Hello,

I am doing an ASHRAE 90.1-2007 PRM analysis for a LEED 2009 CS project, credit EAc1. The baseline system is System 7 - VAV with Reheat.

Appendix G has the following requirements for System 7:
[cid:image003.jpg at 01CE36DF.AC800100]

In keeping with the above requirements, when the temperature is satisfied in any zone, I am supplying 0.4 cfm/ft2 at 59F (54F + 5F reset). This is causing many zones to be overcooled and, therefore, reheated. The result is that I have a significant amount of simultaneous heating and cooling in my baseline model. Section 6.5.2.1 states that reheating, recooling and simultaneous heating/cooling is not allowed unless the air volume is no greater than 0.4 cfm/ft2 (or the larger of 0.4 cfm/ft2, the ventilation requirement, 30% of max flow, etc.). Therefore, my baseline is allowed to overcool and reheat since it is running at 0.4 cfm/ft2.

My proposed model does not have this problem as it is allowed to go below 0.4 cfm/ft2 and it is allowed to reset by more than 5F. I am achieving unreasonably high savings as a result of this issue.

What I find interesting is that G3.1.3.13 has been revised for ASHRAE 90.1-2010 to the following:
[cid:image004.jpg at 01CE36DF.AC800100]

The minimum is no longer an absolute 0.4 cfm/ft2 but a relative 30% of zone peak air flow. In mild or heating dominated climates 30% of zone peak air flow can be much less than 0.4 cfm/ft2.

By changing the requirement for 90.1-2010 is this an acknowledgement by ASHRAE that the previous requirement could lead to an inefficient baseline model? Am I justified in exploiting it to achieve high savings?

Thank you!

Brian Tysoe M.A.Sc., P.Eng., LEED AP