Streamlining to LEED v4/4.1 documentation process and reviews continues

Last month, an important change to the documentation and review process was highlighted for project teams using LEED v4/4.1 Building Design and Construction (BD+C) and LEED Interior Design and Construction (ID+C), to reflect market maturity. CAGBC and GBCI reviewers have noticed increased market confidence with the credit requirements, such that what was once a reach or unfamiliar to project teams becomes common knowledge to LEED practitioners. Given this, changes were put in place, including updates to several LEED Forms to streamline some of the documentation requests. Additionally, reviewers identified the most common pending issues that could easily be resolved by more clearly identifying documentation needs; this resulted in some Form updates to ensure project teams are alerted to critical compliance material to increase verification rates at preliminary reviews. You can read more about these changes and others that were made here.

CAGBC reviewers would like to share some of their favourite updates to ensure Canadian project teams do not miss these opportunities.

EQ credit Low Emitting Materials (v4/4.1 BD+C and ID+C):

A new LEED calculator is available for project teams for both v4 and v4.1. Project teams are encouraged to update to this revised calculator. The new columns provided in the calculator will help teams verify compliance for items that typically result in pending comments, such as testing/certification period and certification reporting organization. As always, project teams must list all materials in a category being pursued. Organizing and naming the supporting documentation files so that each product’s document clearly corresponds to the materials entered in the calculator is the catalyst to easily demonstrating credit achievement.

SS credit Heat Island Reduction (v4/4.1 BD+C):

Project teams may struggle to demonstrate the Solar Reflectance (SR) or Solar Reflectance Index (SRI) for their selected materials where appropriate manufacturer documentation does not exist. Similar to the allowance in LEED Interpretation 10411 for standard materials, equivalent “documentation for a similar material” can now be used by project teams. This change has been made to all LEED Forms for active projects.

EA credit Advanced Energy Metering (v4/4.1 BD+C and ID+C):

Reviewers have struggled to verify compliance with certain meter cutsheets and must request additional documentation for the final submission. To improve verification rates in preliminary reviews, the requirement for cutsheets has been replaced in the LEED Form with “Upload single line diagrams and provide panel schedules as necessary to verify compliance.” Additionally, all active LEED Forms reflect a revised table header to better describe what needs to be outlined for compliance.

EA credit Enhanced Refrigerant Management (v4/4.1 BD+C):

The credit is frequently pending to ensure all equipment from the drawing set has been identified. An updated LEED Form (V02 for v4 and V04 for v4.1) now requests the “HVAC&R Equipment Tag (per drawings)” to provide clarity, leading to more projects achieving the credit in the preliminary review.

EA credit Green Power and Carbon Offsets (v4 BD+C):

A revised LEED Form (V03) has cells to articulate a custom Greenhouse Gas Emission (GHG) factor and note the source, in alignment with the GHG emission metric used in EA credit Optimize Energy Performance under the LEED v4 2024 Energy Update.

EQ prerequisite Minimum Indoor Air Quality Performance (v4/4.1 BD+C and ID+C):

Far too often, this prerequisite is pending additional supporting documentation for verification. An edit made to the LEED Form (V02 for v4 and V03 in v4.1) was written to avoid common missing information. Changes were made to address design documents for PM2.5 filter and ozone air cleaners, accurate reporting of total ventilation areas when inconsistent with the gross floor area by more than ten percent (a very common issue), and check boxes to confirm the project meets exhaust requirements.

Where to find the updated Forms?

Some revised Forms are only available after Project Teams withdraw and re-attempt the credit (e.g., EA credit Enhanced Refrigerant Management, EA credit Green Power and Carbon Offsets, and EQ prerequisite IAQ Performance noted above). Alternatively, download a copy of the revised LEED Form from LEED Online’s sample credit form library.