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veriDART® by SafeTraces LEED Summary

September 9, 2022

LEED/USGBC

The U.S. Green Building Council’s (USGBC) LEED rating system helps buildings to focus on efficiency and leadership to deliver the triple bottom line returns of people, planet, and profit. Today’s version of LEED, LEED v4.0/v4.1, raises the bar on building standards to address energy efficiency, water conservation, site selection, material selection, day lighting, indoor environmental quality, and waste reduction. LEED is the world’s leading green building project and performance management system, delivering a comprehensive framework for green building design, construction, operations, and performance.

LEED Pilot Credit Detail

Pilot Credit Name: Testing and Verifying Performance of Ventilation and Filtration Controls for Reducing Occupational Exposures to Airborne Infectious Aerosols.

Pilot Credit Intent: To test and verify effective ventilation and filtration performance for mitigating
occupational exposures to airborne infectious aerosols in buildings

Pilot Credit Detail: Meets requirements for LEED O+M v4.0/v4.1 initial or LEED v4.0/v4.1 recertification projects. Projects may be awarded up to 1 innovation pilot point for the rating system by verifying the performance of ventilation and filtration controls for reducing airborne infectious aerosol exposures using and independent science-based methodology.

Testing Methodology: The test methodology leverages DNA-tagged aerosol tracers that safety simulate emissions of respiratory aerosols and pump-based air samplers that safely simulate airborne exposures to respiratory aerosols in buildings.

  • Survey Test-Key objectives are to identify airflow patterns and potential infection hotspots through simulated respiratory emissions and exposures in buildings. The performance standard is to achieve 99.9% reductions in DNA concentration levels at > 80% of sample points during a 30-minute time interval in tested areas.
  • Dilution Test-Key objective are to verify ventilation and filtration efficacy through simulated
    respiratory emissions and exposures in high-risk areas defined by the CDC (Enclosed Spaces; Spaces with prolonged exposure; Spaces with Multiple Occupants). The performance standard is to achieve 99.9% reductions in DNA concentration levels within a 30-minute time interval in tested areas.
  • Documentation/Compliance-Description of ventilation and filtration controls, including filtration level (MERV-level and portable filtration), average outside air percentage, flushing, DCV, and ERV. Independent assessment of ventilation and filtration performance using DNA-tagged aerosol tracers.

Deliverables for USGBC/GBCI Review: SafeTraces will provide a final testing report and any required sample documentation for the Pilot Credit review to LEED Online.