6.4: Thermal Comfort

(23 maximum points possible)

6.4.1 Thermal Control Zones (14 points)

GREEN GLOBES #6.4.1.1 - ANSI #11.4.1.1 Which of the following occupancy types applies to your project?

• Office Occupancies/Areas 
• Educational Occupancies/Areas 
• Healthcare Occupancies/Areas 
• Open-Area Mercantile and Assembly Occupancies/Areas 
• N/A

Assessment Guidance

Office Occupancies/Areas: Includes offices and conference rooms, among others. For open areas, thermal control zones are designed to be between 500 ft2 (46.5 m2) and 1000 ft2 (92.9 m2) for open areas. For single rooms, thermal control zones are designed to be between 750 ft2 (69.7 m2) and 1200 ft2 (111.5 m2).

Circulation and support areas are excluded.

Educational Occupancies/Areas: Includes classrooms, teaching labs, etc. Classrooms AND/ OR teaching labs are designed thermal control zones under 1500 ft.2 (139.4 m2).

Healthcare Occupancies/Areas: Includes patient wards, diagnostic and treatment areas. Thermal control zones are designed to be between 500 ft.2 (46.5m2) and 1000 ft. 2 (92.9m2).

Open-Area Mercantile and Assembly Occupancies/Areas: Includes retail, food service, convention halls, etc. For spaces exceeding 464.5 m2 (5000 ft.2) thermal control zones are designed to be less than 2500 ft.2 (232.3 m2). For spaces between 2500 ft.2 (232.3 m2) and 5000 ft.2 (464.5 m2) thermal control zones are designed to be less than 1500 ft.2 (139.4 m2).

Not applicable for other occupancies/areas.

Recommended Documents 

• Zone plan 
• Project specifications 
• Construction Documents 
• Basis of Design document AND/OR specifications

GREEN GLOBES #6.4.1.1.1 - ANSI #11.4.1.1.1 [Only within Office Occupancies/Areas] What is the size of thermal control zones?

• • Less than 500 SF for open areas or 750 SF for a single room (14 points) 
• 500 - 999 SF for open areas or 750 - 1199 SF for a single room (10 points) 
• 1000 SF or greater for open areas or 1299 SF or greater for a single room (0 points) 
• N/A

Assessment Guidance

Not applicable where there are no office occupancies/areas.

GREEN GLOBES #6.4.1.1.2 - ANSI #11.4.1.1.2 [Only within Educational Occupancies/Areas] What is the size of thermal control zones for classrooms and teaching labs?

• Less than 1500 SF (14 points) 
• 1500 SF or greater (0 points) 
• N/A

Assessment Guidance

Not applicable where there are no educational occupancies/areas.

GREEN GLOBES #6.4.1.1.3 - ANSI #11.4.1.1.3 [Only within Healthcare Occupancies/Areas] What is the size of thermal control zones in patient wards, diagnostic areas, and treatment areas?

• Less than 500 SF (14 points) 
• 500 - 999 SF (10 points) 
• 1000 SF or greater (0 points) 
• N/A

Assessment Guidance

Not applicable where there are no healthcare occupancies/areas.

GREEN GLOBES #6.4.1.1.4 - ANSI #11.4.1.1.4 [Only within Open-Area Mercantile and Assembly Occupancies/Areas] What is the size of thermal control zones?

• 2500-5000 SF are designed to be less than 1500 SF (14 points)
• 5000 SF are designed to be less than 2500 SF (10 points) 
• Neither of the above (0 points) 
• N/A

Assessment Guidance

Not applicable where there are no open-area mercantile and assembly occupancies/areas.

Not applicable for other occupancies/areas.

 

6.4.2 Thermal Comfort Design (9 points)

GREEN GLOBES #6.4.2.1 - ANSI #11.4.2.1 Are the HVAC systems and building designed to provide a thermal environment in conformance with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55-2013, Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy?

• Yes (9 points)
• No (0 points)
• N/A

Assessment Guidance

Exceedance hours for regularly occupied spaces do not exceed 300 hours per year. Not applicable where the occupancy is outside the purview of 55-2013.

Recommended Documents 

• Documentation demonstrating compliance with ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 55- 2013, including relevant worksheets and report 
• Manufacturer’s specifications, cut sheets, and performance documentation

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