FAQ – Entryway Systems Requirements in LEED

Under LEED v4/4.1 BD+C, EQ credit Enhanced Indoor Air Quality Strategies has a requirement to install an entryway system, at all regularly used exterior entrances, that is three metres (ten feet) in length in the primary direction of travel. LEED Reviewers have noticed an increase in questions about entryway systems that can be addressed by this FAQ:

All projects

My building has an underground parking garage – do I need to have an entryway system in my parking level elevator lobby (that is, from the parking structure into the occupied building space)?
Yes, an entryway system is required for any building entryway attached to parking structures. As per the credit requirement, a complying entryway system is required at each “regularly used exterior entrance”. This term is defined in the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide and in the LEED glossary: “a frequently used means of gaining access to a building. Examples include the main building entrance as well as any building entryways attached to parking structures, underground parking garages, underground pathways, or outside spaces. Atypical entrances, emergency exits, atriums, connections between concourses, and interior spaces are not included.”

Our project design does not have enough space inside to include the full three metre entryway system at one of our regularly used exterior entrances – can the three metre entryway system be partially outside?
Yes, there is no requirement for entryway systems to be located completely indoors in LEED v4/4.1. It is acceptable for a complying entryway system to be located fully or partially outdoors, if it is continuous and three metres long in the direction of travel.

We believe we have a suitable alternative to the full three metre entryway system – how can this be approved?
Any justification for an alternative to the three metre entryway system requirement would need to be provided within your project’s LEED submission. The LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide, under Further Explanation, Selecting A Permanent Entryway System, outlines appropriate entryway systems. It also notes “Exceptions to the 10-foot (3-meter) distance are allowed if the team submits documentation verifying that the proposed entryway system performs at least as well as a full-length system. The selected product should be appropriate for the project’s climate. Areas with high precipitation, for example, may need to install more absorbent mats to prevent occupants from slipping.”

Our future tenants will complete the design of some of the regularly used exterior entrances. Can we meet the entryway requirement through lease agreements?
No, a lease agreement would generally not be sufficient, unless:

• a) the tenant(s) was already selected,
• b) the lease agreement was fully executed (and signed by both parties), and,
• c) that lease agreement contained binding clauses to indicate the location of the entryway systems and the forms they would take.

For further information, please see the Treatment of Incomplete Space.

Healthcare

The reference guide includes an additional requirement for LEED BD+C: Healthcare projects to have pressurized entryway vestibules at high-volume building entrances – what is a “high-volume building entrance”?
A “high volume building entrance” would typically be the main entrances of the building or another entrance with the highest volume of traffic.

What type of pressurized entryway vestibule is required for healthcare projects?
The reference guide does not stipulate any explicit design or monitoring requirements for the “pressurized entryway vestibule”; the specific implementation of the requirement is left to the design team.

Retail

My retail project has a loading dock – do I need to have an entryway system at this entrance?
For a loading docks, there is guidance within the reference guide under the Rating System Variations for warehouses, which is a similar situation. “For Option 1 Entryway Systems, exterior entrances to loading docks and garages are not required to have entryway systems. Regularly used entrances from these areas into adjacent spaces in the building (typically office areas of the building) must have entryway systems.” That is, the loading dock itself does not need an entryway system from the outdoors to the loading dock, but the entrance from the loading dock to adjacent spaces within your project would need to have the entryway system.

My project has exit vestibules which we do not consider as entrances, but customers can still use them as one. Can these vestibules be exempt?
As noted in the definition of “regularly used exterior entrances”, it includes any frequently used means of gaining access to the building. An exit that is only an emergency exit is exempted, but not one that can serve as a regularly used exterior entrance.

Residential

My residential project has private balconies – can these be excluded from the entryway system requirement?
Yes, as per Project Type Variations in the LEED v4 BD+C Reference Guide under this credit, “…the systems are required only at the ground level, for each residential entrance from the outdoors.”

My condo project has a few townhomes on the ground floor; can the entrance to each townhome be exempted from the entryway requirement?
No, each regularly used exterior entrance must have an entryway system. However, reach out to LEED Coach Canada with your project specific details; there may be a potential to utilize direction from LEED v4.1 Residential Multifamily for your unique project situation.