Page 302 - The Engineering Guide to LEED-New Construction Sustainable Construction for Engineers

LEED Indoor Envir onmental Quality 265

• Areas designated for the air quality sampling should be representative of areas
with the least effective ventilation (worst-case scenarios).
• It may seem difficult to meet the air quality requirements for CO and perhaps
PM10 if the facility is built in an area where the outside ambient air has high
concentrations, especially since the testing is usually done during occupancy
hours that are usually the worst hours for ambient air concentrations. However,
there are many ways in which this problem can be addressed. Some of the poor
air pollutant concentrations are close to sources such as roadways in urban
areas. If the intakes for the HVAC systems or natural ventilation openings are
located away from the roadways and potential sources, then the air used for
the facility may be adequate to meet good indoor air quality standards.

There is no EP point for IEQ credit 3.2 in either version 2.2 or 2009.

6.4 IEQ Credit Subcategory 4: Low-Emitting Materials
The intention of this credit subcategory is to reduce surface coverings or coatings in the
interior spaces that might release VOCs into the indoor airspace. In addition to overall
VOC concentrations, a few specific organic compounds that are irritable to humans at
certain concentrations and some threshold levels are considered. Figure 6.4.1 shows a
reception area that has been built with many surfaces that have reduced VOC emissions
as compared to other older products.

FIGURE 6.4.1 Various examples of low VOC-emitting interior surfaces. (Photograph taken at the
Sustainable Interiors ribbon cutting at the Strom Thurmond Building on Fort Jackson, Columbia,
S.C., June 2007. The paints were provided by Sherwin-Williams Company and Duron Paints &
Wallcoverings. Also shown are carpets and fl ooring provided by Shaw Industries Group, Lees
Carpets and Interface, Inc. These fl ooring materials may also count toward several MR credits.)