Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)

Question 1

Main issues

Answer 1

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
Thermal comfort
Lighting comfort
Acoustics (schools only)

Question 2

EQp1 - Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance

Answer 2

ASHRAE 62.1 1-2010: minimum intake rates of outdoor air

Mechanical ventilation (active)
Natural ventilation (passive)
Mixed-mode ventilation (active + passive)

Question 3

EQp2 - Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) Control

Answer 3

Intent: prevent exposure of building occupants to ETS

Requirements:

• Prohibit smoking in building and on property w/in 25ft of operable windows, entries and air intakes
• Provide signage w/in 10ft of all building entrances
• Residential units: prohibit smoking in common areas and w/in 25ft of entries, windows, air intakes; ensure each unit is compartmentalized

Question 4

EQp3 + EQc9 - Minimum acoustical performance

Answer 4

EQp3 - schools only
ANSI/ASHRAE S12.60-2010 include sound absorptive finishes
Maintain background level under 40dBA from HVAC systems in classrooms

EQc9 - all systems

Question 5

EQC1 - Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies

Answer 5

Intent: protect occupants from potentially hazardous particulates and chemical pollutants.

Entryway system - grates/grills, roll-out mats cleaned weekly
Interior exhaust cross-contamination prevention
In mechanically ventilated buildings, use new filtrations media w/min. MERV of 13

Question 6

EQc2 - Low Emitting Materials

Answer 6

Intent: reduce concentrations of VOCs or formeldahyde due to off-gassing

2 calculation methods to show compliance:

1. Product category calculations
   - Interior paints and coatings applied on site: CPDH and SCAQMD 1113
   - Interior adhesives and sealants applied on site: CPDH and SCAQMD 1168
   - Flooring: CPDH
   - Composite wood: California Air Resources Board (CARB) + No added formaldehyde resins
   - Ceilings, walls, thermal, and acoustic insulation: CPDH
   - Furniture (if part of scope of work): ANSI/BIFMA
   - Healthcare and Schools projects only - Exterior applied products: CARB 2007 + SCAQMD 1168
2. Budget calculation method
   If some products in category do not meet criteria, can assess each layer of assembly

Question 7

EQc3 - Construction Indoor Air Quality Management

Answer 7

Intent: promote best practices to ensure high indoor air quality during construction as outlined in the SMACNA IAQ guidelines

• Protect absorptive materials installed or stored onsite from moisture to prevent mold
• If permanently instaled air handlers are used during construction, provide filtration media with MERV of 8 in all return grills per ASHRAE 52.2-1999
• Before occupancy, replace all filtration media w/final design filtration media
• Prohibit the use of tobacco products inside the building and w/in 25ft during construction

Question 8

EQc4 - Indoor Air Quality Assessment

Answer 8

After construction activities are completed and all finishes are installed, but before occupancy

2 options:

1. Flush out: replace all existing air w/fresh outdoor air prior to occupancy. 14,000 cubic ft outdoor air per sq ft floor area w/min temp 60F and max relative humidity 60%
2. Air testing: samples taken showing concentration limits below max for formaldehyde, ozone, VOCs and carbon monoxide

Question 9

EQc5 - Thermal Comfort

Answer 9

Intent: improve occupant satisfaction and productivity

Requirements:
1. Comfort Design: HVAC systems and building envelope must comply w/ASHRAE 55-2010
2. Comfort Control: ability to adjust air/radiant temperature, air velocity or humidity
Ensure 50% of individual occupant spaces have thermal comfort controls
Ensure 100% of multi-occupant spaces have thermal comfort controls

Question 10

EQc6 - Interior Lighting

Answer 10

2 options:

1. Lighting Control
   90% of individual spaces have 3 mode lighting comfort controls
   100% of muti-occupant spaces have 3 mode lighting comfort controls
2. Lighting Quality - meet 4/8 strategies
   - Minimize objectionable glare
   - Approximate natural light
   - Maximize lamp life
   - Minimize direct-only overhead lighting
   - Specify high-reflecting surfaces for ceilings & floors
   - Specify high-reflecting surfaces for walls
   - Specify high-reflecting surfaces for furniture
   - Maintain ration of illuminance b/w objects

Question 11

EQc7 - Daylight

Answer 11

Requires manual or auto glare-control devices for regularly occupied spaces

3 options:
1. Simulation: Spatial Daylight Autonomy
   % of area that receives 300+ lux for 50% 
   of day
2. Simulation: Illuminance Calculations
   B/w 300 - 3,000 lux 9am-3pm
3. Measurement 
   Measure illuminance levels to be read 
   above

Question 12

ECq8 - Quality Views

Answer 12

75% of regularly occupied areas must have direct line of sight to outdoors through vision glazing 30”-90” above floor

Views into interior atria can count toward 30% of requirement

Meet 2/4 of following views:

1. Multiple lines of sight 90 deg. apart
2. Able to see flora, fauna or sky, movement or objects 25’ from window
3. Unobstructed views w/in 3x head height of vision glazing
4. View factor (# of quality views w/a 90 deg line) of 3+