[BLDG-SIM] Two-part Appendix G Question regarding locker room facilities

["Michael Tillou" <michael.tillou@xxxxxxxxx>]

 

I am looking for some un-official opinions on an interpretation of Appendix  G .  

 

I am modeling a university stadium facility and the as-designed systems serving the locker room areas are constant volume reheat with heat recovery.  The intent is that these systems will run continuously for moisture and odor control.

 

Problem #1 :  Based on the CFA, # of FLRs, and HT Type the baseline system is System 7 VAV with Reheat.  However G3.1.2.5 states that the minimum ventilation would need to match the as-designed systems which in this case would be 100% design airflow.  Does the baseline in this case become constant volume because I have to maintain the same ventilation in both models?   Or does minimum outside air ventilation refer to whatever is required by individual State code regardless of the as-designed case?   

 

My opinion is that the decision to use 100% constant volume outside air is a design decision rather than a code/standard mandatory requirement.   In this case minimum ventilation for locker rooms is 0.5 cfm/sq.ft dedicated exhaust.   The additional energy associated with providing constant 100% OA greater than 0.5 CFM/sq.ft. should not be included in the Appendix G baseline,  but rather the baseline should meet the minimum ventilation requirements of the local state code.     

 

 

Problem #2: How do I resolve the fact that the system will be operated continuously even though the space isn't occupied? Appendix G says systems shall run continuously during occupied periods and intermittently during unoccupied periods.   The locker rooms have low occupancy and therefore if I only model the systems operating during occupied periods the annual building energy cost will be significantly lower than reality and the aggregate effect of other energy efficiency measures will be much greater (ie: the % cost savings for LEED will be much higher ) because the locker rooms only account for 20% of the total conditioned floor area but 40-50% of total energy cost).  

 

Again I am going to argue that operating the systems continuously is a design decision and not a code/standard regulated requirement.  The additional energy associated with continuously operating the systems should be considered "process" energy and included in the baseline. 

 

What does everyone think? 

 

Thanks in advance for your comments.

 

 

Michael Tillou, PE, LEED

Tillou Engineering, LLC

Williamstown, MA 01267

P: 413-458-9870 C: 413-652-1087

 

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