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measurements from installed devices, verify the device has been recently calibrated in accordance with its manufacturer’s specifications.

Measurements that were taken within five years prior to the end of the 12-month reporting period may be used to satisfy this rating system requirement.

COMPARE MEASURED OUTDOOR AIRFLOW WITH CALCULATED MINIMUM OUTDOOR AIR

Compare the measured results for each ventilation system with the calculated minimum amount of outdoor air required by ASHRAE 62.1-2022 and determine the next steps. If spaces are under-ventilated, the project should strive to improve performance. This often involves adjusting damper settings or cleaning ducts, grilles or other components, and sometimes requires system upgrades. Work with the facility manager or third-party vendor to document the circumstances and outline possible options for improvement. This process is also beneficial for projects looking to improve beyond ASHRAE 62.1 minimums.

Compliance with minimum outdoor rates is highly encouraged but not mandatory for this prerequisite, with compliance recognized in the EQc2: Ventilation Performance . Note that this is not extended to residential dwelling units which are required to provide minimum ventilation.

FILTRATION

Evaluate filtration for each ventilation system on the project. Filters will likely be classified using MERV levels in accordance with ASHRAE 52.2 [99] or filtration media class as defined by ISO 16890-2016 .

Evaluate all central HVAC systems that supply outdoor air, recirculated air, or outdoor air and recirculated air to occupied spaces. Work with the facility manager or third-party vendor to document the circumstances and outline possible options for improving filtration. MERV 13 filtration (and ePM1 50%) is becoming standard practice, and many HVAC systems can accommodate this level of filtration with proper attention to filter product selection. Studies demonstrated MERV 13 filters typically had a minimal increase in energy use compared to alternative enhanced ventilation strategies, such as HVAC outdoor air flushing or changing to 100% outdoor air units. [100]

Compliance with a specific MERV level or filtration media class is not required, but compliance with MERV 13 or higher is recognized in EQc5: Air Filtration and may contribute to supporting

99 ASHRAE, “ASHRAE 52.2-2017,” n.d., https://store.accuristech.com/ashrae/standards/ashrae-52-2-2017?product_id=1942059. 100 C. CaraDonna and K. Trenbath, “U.S. Commercial Building Stock Analysis of COVID-19 Mitigation Strategies [Conference presentation],” in 5th International Conference on Building Energy and Environment (COBEE 2022), Montreal, Quebec, Canada (July 25–29, 2022), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, nrel.gov/docs/fy22osti/82515.pdf.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 211