GSSG - Air Flashcards
___ is the number one environmental cause of premature
mortality, contributing to ___ premature deaths annually ___, or ______ premature deaths worldwide.
Air pollution
7 million
one in eight
Humans breathe more than ___ of air every day
15,000 liters
Poor ventilation practices can expose humans to ___, ___, and ____.
VOCs
PAHs
Microbial Pathogens
WELL Addresses the 6 major pollutants:
Carbon monoxide Lead Nitrogen dioxide Ozone Particulate Matter (PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅) Sulphur dioxide
STANDARDS FOR VOLATILE SUBSTANCES
The following are met:
Formaldehyde levels less than 27 ppb
Total volatile organic compounds less than 500 μg/m³.
STANDARDS FOR PARTICULATE MATTER AND
INORGANIC GASES
The following conditions are met:
Carbon monoxide less than 9 ppm
PM₂.₅ less than 15 μg/m³
PM₁₀ less than 50 μg/m³
Ozone less than 51 ppb
RADON
The following conditions are met in projects with regularly occupied spaces at or below grade:
Radon less than 4 pCi/L in the lowest occupied level of the project
What requirement does feature 1 have after occupancy? Who performs this?
On-site performance test by WELL Performance Testing Agent
INDOOR SMOKING BAN
Building policy or local code reflects the following:
Smoking and the use of e-cigarettes is prohibited inside the project
OUTDOOR SMOKING BAN
Signage is present to indicate:
-A smoking ban within 25 ft of all entrances, operable windows and building air intakes.
-A smoking ban on all decks, patios, balconies, rooftops and other regularly occupied exterior building spaces.
-The hazards of smoking, in all areas beyond 25 ft of the building entrances (if smoking is
permitted in this areas). Signs are placed along all walkways with a distance of not more than 100 ft between signs.
The average life expectancy of a smoker is ___ less than that of a nonsmoker.
10 years
VENTILATION DESIGN
One of the following requirements is met for all spaces:
- Ventilation rates comply with all requirements set in ASHRAE 62.1
- Projects comply with all requirements set in any procedure in ASHRAE 62.1-2013 and demonstrate that ambient air quality within 1 mi of the building is compliant with either the U.S. EPA’s NAAQS or passes the Air Quality Standards feature in the WELL Building Standard for at least 95% of all hours in the previous year.
DEMAND CONTROLLED VENTILATION
For all spaces 500 ft² or larger with an actual or expected occupant density greater than 25 people per 1,000 ft², one of the following requirements is met:
- A demand controlled ventilation system regulates the ventilation rate of outdoor air to keep carbon dioxide levels in the space below 800 ppm (measured at 4-6 ft A.F.F.).
- Projects that have met the Operable windows feature demonstrate that natural ventilation is sufficient to keep carbon dioxide levels below 800 ppm at maximum intended occupancies (measured at 4-6 ft A.F.F.).
SYSTEM BALANCING
After the HVAC system is installed, the following requirement is met:
After substantial completion and prior to occupancy, the HVAC system has (within the last 5 years), or is scheduled to, undergo testing and balancing.
What documentation is required for the Ventilation Effectiveness Feature?
Letter of Assurance from the MEP Engineer
Commissioning Report
INTERIOR PAINTS AND COATINGS
The VOC limits of newly applied interior paints and coatings meet one of the following requirements:
- 100% of installed products meet California Air Resources Board (CARB), or South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Standards
- At minimum 90%, by volume, meet the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standards
- Applicable national VOC content regulations or conduct testing of VOC content in accordance with ASTM standards.
INTERIOR ADHESIVES AND SEALANTS
The VOC limits of newly applied interior adhesives and sealants meet one of the following requirements:
- 100% of installed products meet South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD)
- At minimum 90%, by volume, meet the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standards
- Applicable national VOC content regulations or conduct testing of VOC content in accordance with ASTM standards.
FLOORING
The VOC emissions of all newly installed interior flooring meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard
INSULATION
The VOC emissions of all newly installed interior thermal (excluding duct) and acoustic insulation meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS
The VOC emissions of at least 95% (by cost) of all newly purchased interior furniture and furnishings within the
project scope meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:
- ANSI/BIFMA Furniture Sustainability Standard
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard
What are 2 common examples of VOCs:
Benzene and Formaldehyde
VOC levels can be ___ higher
indoors than outdoors.
5 times
What documentation is required for the VOC Reduction Feature?
Letter of Assurance from the Architect & Contractor
FILTER ACCOMMODATION
If recirculated air is used, the following requirements are met in ventilation assemblies in the main air ducts for recirculated air:
- Rack space and fan capacity is in place for future carbon filters
- The mechanical system is able to accommodate the additional filters.
PARTICLE FILTRATION
One of the following requirements is met:
- MERV 13 (or higher) media filters are used in the ventilation system to filter outdoor air
- Project demonstrates that for 95% of all hours in a calendar year, ambient outdoor PM₁₀ and PM₂.₅ levels measured within 1 mi of the building are below the limits set in the WELL Air Quality Standards feature.
AIR FILTRATION MAINTENANCE
To verify that the filtration system continues to operate as designed, projects must annually provide IWBI with:
Records of air filtration maintenance, including evidence that filters have been properly maintained as per manufacturer’s recommendations.
___ are designed to absorb such volatile pollutants and remove the largest particles, while ___ are meant to address smaller particles.
Carbon filters
Media filters
What documentation is required for the Air Filtration Feature?
Letter of Assurance from the MEP Engineer
Spot Checks Parts 1 & 2 (Filter Accommodation/Particle Filtration)
Operations Schedule Part 3 (Air Filtration Maintenance)
COOLING COIL MOLD REDUCTION
In buildings that rely on a mechanical system for cooling, one of the following requirements is met:
-Ultraviolet lamps are employed on the
cooling coils and drain pans of the mechanical system supplies.
-Building policy states that all cooling coils are inspected on a quarterly basis for mold growth and cleaned if necessary. Dated photos demonstrating adherence are provided to the IWBI on an annual basis.
MOLD INSPECTIONS
The following are not present:
- Signs of discoloration and mold on ceilings, walls or floors.
- Signs of water damage or pooling.
DUCT PROTECTION
To prevent pollutants from entering the ventilation system, all newly installed ducts are either:
- Sealed and protected from possible contamination during construction.
- Vacuumed out prior to installing registers, grills and diffusers.
FILTER REPLACEMENT
To prevent pollutants from entering the air supply post-occupancy, if the ventilation system is operating during construction occurring within one year prior to Performance Verification, the following requirement is met:
-All filters are replaced prior to occupancy.
MOISTURE ABSORPTION MANAGEMENT
To prevent building materials from absorbing water or moisture during construction occurring within one year prior to Performance Verification, the following requirements are met:
A separate area is designated to store and protect absorptive materials, including but not limited to carpets, acoustical ceiling panels, fabric wall coverings, insulation, upholstery and furnishings
DUST CONTAINMENT AND REMOVAL
The following procedures are followed during building construction occurring within one year prior to Performance Verification:
- All active areas of work are isolated from other spaces by sealed doorways or windows or through the use of temporary barriers.
- Walk-off mats are used at entryways to reduce the transfer of dirt and pollutants.
- Saws and other tools use dust guards or collectors to capture generated dust.
What documentation is required for the Construction Pollution Management Feature?
Letter of Assurance from the Contractor
ENTRYWAY WALK-OFF SYSTEMS
To capture particulates from occupant shoes at all regularly used entrance(s) to the project, including doors with pedestrian traffic only to/from terraces or patios (no traffic to/from surrounding grounds), one of the following is installed and is maintained on a weekly basis:
- Permanent entryway system comprised of grilles, grates or slots, which allow for easy cleaning underneath, at least the width of the entrance and 10 ft long in the primary direction of travel.
- Rollout mats, at least the width of the entrance and 10 ft long in the primary direction of travel.
- Material manufactured as an entryway walk-off system, at least the width of the entrance and 10 ft long in the primary direction of travel
ENTRYWAY AIR SEAL
One of the following is in place to slow the movement of air from outdoors to indoors within mechanically ventilated main building entrances:
- Building entry vestibule with two normally-closed doorways.
- Revolving entrance doors.
- At least 3 normally-shut doors that separate occupied space from the outdoors. For example, a space on the fifth-floor could be separated by the exterior building doors, the first-floor elevator doors and the fifth-floor elevator doors. This option is applicable only for buildings whose entrance lobby is not a regularly occupied space.
CLEANING PLAN FOR OCCUPIED SPACES
A cleaning plan is created that includes:
- The Cleaning Equipment and Training Section of the WELL Appendix (not on exam)
- A list of approved product seals with which all cleaning, disinfection and hand hygiene products must comply in accordance with specific standards
- A list of high-touch surfaces and schedule of sanitization or disinfection
- A cleaning schedule that specifies the extent and frequency of cleaning
- Dated cleaning logs that are maintained and available to all occupants.
A written cleaning protocol should address
Frequency, supplies, equipment, procedures, and training to improve cleaning regimens.
PESTICIDE USE
Pesticide and herbicide use on outdoor plants is eliminated, or hazards are minimized through one of the following:
- The creation of a pest management plan in place of pesticide/herbicide use, based on San Francisco Environment Code Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
- Use of pesticides with a Hazard Tier ranking of 3 (least hazardous)