Hello, the credit allows non-US projects to accept products as low-emitting if these are compliant with AgBB (2010), even though the low formaldehyde requirement on top of AgBB compliance unfortunately is not mentioned here, which gives continuous confusion and non-intended greenwashing in the market. Nevertheless ...

Now not only AgBB 2012, even AgBB 2015 version has appeared. The new versions include more VOCs, and some of the limits have been lowered. Nobody in Europe is testing products after the old AgBB 2010 any longer.

Would US GBC / GBCI accept AgBB 2015 based test reports as well, or will manufacturers always need to ask for another test, just to follow the out-dated old version?

Hello,

a question concerning WEp1

Could I use the flow rate in Units of gallons per cycle (gpc) instead of USgallons per minute (USgpm) for the Shower as Fixture Family in Table WEp1-4.Flow Fixture Data?

The shower has a flow rate of 10 lpm or 2.64 USgpm (from product data sheet),that is more that the limit 2.50Usgpm.

Can I convert the flow rate in gallons per cycle (gpc), which I mean 2,50 x (12/60)= 0.50 gpc (10 liter/minute)? Or is the conversion applicable only to lavatory faucet?

Has anyone had a similar experience with Units for a shower as Fixture Family form WEp1?

Thank you in advance.

Hello,

a question concerning IEQc8.1 & IEQc8.2 .

Can we use the net floor area instead of gross floor area for the simulation in Matrix_Table IEQ-1 Daylight and views?

I would like to use the net floor area instead of gross floor area in the credit form IEQc8.1 and 8.2,but the "Total regularly occupied area" is linked to PIF3,where the gross floor area is relevant .
In my opinion daylight is relevant to the net floor area and not relevant to walls.
Therefore I would suggest to explain my opinion for the daylight and the difference between PIF3 and IEQc8.1 & IEQc8.2 in Upload L-10.
Has anyone had a similar experience with net floor area instead of gross floor area in credit form IEQc8.1 & IEQc8.2?

Thank you in advance.

Hello,

a question concerning IEQc8.1 & IEQc8.2 .

Can we use the net floor area instead of gross floor area for the simulation in Matrix_Table IEQ-1 Daylight and views?

I would like to use the net floor area instead of gross floor area in the credit form IEQc8.1 and 8.2,but the "Total regularly occupied area" is linked to PIF3,where the gross floor area is relevant .
In my opinion daylight is relevant to the net floor area and not relevant to walls.
Therefore I would suggest to explain my opinion for the daylight and the difference between PIF3 and IEQc8.1 & IEQc8.2 in Upload L-10.
Has anyone had a similar experience with net floor area instead of gross floor area in credit form IEQc8.1 & IEQc8.2?

Thank you in advance.

Who can help to clarify? I am in a discussion with consultants who state that for paints and coatings, wet-applied on-site on walls, floors and ceilings, the VOC emissions requirements and the VOC content requirements stand as alternatives.

But I read from rom the credit: Threshold "At least 90%, by volume, for emissions; 100% for VOC content". And I read "In addition to meeting the general requirements for VOC emissions (above), on-site wet-applied products must not contain excessive levels of VOCs, for the health of the installers and other tradesworkers who are exposed to these products."

In my reading, the VOC content requirements are not an alternative, they are additional to the emissions requirements; and I remember from my time in EQ TAG that this was the intention when we wrote this wording.

My discussion partners now say that the LEED APs are satisfied if paints and coatings fulfil the VOC content requirements and then they do not require compliance with the VOC emissions criteria. In Europe this means that all paints and coatings would qualify automatically because they all have to comply with European law, here with the European Decopaint Directive (2004/42/EC), which is one of the options to show compliance with the VOC content requirements - even if they are emitting large amounts of VOCs.

Is there any official US GBC statement on this? And - do the LEED APs know about this change from LEED 2009 to LEED v4? How would GBCI handle project documentation regarding paints dealing only with VOC content, not with VOC emissions?

And one additional question: I am hearing that almost no paints had been AgBB-like VOC emissions tested. Well, I know of some ... but please would you kindly report your experience whether you are receiving documentation on VOC emission testing of paints and coatings when you ask for it?

In conducting the commuter survey according to Option 3 / Approach 2 I am would very much appreciate your feedback on the following topics.

The multifunctional building is occupied by 1250 regular occupants with 20 tenants.
1200 regular occupants are located in the office area, while 50 regular occupants are employed in the shops and restaurants.

The building is located in the very centre of Hamburg and we expect a RCCT reduction by >70%.

We will conduct an assessment using Survey Monkey and approach 470 regular occupants. There will be two different surveys for the office occupants and those employed in the shops and restaurants.

I have the following questions

1) Statistical validity of survey participants: would it be ok to approach one or two of the 20 office tenants and have them distribute the survey to all of their employees via a link to survey monkey? Since the tenants distribute the survey to all their employees the selection of participants is representative. The scope of business of the tenants does not indicate that their employees would have a preferred choice for the means of transport.
2) Since the return rate is crucial for the calculation of the reduced RCCT, I am wondering which other ´documentation´ than my statement regarding the number of employees is required when specifying how many regular building occupants received the survey? The online survey will be distributed via a link, the report generated by the software hence cannot document how many persons received this link.

I am looking forward to hearing from you
regards
Christian

What is the right definition of street frontage? In our project we have the site surrounded by streets on three sides, but on all three sides there are public sidewalks and green areas with trees between the site and the streets. And between one side of the building an the street there is also a lot of open space on our site. Which of the facades should be considered as street facade? Only the one with the main entry or all of them?

Dear all
I am hesitating whether the following project could obtain a CI certificate for the entire building:
-existing office building
-one entity owns the entire building
-interior works will be carried out for a new tenant occupying 65%GFA
-the remaining 40% GFA remain untouched and is currently occupied by other tenants

According to the 40/60 rule of thumb in the Rating System Selection Guide, the project would qualify for CI and the certificate would be granted to the entire building.

I am however not sure how to understand the wording on page 8 Ádditional Application Guidance´:

Maximum amount of work for interiors projects
If both the following two statements describe the project, then a whole building rating system, with the exception of LEED for Commercial Interiors or LEED for Retail: Commercial Interiors, should be used.
1) the entity conducting the work leases OR owns and controls 90% or more of the building that the space is located in (YES)
2)the same entity is conducting new construction or major renovation in 40% or more of the gross floor area of the building (NO)

..what I do not understand is how the CI, being mentioend as an exception, is treated in this case?

The the area of the new tenant could be CI certified is clear. My question is, wether I can perform works on 60% GFA (meeting prerequisite on 100%) and then still label the entire buildilng as CI certified.

I very much would apreciate your answer on this one.
best regards
Christian

For the documentation of fuel-efficient vehicles in Germany, we were wondering if a vehicle meeting the EURO 6 limit is eligible?

Within the guidelines for ACP in Europe for BD+C, it is stated that for SSc4.3, "projects in europe may use the EURO 6 limit values [..] to meet the definition of low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles". We just checked the ACP guide for Europe for EB:OM, but there is no information regarding this topic.
Has anyone experience for the documentation of low-emitting vehicles in Europe?

Thanks in advance, Julia

ASHRAE 90.1-2010 8.4.2 states, that 50% of all 125 volt 15- and 20-Ampere receptacle outlets in private offcies, open offices and computer classrooms shall be automatically switched off when the space is not occupied. In Germany, the power of receptacle outlets for "normal" devices such as computers, copiers or lighting is 230 volt 10 - 16 Ampere.
Since it is not usual at all to switch off sockets or to have duplex receptacles with occupancy sensors or other controls it is very hard to implement this in german projects. The question is whether we have to follow the provision verbatim and apply this only to 125 volt outlets (which we do not have in Germany) or whether we should apply the requirement to our 230 volt outlets. We fear that many projects will choose a different certification system like DGNB or BREEAM in the last case.

How do you work around this in other countrys?
I´m interested in your opinion here.
Thank you in advance!

Best regards
Jan