LEED (BD+C)- Indoor Environmental Quality Credit: Indoor air Quality assessment

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that recognizes the best practices and strategies for sustainable design and construction. One of the critical components of the LEED rating system is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), which aims to improve the quality of indoor air by implementing specific measures to enhance ventilation, filtration, and building material selection.

The Indoor Air Quality Assessment credit under LEED v4.1 BD+C rating system (Building Design and Construction) seeks to establish better quality indoor air in the building after construction and during occupancy. The credit provides two options for compliance, which cannot be combined.

Option 1: Flush-Out (1 point)

The flush-out option requires the supply of a total air volume of 14,000 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of gross floor area while maintaining an internal temperature of at least 60°F and no higher than 80°F and relative humidity no higher than 60%. This option can be achieved using either of the following paths:

• Path 1: Before Occupancy: Install new filtration media and perform a building flush-out before occupancy.
• Path 2: During Occupancy: If occupancy is desired before the flush-out is completed, the space may be occupied only after delivery of a minimum of 3,500 cubic feet of outdoor air per square foot of gross floor area.

Option 2: Air Testing (2 points)

The air testing option involves conducting baseline IAQ testing after construction ends and before occupancy, using protocols consistent with the methods listed in Table 1 for all occupied spaces. The laboratory conducting the tests for chemical analysis of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds must be accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 for the test methods they use. Retail projects may conduct the testing within 14 days of occupancy.