Big Green: Lines of Sight in LEED

[Brenda V. Morawa]

LEED 2009 does not include any significant credit changes but rather
re-weighting of the existing credit and alignment of credits among different
rating systems.

(not speaking on behalf of the USGBC on this!)

Brenda V. Morawa, PE LEED AP QCxP
Co-Vice-Chair, USGBC LEED Certification Committee

404.806.2018  EXT 101
404.210.6593 (cell)

-----Original Message-----
From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org
[mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of James A. Wise
Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 2:25 PM
To: Ralph Bicknese
Cc: kschell at TheBCGroup.com; biggreen at lists.biggreen.org
Subject: Re: Big Green: Lines of Sight in LEED

Ralph,

Many thanks for taking time out of your busy life to look this up.   
If 42" is the max ht allowed, then it would be below seated eye  
height of most occupants, and that's good.  However, I still fail to  
see that via this 'jamb' technique any 'minimum' horizontal angle of  
view is hereby guaranteed for the occupants, and that's my source of  
greatest concern. I don't know why the LEED credit just doesn't call  
out for a minimal angular isovist from a 5th percentile seated eye  
height position over some specified percentage of floorspace. The  
simple techniques for determining this have been around since the  
early 70's.  I was really hoping to see a more significant  
advancement in this (and some other IEQ credits) in the LEED 2009 draft.

Jim



On Jul 22, 2008, at 10:38 AM, Ralph Bicknese wrote:

> Krysta:
>
> The LEED reference manual shows and example of how line of sight is  
> derived
> using the graphic method.  It is best to see the example but in  
> short the
> angle of vision is from edge of left window jamb and right window  
> jamb. It
> takes some practice but is pretty easy to determine. The view can pass
> through interior borrow lights but then the effect of those jambs  
> have to be
> figured as well. Horizontal obstructions (cubicles) have to be 42"  
> max high.
> Higher than that and they are considered blocking the views.
>
> Cheers,
> Ralph
>
> Ralph Bicknese, AIA, LEED AP
> hellmuth + bicknese architects
> 7211 manchester rd.
> st. louis, mo 63143
> t: 314.531.9901
> f: 314.531.9902
> c: 314.265.0517
> www.rbicknese at hellmuth-bicknese.com
> www.hellmuthbicknese.com
>
> h+b is a member of the US Green Building Council and the American  
> Institute
> of Architects
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org
> [mailto:biggreen-bounces at lists.biggreen.org] On Behalf Of James A.  
> Wise
> Sent: Tuesday, July 22, 2008 11:46 AM
> To: biggreen at lists.biggreen.org
> Cc: kschell at TheBCGroup.com
> Subject: Big Green: Lines of Sight in LEED
>
> Krysta,
>
> This is one of those instances where a LEED credit is terribly
> nonspecific, and could be worded much better.  The intent here is a
> connection between occupants and the outdoors and the introduction of
> views and daylight to regularly occupied spaces. Since daylighting is
> much more specified in 8.1, you'd think that a minimum angle of view
> would be specified here, but it isn't.
>
> Apparently, one can get the credit if a direct line of sight can be
> drawn from the outdoors to any eyepoint within 2.5 -7.5 ft above
> finished floor in 90% of regularly occupied spaces.  This is sort of
> silly.  You could have an office floor completely enclosed with
> cubicles of 6' ht with no 'views out' except over the tops of the
> cubicle wall when an occupant stands up, and still get the credit.
> This is hardly 'connecting' to the outdoors.  There is an incredible
> amount of research going back at least 40 years on 'views' out of
> interior spaces, and what's restorative and emotively connective for
> occupants,  yet none of this knowledge is reflected in the credit.
> I'm generally in support of the changes I see being made in LEED
> 2009, but I believe much more could have been done here (and in LEED
> as a whole)  if the intent was really to ensure that 'green
> buildings' have a high interior environmental quality that produces
> occupant benefits.
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Jim W.
>
> James A. Wise, Ph.D.
> Mid-Columbia Sustainable Business Network
>
>
>
>>
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Mon, 21 Jul 2008 15:01:53 -0400
>> From: "Krysta Schell" <kschell at TheBCGroup.com>
>> Subject: Big Green: Sight Lines EA CR 8.2
>> To: <biggreen at lists.biggreen.org>
>>
>> Confused about line of sight in LEED-NC EA Credit 8.2.  How do you
>> determine line of sight on a floorplan?  Is it just an arbitrary line
>> that you draw or should there be some special angle or something?
>> Thanks for your help.
>>
>>
>>
>> Krysta
>>
>>
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_______________________________________________________________
This green building dialogue is provided as a public service 
by Drew George, along with Environmental Building News 
http://www.buildinggreen.com. For instructions see
http://www.biggreen.org/discussion.html
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