855773667-LEED-v5-O-M-Reference-Guide-Launch-Edition-1 - Page 238

Extracted Content

• Regularly occupied spaces . Prioritize regularly occupied spaces. Non-regularly occupied spaces must be included in the total area for determining the occupied floor area but need not be tested.

  • Multiple space types . If more than one measurement is necessary per Table 1, test multiple space types. For example, in an office building, test open office spaces, but also consider closed offices, conference rooms, quiet space, and other occupied space types. In a school building, test the classroom spaces but also consider testing the auditorium, administrative offices, student assembly areas, and lab spaces.

  • Different ventilation systems . If the project has multiple ventilation systems, identify a measurement location in areas served by each ventilation system, up to the required number of measurement points.

  • Multiple floors . For projects with multiple floors, select locations on different floors.

  • Spaces where the highest concentrations of contaminants are likely to occur . This could be due to the construction or fit-out of the space, or a lower ventilation rate. For example, private offices may have a higher concentration of contaminants compared to open offices, due to a higher density of furniture and finish materials in an enclosed space.

Include a concurrent measurement of outdoor ambient air quality within the project boundary for reference comparison. Only one measurement is needed per day of testing.

Proper placement of the testing equipment (direct-read instruments or laboratory-based sample equipment) is important to obtaining accurate results. Place testing equipment at a height corresponding to the breathing zone of a typical occupant. In most situations, the breathing zone is between three and six feet (0.9 and 1.8 meters) above finished floor height, based on the location of an occupant’s head when seated or standing. Alternative placement heights based on the anticipated occupant position in a space may be considered.

Where possible, place testing equipment at least three feet (0.9 meters) away from doors, windows, air filters, air supply outlets, exhaust intakes, stoves, printers, and other potential airborne contaminant sources or sinks. In areas where this is not possible, locate equipment closer to air returns than air diffusers.

Conduct testing during regular occupancy hours to reflect the air quality under typical conditions.

Option 2. Targeted One-time Air Testing

Each location must be tested for at least two parameters in Table 2. One-Time Air Testing provided in the Requirements section of this credit.

U.S. Green Building Council LEED v5 Reference Guide for Operations and Maintenance, April 2025 Launch Edition 228