International.
A new publication of the User's Manual clarifies the intent and implementation of the industry's most advanced green building standard by explaining its requirements and application examples.
The ANSI/ASHRAE/USGBC/IES 189.1-2014 Standard User Manual, Standard for the Design of High Performance Green Buildings, except low-rise residential buildings, aims to help engineers, architects and builders understand and comply with the standard and assist code enforcement officers and control bodies that mandate their requirements. This new version of the User Manual updates version 2010, which covered the content of Standard 189.1-2009.
Standard 189.1 focuses on the sustainability areas of the site; water use efficiency; energy efficiency; quality of the environment interiior; impact of the building on the atmosphere, materials and resources; and construction and operating plans. The standard is published by ASHRAE, the Society of Lighting Engineers (IES) and the US Green Building Council (USGBC). For complete information on the standard, including a copy to read, visit www.ashrae.org/greenstandard.
"The 2014 standard updates the 2011 standard through 67 addenda that modify all sections of the standard," said Andrew Persily, chair of the Standards 189.1 Committee. "The User's Manual is vital to help the industry understand these updates, which will help reduce the environmental and energy impact of buildings through high-performance designs, construction and operation while providing indoor environments that support the activities of building occupants."
Among the many changes in the 2014 edition of the 189.1 standard discussed in the User Manual are:
- Changing all site requirements to mandatory, with pre-prescription and performance options now being mandatory requirements.
- Addition of the requirement of a minimum storm water management to minimize the impact of storm water discharged from the project site.
- Inclusion of new requirements for bicycle parking; preferential parking for low-emission, hybrid and electric vehicles; and a pre-design-level inventory of native and invasive plants.
- Adjusting the minimum on-site renewable energy requirements to provide two clear prescriptive routes to include in on-site renewable energy in the project.
- It establishes two performance options to demonstrate compliance with minimum energy efficiency requirements.
- Addition of lighting quality within reach of the indoor environment quality section as well as requirements for lighting control in specific type spaces.
- Clarification of requirements for air filtration sealing and air cleaning equipment; and new requirements for ventilation before occupancy.
- Addition of minimum humidity control requirements to reduce the negative impacts associated with unintentional moisture migration through the building envelope.
- Addition of new requirements for the declaration or certification of multiple product attributes and the maximum mercury content of certain types of lamps.
- Update of requirements related to environmental impacts associated with empty construction vehicles and new requirements to reduce the entry of polluting particles into the air associated with construction areas.
The cost of the User Manual is US$105 (US$89, for ASHRAE members).
