The intent of this credit is to implement an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan during construction that reduces indoor air quality problems and reduces health issues with construction workers and building occupants.

Requirements for Certification:

Implement an IAQ Management Plan during construction and pre-occupancy as follows:

Meet or exceed the recommended Control Measures of the Sheet Metal and Air Conditioning Contractors National Association (SMACNA) IAQ Guidelines for Occupied Buildings under Construction.

Protect stored or installed absorptive materials from moisture.

Install filtration media with a Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) of 8 at all return air grilles on permanently installed air handlers used during construction.

Replace all filtration media immediately prior to occupancy

Successful Strategies:

• Include construction IAQ requirements in all relevant specifications, including front-end project requirements, to the specific MEP divisions.
• Include construction IAQ quality control related items in the projects weekly progress meetings with the team.
• Specify the sequence of installation of finishing materials according to the Reference Specifications for Energy and Resource Efficiency, section 1350.

Helpful Hints:

1. Assign a responsible party for documenting how the project is following the five SMACNA approaches early in construction. Photos from three different occasions in the project are required, and it is not possible to take all of them at the end of the project.
2. Create the IAQ Plan before construction begins. This ensures all SMACNA approaches are addressed.
3. The required control measures are generally standard construction practices in such facilities as hospitals or laboratories where indoor environmental air quality is important.

Historical Data (updated June 2006):

• 58% of all California LEED Certified projects achieved this credit for LEED v2.1.

Additional EDR Resources

Design Briefs: Indoor Air Quality

Design Briefs: Field Review

Design Guidelines: Commissioning Guidelines - Appendix 5