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LEED v4
Existing Buildings
Indoor Environmental Quality
Daylight and quality views

LEED CREDIT

EBOM-v4 EQc5: Daylight and quality views 2-4 points

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SPECIAL REPORT

LEEDuser expert

Ashwini Arun

WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager

SPECIAL REPORT

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Credit language

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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Establishment

Option 1. Daylight Measurement (2 points)
Achieve illuminance levels between 300 lux and 3,000 lux for at least 50% of the regularly occupied floor area. With furniture, fixtures, and equipment in place, measure illuminance levels as follows:
  • Measure at appropriate work plane height during any hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Take one measurement in any regularly occupied month, and take a second as indicated in Table 1.
  • For spaces larger than 150 square feet (14 square meters), take measurements on a maximum 10-foot (3-meter) square grid.
  • For spaces 150 square feet (14 square meters) or smaller, take measurements on a maximum 3-foot (900-millimeter) square grid.
  • Table 1. Timing of measurements for illuminance

    If first measurement is taken in …

    take second measurement in …

    January

    May-September

    February

    June-October

    March

    June-July, November-December

    April

    August-December

    May

    September-January

    June

    October-February

    July

    November-March

    August

    December-April

    September

    December-January, May-June

    October

    February-June

    November

    March-July

    December

    April-August

    AND/OR

    Option 2. Quality Views (2 points)
    Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors via vision glazing for 50% of all regularly occupied floor area. View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort color balance. Additionally, 50% of all regularly occupied floor area must have at least two of the following four kinds of views:
    • multiple lines of sight to vision glazing in different directions at least 90 degrees apart;
    • views that include at least two of the following: (1) flora, fauna, or sky; (2) movement; and (3) objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the exterior of the glazing;
    • unobstructed views located within the distance of three times the head height of the vision glazing; and
    • views with a view factor of 3 or greater, as defined in “Windows and Offices; A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment.”
    • Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded. Views into interior atria may be used to meet up to 30% of the required area.

      Performance

      None.
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Frequently asked questions

What is the “view factor” and how do I calculate it?

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Addenda

1/10/2020Updated: 1/10/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under Step 2, delete the last sentence of first bullet (delete: Consider the required measurement schedule: the second measurement must be taken at least five months after the first.).
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under the third paragraph remove the text: "(e.g. lab hoods, fixed partitions, demountable opaque full- or partial-height partitions)".
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Under the third paragraph remove the text: "(e.g. lab hoods, fixed partitions, demountable opaque full- or partial-height partitions)".
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
See all forum discussions about this credit »

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LEEDuser expert

Ashwini Arun

WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager

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USGBC logo

© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.

Requirements

Establishment

Option 1. Daylight Measurement (2 points)
Achieve illuminance levels between 300 lux and 3,000 lux for at least 50% of the regularly occupied floor area. With furniture, fixtures, and equipment in place, measure illuminance levels as follows:
  • Measure at appropriate work plane height during any hour between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.
  • Take one measurement in any regularly occupied month, and take a second as indicated in Table 1.
  • For spaces larger than 150 square feet (14 square meters), take measurements on a maximum 10-foot (3-meter) square grid.
  • For spaces 150 square feet (14 square meters) or smaller, take measurements on a maximum 3-foot (900-millimeter) square grid.
  • Table 1. Timing of measurements for illuminance

    If first measurement is taken in …

    take second measurement in …

    January

    May-September

    February

    June-October

    March

    June-July, November-December

    April

    August-December

    May

    September-January

    June

    October-February

    July

    November-March

    August

    December-April

    September

    December-January, May-June

    October

    February-June

    November

    March-July

    December

    April-August

    AND/OR

    Option 2. Quality Views (2 points)
    Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors via vision glazing for 50% of all regularly occupied floor area. View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort color balance. Additionally, 50% of all regularly occupied floor area must have at least two of the following four kinds of views:
    • multiple lines of sight to vision glazing in different directions at least 90 degrees apart;
    • views that include at least two of the following: (1) flora, fauna, or sky; (2) movement; and (3) objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the exterior of the glazing;
    • unobstructed views located within the distance of three times the head height of the vision glazing; and
    • views with a view factor of 3 or greater, as defined in “Windows and Offices; A Study of Office Worker Performance and the Indoor Environment.”
    • Include in the calculations any permanent interior obstructions. Movable furniture and partitions may be excluded. Views into interior atria may be used to meet up to 30% of the required area.

      Performance

      None.

In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit, for premium members only, saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:

  • Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
  • Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
  • Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
  • Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
  • Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
  • Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.

What is the “view factor” and how do I calculate it?

The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial »

(If you're already a premium member, log in here.)

1/10/2020Updated: 1/10/2020
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under Step 2, delete the last sentence of first bullet (delete: Consider the required measurement schedule: the second measurement must be taken at least five months after the first.).
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Reference Guide Correction
Description of change:
Under the third paragraph remove the text: "(e.g. lab hoods, fixed partitions, demountable opaque full- or partial-height partitions)".
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/1/2014Updated: 2/14/2015
Rating System Correction
Description of change:
Under the third paragraph remove the text: "(e.g. lab hoods, fixed partitions, demountable opaque full- or partial-height partitions)".
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes

LEEDuser expert

Ashwini Arun

WSP
Senior Sustainability Manager

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