855773644-LEED-v5-BD-C-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition - Page 488
Extracted Content
REQUIREMENTS EXPLAINED
The credit incentivizes designing systems that continuously provide enhanced air quality during building occupancy. For measures that provide enhanced air quality only in specific circumstances, refer to EQc4: Resilient Spaces for more guidance.
Both options in this credit use measures described in ASHRAE Guideline 42-2023, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and Institutional Buildings, with the goal of providing enhanced indoor air quality. Projects are encouraged to address additional measures from ASHRAE Guideline 42 beyond those included in this credit.
NOTE: If the Ventilation Rate Procedure is being used for EQp2: Fundamental Air Quality, it is expected Option 1 for this credit will be used. However, it is not required. Review both options and choose the one that most aligns with the project goals for enhanced air quality.
Option 1. Increased Ventilation
Providing additional outdoor airflow, above the minimum requirements for ventilation and building pressurization, can further dilute and reduce indoor air pollutants. Research has shown increased ventilation may improve cognitive performance and associated productivity and income, reduce absenteeism in commercial offices [153], and sleep quality in residential applications. [154]
INCREASED VENTILATION THRESHOLDS
Projects must demonstrate a 15% increase in outdoor airflow rates over the minimum requirements of ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2022 . Most large HVAC systems can accommodate a 15% increase with minimal impacts to the design and to energy consumption.
REGULARLY OCCUPIED SPACES REQUIREMENT
At least 95% of all regularly occupied spaces must have increased ventilation. This provides flexibility for projects that cannot meet the higher thresholds in every space.
153 Licina, D., Wargocki, P., Pyke, C., and Altomonte, S. “The future of IEQ in green building certifications”, Buildings and Cities, 2(1), (2021): pp. 907–927, https://doi.org/10.5334/bc.148. 154 Wargocki, P.,Akimoto, Mizuho, et al. “Ventilation and sleep quality”, AIVC, (2023), https://www.aivc.org/resource/ventilation-andsleep-quality.
U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, April 2025 Launch Edition 478