AUSTRALIAN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT RATING TOOLS AND THE FUTURE OF BUILDING HEALTH, WELLBEING AND PRODUCTIVITY

Joe Scholz and Mark Graham

Don’t Fear Change, Embrace it! ● There are 6400 businesses in the air conditioning and

heating services industry1

● Stay ahead of latest trends to stay relevant

"Try not to become a man of success. Rather become a man of value."-- Albert Einstein

1. Source: Air Conditioning and Heating Services Market Research Report | ANZSIC E3233 | Jun 2016

What are building occupants looking for?

This makes the Indoor Environment very important

Source: Health, Wellbeing & Productivity in Offices - The next chapter for green building 2014

Indoor Environment ratingtools in the spotlight!

Why are Indoor Environmentrating tools gaining traction?

●Higher returns on investment●Attract and retain tenants for building owners●Increase building efficiencies●Boosts productivity of staff●Assists in meeting WHS legislation compliance●Minimises liability for litigation from health hazards●Demonstrates leadership in social and environmental sustainability

●Provides a benchmark for improvement and budget allocation

Why me?

● HVAC Professionals influence a significant number of credits within these Indoor Environment Ratings

● Included in design, commissioning and ongoing operation of buildings and building services

● Clients will increasingly look for advice and compliance from you with regards to these rating tools

……. Be prepared and get to know it

Rating Tool ComparisonGeneral characteristics

Comparable Feature

NABERS IE Green Star Performance v1.1

WELL v1

Applicable Buildings Offices Only OfficesAiming to include schools, shopping centres, public buildings, industrial buildings and hospitals

Offices Pilot programmes for retail, residential, education, restaurants

Applicable Areas within Buildings

- Base Building- tenancy- Whole Building 

Whole Building - New and Existing Buildings- New and Existing Interiors- Core and Shell

Direct influence of HVAC related plant and services relating to IEQ

100% Approximately 25% Approximately 22% for both preconditions and Optimisations

Rating Score 0-6 Stars 1 to 6 Stars 0-10 for each category and then an aggregate score –Silver (5-6), Gold (7-8), Platinum (9-10)

Ratings Period Validity 1 year 3 years (yearly energy/water)

3 years

Comments Is easiest to initiate and most affordable – Combines with other NABERS ratings

Complements the other Green Star design, construction and fitout ratings-holistic rating for sustainability. Allows use of NABERS ratings.

Comprehensive health based rating to maximise occupant health and productivity. Indicates a strong commitment to occupant wellbeing.

Quick Summary of the IE Rating ToolsNABERS IE

Quick Summary of theIE Rating ToolsGreen Star Performance

Quick Summary of the IERating ToolsWELL Building Standard

HVAC Industry SpecificsNABERS

Indoor Environment Parameter

Weighting Component Criteria Sub-Weighting

Overall Weighting

Thermal Services

40% Spot measurements (space temp, mean radiant temp, air speed, humidity)

PMV must satisfy ASHRAE 55 (2013): ± 0.5 (<10% PPD)

40% 16%

Thermal Services

40% Annual monitoring (at least hourly space temperature)

Must satisfy ASHRAE 55 (2013) 90% acceptability limits: 21-24.9ºC

60% 24%

Indoor Air Quality

40% Spot measurements of carbon dioxide (ventilation effectiveness)

less than 400ppm above outside air (typically <800ppm total)

55% 22%

Indoor Air Quality

40% Spot measurements of PM10 particulates

compared to NABERS IE database (<23 µg/m3)

30% 12%

Indoor Air Quality

40% Spot measurements of carbon monoxide

compared to NABERS IE database (<2 ppm)

15% 6%

Acoustic Comfort

20% Spot measurements of ambient sound

compared to NABERS IE database (<45 dB)

100% 20%

HVAC Industry SpecificsNABERS

HVAC Industry SpecificsGreen Star PerformanceAccepts NABERS IE Indoor Air Quality, Thermal Comfort, Acoustic Data and Occupant Surveysincluding annual BMS temperature monitoring data.Also provides credits for as-installed design features and facility management and policies.

These include;● HVAC maintenance, cleaning and hygiene to AIRAH DA19 HVAC&R Maintenance Guideline

(2009) is demonstrated via documentation● Minimum filtration for AHUs at F7 or MERV 13● Contaminant monitoring and recording at air intakes and associated alarms● Adjusting outdoor airflow rates to 50% greater than required in AS 1668.2 (2012)● Corrective action documentation regarding thermal comfort non-compliance with ASHRAE

55 (2013).● Comprehensive tuning and reporting as per AIRAH DA27 or D28 (or equivalent

commissioning standard).● Operation and maintenance information, and occupant and user information.

HVAC Industry SpecificsWELL Building Standard

AIR ConceptVentilation Design- All Typologies

Ventilation rates comply with all requirements set in ASHRAE 62.1-2013 (Ventilation Rate Procedure or IAQ Procedure).

Projects comply with all requirements set in any procedure in ASHRAE 62.1-2013 (including the Natural Ventilation Procedure) and demonstrate that ambient air quality within 1.6 km meets guidelines

Demand Controlled Ventilation – For min 45m2 and staff density – All Typologies

A demand controlled ventilation system regulates the ventilation rate of outdoor air to keep carbon dioxide levels in the space below 800 ppm.

System Balancing – Not core and shell

After substantial completion and prior to occupancy, the HVAC system undergoes testing andbalancing.

Filter Accommodation – All typologies

If recirculated air Rack space and fan capacity is in place for future carbon filters

The system is able to accommodate additional filters.

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HVAC Industry SpecificsWELL Building Standard

AIR ConceptParticle Filtration – All typologies

MERV 13 (or higher) media filters are used in the ventilation system to filter outdoor air.

Or, ambient monitoring to show outside air is within guidelines

Air Filtration Maintenance – All Typologies

Annual records of air filtration maintenance, including evidence that filters have been properly maintained as per the manufacturer's recommendations.

Coiling Coil Mould Reduction - All

Ultraviolet lamps (using a wavelength of 254 nm so as not to generate ozone) are employed on the cooling coils and drain pans of the mechanical system supplies

Or - Building policy states that all cooling coils are inspected on a quarterly basis for mould growth andcleaned if necessary.

Construction Duct Protection - All

All ducts sealed and protected from possible contamination during construction

Or - Vacuumed out prior to installing registers, grills and diffusers

Post Construction Filter Replacement - All

If filters in place during construction all filters are replaced prior to occupancy

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Rating Tool ComparisonData characteristicsType NABERS IE Green Star Performance WELL Building StandardOnce-off data collected for the site

air temperature air temperature air temperaturemean radiant temp.    relative humidity relative humidity relative humidityaverage air speed    PM10 particulates PM10 particulates PM10 & PM2.5 particulatescarbon dioxide carbon dioxide  carbon monoxide carbon monoxide carbon monoxide    ozoneformaldehyde   formaldehydetotal volatile organic compounds   total volatile organic compounds

average sound level excluding occupant noise

average sound level excluding occupant noise

average sound level excluding occupant noise

    Building envelope leakage testing

Continuous or regular data - 12 months

temperature data (hourly) for BMS sensors

temperature & humidity data collected at least monthly

Particle count, carbon dioxide, ozone (hourly)

    data displayed real-time for occupants;temperature, humidity and carbon dioxide

Documentation / Information / Policies

Occupant survey results Occupant survey results Post-occupancy survey results

  HVAC tuning and commissioning results

HVAC system balancing

  HVAC maintenance, cleaning and hygiene

HVAC maintenance, cleaning and hygiene[MORE]

Summary of strategies to address common themesParameter Compliance CriteriaCarbon Dioxide Maintained at 800ppm or less within occupied zone.

Effective outside air ventilation rates to the occupants must be at 50% above AS1668.2 (2012), typically 11.25 -15 L/s/person. This may be achieved with carbon dioxide (CO2) monitoring and control, appropriately located*

Annual temperature data from BMS

12 months. At least hourly. All floors monitored and recorded. Temperatures must satisfy ASHRAE 55 (2013) 90% acceptability limits: of 21-24.9ºC all year, during occupied hours.

Thermal Comfort Space temperature, mean radiant temperature, air speed and humidity must perform to ensure PMV remains at ± 0.5 during occupied times.

Ambient noise HVAC systems and external noise must remain less than 45dB within the indoor space, with higher rating scores achieved when <40dB.

PM10 particulates Must remain less than 23 µg/m3 within the indoor space, with higher rating scores achieved when < 7 µg/m3. HVAC filtration of F7 or MERV 13 or greater may be required to achieve high rating scores for particulates, in addition to regular inspections of HVAC hygiene and external influences.

Conclusions●The trend for increasing compliance with rating schemes is increasing

●HVAC Professionals influence a significant number of credits within these Indoor Environment Ratings – more influence / more responsibility?

●There are common strategies that can be employed that satisfies number of rating schemes

●Each rating scheme requires performance data collected onsite (may already exist)

Thank You