Delete the Alternative Compliance Path for Projects Outside the U.S.
See all forum discussions about this credit »
Credit achievement rate
XX%
Upgrade to LEEDuser Premium to see how many projects achieved this credit. Try it free »
LEEDuser expert
David Posada
M. Arch, LEED AP+Homes, CPHC
SERA Architects
Integrated Design & LEED Specialist
LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Frank advice from LEED experts
LEED is changing all the time, and every project is unique. Even seasoned professionals can miss a critical detail and lose a credit or even a prerequisite at the last minute. Our expert advice guides our LEEDuser Premium members and saves you valuable time.
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Develop and implement an IAQ management plan for the construction and occupancy phases:
- During construction, meet or exceed the recommended control measures of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction, 2nd Edition 2007, ANSI/SMACNA 008-2008 (Chapter 3).
- If the building undergoes a tenant improvement, develop and implement an IAQ management plan for the preoccupancy phases. Perform a flush-out procedure as follows: After construction ends and all interior finishes have been installed, install new filtration media and flush out the affected space. The flush out must be done by supplying a total outdoor air volume of 14,000 cubic feet per square foot of floor area while maintaining an internal temperature of at least 60° F and maintaining a relative humidity no higher than 60% where cooling mechanisms are operated. The affected space may be occupied only after the delivery of at least 3,500 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area and the space has been ventilated at a minimum rate of 0.30 cfm per square foot of outdoor air or the design minimum outside air rate (whichever is greater) for at least 3 hours prior to occupancy until the total of 14,000 cubic feet per square foot of outdoor air has been delivered to the space. The flush-out may continue during occupancy.
- Protect stored on-site or installed absorptive materials from moisture damage.
- If permanently installed air-handlers must be used during construction, filtration media must be used at each return air grille, and must meet one of the following criteria below. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy.
- Filtration media has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8, as determined by ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 (with errata but without addenda).
- Equivalent filtration media Class F5 or higher, as defined by CEN Standard EN 779–2002, Particulate air filters for general ventilation, Determination of the filtration performance.
- Equivalent filtration media with a minimum dust spot efficiency of 30% and greater than 90% arrestance on a particle size of 3–10 µg.
- Upon the completion of construction, HVAC and lighting systems must be returned to the designed or modified sequence of operations.
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
What kind of construction or renovation activities count as a facility alteration/addition? We had the flooring removed and replaced, does that count?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.) |
Our facility is located in a climate where it will be difficult to maintain the 60 degrees F and 60% humidity requirements associated with the flush-out. Is there anyway to bypass this requirement?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.) |
Can we substitute the IAQ testing requirements from other rating systems instead of performing the required flush-out?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.) |
Addenda
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The third new bullet should read: "Equivalent filtration media with a minimum dust spot efficiency of 30% and greater than 90% arrestance on a particle size of 3-10
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The first new bullet should read: "Filtration media has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8, as determined by ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 (with errata but without addenda)."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The fourth bullet should read "If permanently installed air-handlers must be used during construction, filtration media must be used at each return air grille and must meet one of the following criteria below. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The fourth new bullet should read: "Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The second new bullet should read: "Equivalent filtration media Class F5 or higher, as defined by CEN Standard EN 779-2002, Particulate air filters for general ventilation, Determination of the filtration performance."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Under the fourth bullet, add four bullets, indented:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/1/2012
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
To meet the flush-out requirement of IEQc1.5:Indoor Air Quality Management for Facility Additions and Alterations for LEED EBOM v2009, can a project team perform air testing as described within the design and construction LEED 2009 rating systems?
Ruling:
The applicant is requesting clarification of an alternative compliance path for the flush-out procedure. The project can perform air quality testing as in other LEED rating systems in lieu of the flush-out procedure if the following conditions are met: 1) air testing must be conducted for all portions of the additions and renovations 2) the addition or renovation must be unoccupied during testing, and tested only after all construction activities have been completed, prior to occupancy 3) IAQ testing must follow the requirements listed in Option 2. Air Testing of the LEED NC v2009 credit IEQc3.2: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan--Before Occupancy. 4) All other requirements of the EBOM credit must be adhered to.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
Checklists
Step by step to LEED certification
LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.
Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
Get the inside scoop
Our editors have written a detailed analysis of nearly every LEED credit, and LEEDuser premium members get full access. We’ll tell you whether the credit is easy to accomplish or better left alone, and we provide insider tips on how to document it successfully.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Develop and implement an IAQ management plan for the construction and occupancy phases:
- During construction, meet or exceed the recommended control measures of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning National Contractors Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under Construction, 2nd Edition 2007, ANSI/SMACNA 008-2008 (Chapter 3).
- If the building undergoes a tenant improvement, develop and implement an IAQ management plan for the preoccupancy phases. Perform a flush-out procedure as follows: After construction ends and all interior finishes have been installed, install new filtration media and flush out the affected space. The flush out must be done by supplying a total outdoor air volume of 14,000 cubic feet per square foot of floor area while maintaining an internal temperature of at least 60° F and maintaining a relative humidity no higher than 60% where cooling mechanisms are operated. The affected space may be occupied only after the delivery of at least 3,500 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of floor area and the space has been ventilated at a minimum rate of 0.30 cfm per square foot of outdoor air or the design minimum outside air rate (whichever is greater) for at least 3 hours prior to occupancy until the total of 14,000 cubic feet per square foot of outdoor air has been delivered to the space. The flush-out may continue during occupancy.
- Protect stored on-site or installed absorptive materials from moisture damage.
- If permanently installed air-handlers must be used during construction, filtration media must be used at each return air grille, and must meet one of the following criteria below. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy.
- Filtration media has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8, as determined by ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 (with errata but without addenda).
- Equivalent filtration media Class F5 or higher, as defined by CEN Standard EN 779–2002, Particulate air filters for general ventilation, Determination of the filtration performance.
- Equivalent filtration media with a minimum dust spot efficiency of 30% and greater than 90% arrestance on a particle size of 3–10 µg.
- Upon the completion of construction, HVAC and lighting systems must be returned to the designed or modified sequence of operations.
XX%
Upgrade to LEEDuser Premium to see how many projects achieved this credit. Try it free »
Got the gist of IEQc1.5 but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Premium members get:
- Checklists covering all the key action steps you'll need to earn the credit.
- Hot tips to give you shortcuts and avoid pitfalls.
- Cost tips to assess what a credit will actually cost, and how to make it affordable.
- Ideas for going beyond LEED with best practices.
- All checklists organized by project phase.
- On-the-fly suggestions of useful items from the Documentation Toolkit and Credit Language.
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 kind of construction or renovation activities count as a facility alteration/addition? We had the flooring removed and replaced, does that count?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.) |
Our facility is located in a climate where it will be difficult to maintain the 60 degrees F and 60% humidity requirements associated with the flush-out. Is there anyway to bypass this requirement?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.) |
Can we substitute the IAQ testing requirements from other rating systems instead of performing the required flush-out?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.) |
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Delete the Alternative Compliance Path for Projects Outside the U.S.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The third new bullet should read: "Equivalent filtration media with a minimum dust spot efficiency of 30% and greater than 90% arrestance on a particle size of 3-10
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The first new bullet should read: "Filtration media has a minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) of 8, as determined by ASHRAE Standard 52.2-1999 (with errata but without addenda)."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The fourth bullet should read "If permanently installed air-handlers must be used during construction, filtration media must be used at each return air grille and must meet one of the following criteria below. Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The fourth new bullet should read: "Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
The second new bullet should read: "Equivalent filtration media Class F5 or higher, as defined by CEN Standard EN 779-2002, Particulate air filters for general ventilation, Determination of the filtration performance."
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
7/6/2012 – Updated: 2/14/2015
Global ACP
Description of change:
Under the fourth bullet, add four bullets, indented:
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
Yes
4/1/2012
LEED Interpretation
Inquiry:
To meet the flush-out requirement of IEQc1.5:Indoor Air Quality Management for Facility Additions and Alterations for LEED EBOM v2009, can a project team perform air testing as described within the design and construction LEED 2009 rating systems?
Ruling:
The applicant is requesting clarification of an alternative compliance path for the flush-out procedure. The project can perform air quality testing as in other LEED rating systems in lieu of the flush-out procedure if the following conditions are met: 1) air testing must be conducted for all portions of the additions and renovations 2) the addition or renovation must be unoccupied during testing, and tested only after all construction activities have been completed, prior to occupancy 3) IAQ testing must follow the requirements listed in Option 2. Air Testing of the LEED NC v2009 credit IEQc3.2: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan--Before Occupancy. 4) All other requirements of the EBOM credit must be adhered to.
Campus Applicable
No
Internationally Applicable:
No
LEEDuser expert
David Posada
M. Arch, LEED AP+Homes, CPHC
SERA Architects
Integrated Design & LEED Specialist
