855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 463

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of time. In other words, they are inactive areas. Examples of spaces that are typically unoccupied include the following :

• Mechanical and electrical rooms

• Egress stairway or dedicated emergency exit corridor

• Closets in a residence (but a walk-in closet is occupied)

• Data center floor area, including a raised floor area

• Inactive storage area in a warehouse or distribution center

For areas with equipment retrieval, the space is unoccupied only if the retrieval is occasional.

Regularly versus nonregularly occupied spaces Occupied spaces are further classified as regularly occupied or nonregularly occupied, based on the duration of the occupancy. Regularly occupied spaces are enclosed areas where people normally spend time, defined as more than one hour of continuous occupancy per person per day, on average. The occupants may be seated or standing as they work, study, or perform other activities.

For spaces that are not used daily, the classification should be based on the time a typical occupant spends in the space when it is in use. For example, a computer workstation may be largely vacant throughout the month, but when it is occupied, a worker spends 1-5 hours there. It would then be considered regularly occupied because that length of time is sufficient to affect the person’s well-being, and they would have an expectation of thermal comfort and control over the environment.

Occupied spaces that do not meet the definition of regularly occupied are nonregularly occupied, areas that people pass through, or areas used an average of less than one hour per person per day.

Examples of regularly occupied spaces include the following:

• Airplane hangar

• Auditorium

• Auto service bay

• Bank teller station

• Conference room

• Correctional facility cell or day room

• Data center network operations center

• Data center security operations center

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 453