LEED IEQ REQUIREMENTS
The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a rating system that assesses
buildings' sustainability and environmental impact. Within the LEED rating system, there are
several categories, including Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), which focuses on creating
a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for building occupants.
For conference centers seeking LEED certification, there are a variety of IEQ requirements
to meet. These requirements may vary depending on the certification level desired (LEED
Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum). Here are some examples of IEQ requirements for
conference centers seeking LEED certification:
• Ventilation: Conference centers must provide ventilation rates that meet or exceed
ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010.
• Thermal comfort: Conference centers must provide conditions that meet or exceed
ASHRAE Standard 55-2010.
• Lighting: Conference centers must meet or exceed the lighting requirements of the
Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook, 9th
edition.
• Acoustics: Conference centers must meet or exceed the acoustical criteria
established in the LEED IEQ credit for Acoustic Performance.
• Low-emitting materials: Conference centers must use low-emitting materials for all
interior finishes, including paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants, and flooring systems.
• Indoor air quality management: Conference centers must develop and implement
an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Management Plan to ensure that construction activities
and building operations do not negatively impact indoor air quality.
• Green cleaning: Conference centers must use green cleaning products and
procedures to maintain indoor environmental quality.
These are just a few examples of the IEQ requirements for conference centers seeking LEED
certification. To achieve certification, conference centers must also meet needs in other
categories, such as Sustainable Sites, Water Efficiency, Energy and Atmosphere, and
Materials and Resources.
ASHRAE STANDARDS
ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010 is a widely recognized standard for ventilation in commercial
and institutional buildings. This standard was developed by the American Society of
Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) and sets the minimum
requirements for indoor air quality and ventilation for all commercial and institutional
buildings.
The standard specifies the minimum ventilation rates and other indoor air quality
requirements necessary to provide a healthy and comfortable indoor environment for
occupants. It includes provisions for outdoor air intake rates, ventilation system design and
operation, air cleaning and filtration, and other indoor air quality management aspects.
ASHRAE Standard 62.1-2010 is designed to provide a baseline level of indoor air quality and
ventilation that can be used by building designers, engineers, and operators to ensure that
the indoor air in commercial and institutional buildings is safe and healthy for occupants.
ASHRAE regularly updates it to reflect advances in ventilation technology and indoor air
quality research.
LEED IEQ for ACOUSTIC PERFORMANCE
The LEED IEQ credit for Acoustic Performance is within the Indoor Environmental Quality
(IEQ) category of the LEED rating system. This credit is intended to promote a comfortable
and productive indoor environment by addressing issues related to acoustics, including
sound transmission, speech intelligibility, and background noise levels.
To earn the IEQ credit for Acoustic Performance, a building project must meet or exceed
the acoustic performance requirements established in the credit. These requirements vary
depending on the building type and use and are typically based on recognized industry
standards for acoustical performance.
For example, for a conference center seeking LEED certification, the acoustic performance
requirements may include:
• Sound transmission class (STC) rating: The walls, floors, and ceilings of conference
rooms must have a minimum STC rating of 45 to reduce sound transmission between
adjacent spaces.
• Reverberation time: Conference rooms must have a maximum reverberation time
based on the size of the room and the intended use of the space. This ensures that
speech intelligibility is maintained and excessive reverberation does not impede
communication.
• Background noise levels: The ambient noise level in conference rooms must be
below a certain threshold to ensure occupants can communicate effectively without
excessive background noise.
To demonstrate compliance with the acoustic performance requirements, a building
project may need to conduct acoustical testing and analysis during the design and
construction phases. The results of these tests and analyses must be documented and
submitted as part of the LEED certification process.
Earning the IEQ credit for Acoustic Performance can help conference centers improve the
comfort and productivity of their indoor environment, which can positively impact the
experience of occupants and the overall success of the center.
ILLUMINATING ENGINEERING SOCIETY
The Illuminating Engineering Society of North America (IESNA) Lighting Handbook, 9th
edition, is a recognized industry standard for lighting design. It is often used as a reference
for projects seeking LEED certification. The handbook guides various lighting topics,
including design principles, lighting technology, lighting control systems, and lighting for
specific applications and environments.
For conference centers seeking LEED certification, compliance with the IESNA Lighting
Handbook, 9th edition, may be required to meet the lighting requirements for the Indoor
Environmental Quality (IEQ) category. The lighting requirements may vary depending on
the certification level sought (LEED Certified, Silver, Gold, or Platinum).
To meet the requirements of the IESNA Lighting Handbook, 9th edition, conference centers
may need to consider factors such as:
• Light levels: The lighting design should provide appropriate light levels for the
intended use of each space within the conference center while minimizing glare and
avoiding over-illumination.
• Energy efficiency: The lighting system should be designed to minimize energy
consumption, for example, by using energy-efficient lamps and fixtures and
incorporating daylight harvesting or occupancy sensors.
• Color rendering: The lighting system should provide good color rendering, which is
essential for the accurate perception of colors and for creating a pleasant and
comfortable environment.
• Light distribution: The lighting system should provide even light distribution across the
space without creating hot spots or shadows.
• Maintenance: The lighting system should be designed to be easily maintained and
serviced to ensure that it continues to provide the desired lighting levels and quality
over time.
By following the guidelines and recommendations in the IESNA Lighting Handbook, 9th
edition, conference centers can create lighting systems that are both functional and
energy-efficient while also contributing to a comfortable and productive indoor
environment for occupants.
