SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
Asset Classes
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Offices
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- Not applicable
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Enclosed Shopping Centres
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- Not applicable
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Open Air Retail
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- Not applicable
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- Not applicable
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Light Industrial
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- Not applicable
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Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
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- Not applicable
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- Not applicable
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Health Care Facilities
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- Not applicable
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- Not applicable
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Universal
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- Not applicable
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Focus Area
Accessibility and Wellness
Topic
Comfort, Views and Acoustics
Question #
A2.2 – Relative Humidity
Question
Is Relative Humidity (RH) maintained according to ASHRAE 55?
Applicability
All asset classes
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building
Answer & Scoring
- Yes = 2 points
- No = 0 points
- Not applicable – Tenant occupied building: No systems managed by the owner/landlord OR Humidification systems were considered but deemed not necessary = 0/0
Max of 2 points
Requirements
- Demonstrate ASHRAE 55 is maintained at the building
Documentation
- BAS logs or equivalent Documentation showing humidity set point
Suggested Lead
In-house
Value
- Keep relative humidity (RH) at a building within the recommended range to maintain occupant comfort
- If the relative humidity is too high, occupants may feel uncomfortable, and the building may suffer with condensation issues which can lead to mold developing in building materials
- If the relative humidity is too low, the air will feel dry leading to general occupant discomfort and an increased risk of viral transmission
Description
Maintaining relative humidity in the proper range can prevent occupant complaints and condensation issues on building finishes. High relative humidity can cause discomfort and can also Suggested Lead to condensation and mold growth within buildings. Low relative humidity causes dryness and is a common indoor air quality complaint during winter months.
As per ASHRAE’s Epidemic Task Force, Building Readiness Guide, maintaining the space relative humidity between 40% and 60% decreases the bioburden of infectious particles in the space and decreases the infectivity of many viruses in the air. Some regions recommend humidity levels are maintained between 30% to 50%.
References
Adapted BB 3.0 Question
New in BOMA BEST 4.0