What can the team do to achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies?

The project team wants to modify the design of an office building copy room to minimize the risk of airborne contamination to the surrounding space. The design includes a separate exhaust, but due to design constraints the partition walls of the room cannot run deck-to-deck.

What can the team do to achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies?
A . Use MERV 8 (F5), or higher, filters
B . Provide a hard-lid ceiling
C . Create positive pressure in the room
D . Provide a large opening to dilute air contaminates

Answer: B

Explanation:

The Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies aims to establish better quality indoor air for the building occupants that promotes their comfort and well-being1. This credit requires the project team to implement several strategies to reduce the exposure of occupants and HVAC systems to environmental tobacco smoke, airborne contaminants, and chemicals1. One of the strategies is to design and construct all interior partitions to full height (deck-to-deck) or provide a hard-lid ceiling for spaces where hazardous gases or chemicals may be present or used2. This strategy helps prevent the migration of contaminants from one space to another through the plenum3. A copy room is an example of such a space, as it may contain printers, copiers, toners, and solvents that can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) into the air4. Therefore, the project team can achieve Indoor Environmental Quality Credit, Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies by providing a hard-lid ceiling for the copy room.

Reference: Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies

Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies – Canada Green Building Council [LEED Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction v4], page 631 Copy Rooms: A Source of Indoor Air Pollution