seven units. See the Home Energy Rating System program (link) for details on sampling rates. For any spaces that do not pass the blower door pressure test, correct any potential problems and retest, or another space has to be tested until 100 percent of the requisite number of spaces have successfully passed.

Involve an experienced blower-door testing agent in visual inspections before drywall is installed in any of the units. This will ensure that problem areas are addressed while they are still easily accessible. Also bring the blower-door expert in for early testing, once the drywall is installed, but before painting, finish materials, and appliances are installed. This will point out penetrations that need to be sealed between units and allow contractors to address those penetrations in the remaining units to ensure that all units meet the standard.