CI-v5 EQc1: Enhanced Air Quality 1-2 points
LEEDuser overview
Explore this LEED credit
Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To design for increased indoor air quality to better protect the health of building occupants.
Requirements
Design the project to exceed the requirements of ASHRAE 62.1-2022, Section 6. If using the ventilation rate procedure to comply with EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality, use Option 1 or Option 2; if using the IAQP, use Option 2.
Option 1. Increased Ventilation (1-2 points)
Increase breathing zone outdoor air ventilation rates by at least 15% above the minimum rates (for 1 point, or 30% for 2 points) as determined in EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality.
Increased outdoor air rates should be provided to 95% of all regularly occupied spaces.
OR
Option 2. Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Design (1 point)
In addition to the design compounds and design limits outlined in ASHRAE 62.1-2022, Tables 6-5 and 6-6, design and verify enhanced IAQ using the lower design limits listed below in Table 1.
Table 1. Additional Design Limits for Enhanced IAQ Design
Design Compound or PM2.5 | Enhanced IAQP Design Limit* |
PM2.5 | 10 µg/m3 |
Formaldehyde | 20 µg/m³ |
Ozone | 10 ppb |
Note: ppb = parts per billion.
OR
Option 3. Verification of Ventilation and Filtration (1 point)
For spaces receiving mechanical ventilation from base building systems, measure the total quantity of outdoor air delivered to the project and verify the results are within 10% of the rates reported in EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality and outlined in the current facilities requirements and operations and maintenance plan. Measurements shall quantify the amount of outdoor air for each base building air-handling unit serving the project and account for worst-case conditions.
NOTE: This path is only applicable for tenant improvements to a previously occupied space and is not applicable for initial build-out.
See all forum discussions about this credit »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 »For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
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.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
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.
For full access, sign up now for LEEDuser Premium
Already a premium member? Log in now
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Intent
To design for increased indoor air quality to better protect the health of building occupants.
Requirements
Design the project to exceed the requirements of ASHRAE 62.1-2022, Section 6. If using the ventilation rate procedure to comply with EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality, use Option 1 or Option 2; if using the IAQP, use Option 2.
Option 1. Increased Ventilation (1-2 points)
Increase breathing zone outdoor air ventilation rates by at least 15% above the minimum rates (for 1 point, or 30% for 2 points) as determined in EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality.
Increased outdoor air rates should be provided to 95% of all regularly occupied spaces.
OR
Option 2. Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Design (1 point)
In addition to the design compounds and design limits outlined in ASHRAE 62.1-2022, Tables 6-5 and 6-6, design and verify enhanced IAQ using the lower design limits listed below in Table 1.
Table 1. Additional Design Limits for Enhanced IAQ Design
Design Compound or PM2.5 | Enhanced IAQP Design Limit* |
PM2.5 | 10 µg/m3 |
Formaldehyde | 20 µg/m³ |
Ozone | 10 ppb |
Note: ppb = parts per billion.
OR
Option 3. Verification of Ventilation and Filtration (1 point)
For spaces receiving mechanical ventilation from base building systems, measure the total quantity of outdoor air delivered to the project and verify the results are within 10% of the rates reported in EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality and outlined in the current facilities requirements and operations and maintenance plan. Measurements shall quantify the amount of outdoor air for each base building air-handling unit serving the project and account for worst-case conditions.
NOTE: This path is only applicable for tenant improvements to a previously occupied space and is not applicable for initial build-out.
See all forum discussions about this credit »