The third public comment period will be open for 20 days, from Tuesday, August 17^th to Sunday, September 5^th, 2010 at 5:00 pm PT. 
Concurrent to the third public comment period, a 30 day consensus body opt-in period is now open {eligible voting members only…}

For more information see:

http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/LEEDDrafts/RatingSystemVersions.aspx?CMSPageID=1458

Changes made:

1. (EQ credit 2) Updated names of standards/guideline documents forming basis of credit
2. (EQ credit 2) Removed detailed list of ‘other facility noise sources’ presumably to make it more general and not be construed as limited or specific.
3. (EQ credit 2) Potential Technologies and Strategies was completely stricken out, not clear as to why, but this seems to have been done with much of the credits (I checked a few others).

Changes (related to acoustics) were also made to:

1.  SS 9.1 Connection to the Natural World: Places of Respite.
2. EQ 3.1 Environmental Quality Management Plan (EQMP): During Construction
3. ID Prerequisite 1 - Integrative Project Planning & Design (lists acoustical consultant as potential team member recommended to have)

These will be covered at another time.

Click on LEED for Healthcare 2009 3rd draft-acoustics portions for just acoustical portions of LEED for healthcare.

We will post background on these credits and what they mean in the coming weeks.  In general, the credits place requirements on room acoustics (acoustical finishes), privacy, sound isolation, background noise levels, construction noise levels, and exterior environment noise levels.

http://www.schoolconstructionnews.com/articles/2010/08/11/gaining-green-support

“the Board is proceeding with rulemaking to add scoping provisions to its ADA and ABA Accessibility Guidelines that would apply the ANSI/ASA standard to classrooms that are newly constructed or significantly renovated….” Cost information gathering to follow… then Public Comment period on proposed rule…

I recommend signing up to their rulemaking email list.

I also recommend reviewing the new Classroom Acoustics Standard available at http://asastore.aip.org/.

http://publicaa.ansi.org/sites/apdl/Documents/Standards%20Action/2010%20PDFs/SAV4103.pdf

Our firm is reviewing the document to then describe the key changes made.  Look for a post soon on this topic.  We welcome your comments and will post those relevant to the subject.

Excerpts:

Norm Phillipp…found that at each school at least one portable classroom was used for language instruction, students with special-needs, music instruction or for children younger than 8.

A survey of schools across the U.S. agreed, finding that 26 percent of modular classrooms are used as music rooms, 11 percent are used for early childhood programs, and 9 percent are used for language instruction. …these are exactly the wrong ways for portable classrooms to be used … “When I saw this, my jaw hit the floor,” Phillipp said. “These types of usages should never be in a modular classroom… Kids need a quieter environment than adults because they can’t hear as well…Learning a second language makes it even harder on the hearing. Students need the instructor’s voice turned up an extra 5 decibels against background noise — or the room to be 5 decibels quieter — to comprehend an unfamiliar language, estimated Peter D’Antonio…

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,575542,00.html

This FGI guideline paves the way for LEED for Healthcare as well. Per the powerpoint on the “click here” above (thanks to David Sykes et al)

Two “EQ” credits available for acoustics in:

• The LEED-based Green Guide for Healthcare V2.2 (1.31.07),
• the new LEED  for Healthcare (due out late 2009)

FGI’s Interim Sound and Vibration Guideline is the sole reference standard for these credits

 (Added comment from Joe Bridger- HIPAA privacy will likely look to these guides and the related research for its fines.)

(quoted from the ASA program for the Fall 2009 San Antonio meeting and confirmed by Noral Stewart who is participating in the current classroom acoustics standard discussions)

“The US Access Board has proposed to reference ANSI/ASA S12.60-2002 R-2009 in the 2012 International Building Code IBC, which will provide for local enforcement.  If this proposal is adopted, the Board will then update its 2004 ADA-ABA Accessibility Guidelines to harmonize with the IBC…”

This is part of an ongoing effort by the US Access Board to incorporate classroom acoustics into ADA rules.

The classroom acoustics standard is up for revision and is thus being reviewed to make it more suitable for use in the building code (IBC), and to address other concerns raised as it was put into practice over the last 7 years, including mobile classrooms, the outdoor to indoor noise isolation requirements, doors, windows, clarifying language on core learning spaces and discussing a proposal offered to lower the RT (reverberation time) requirement.

Comments are welcome and will be passed along to Noral Stewart who is participating in the working group.

1. (up to 1% of funds allocated to state) for administration including “creating voluntary guidelines for high-performing school buildings, including guidelines concerning … Indoor environmental quality, such as …acoustics.” (amongst other areas of sustainable building guidelines)
2. Measures designed to reduce or eliminate human exposure to classroom noise and environmental noise pollution
3. Improve teachers’ ability to teach and students’ ability to learn

In addition (for primary and secondary schools):

1. 50% of funds for 2010 and 75% of funds in 2011 must be used in green schools (defined next)
2. Green schools are LEED for schools, Energy Star, CHPS, Green Globes or equivalent program adopted by state.
3. $2,020,000,000 is appropriated for this use

In addition, “ADVISORY COUNCIL ON GREEN, HIGH-PERFORMING PUBLIC SCHOOL FACILITIES” will be set up, and it will:

1. Advise the Secretary of Education on the impact of green, high-performing schools, on teaching and learning, health, energy costs, environmental impact, and others as deemed appropriate.
2. Assist the Secretary of Education in making recommendations on Federal policies to increase the number of green, high-performing schools, identifying Federal policies that are barriers to helping States and local educational agencies make green, high-performing schools, providing technical assistance and outreach to States and local educational agencies, and other assistance as the deemed appropriate.

Community colleges get $2.5 billion in funds, but at least 50% must go towards green building construction.

http://www.knaufinsulation.us/products/commercial__industrial/air_handling_insulation/sonic_duct_liner_with_ecose.aspx

http://www.knaufinsulation.us/products/commercial__industrial/air_handling_insulation/rigid_plenum_liner_with_ecose.aspx

http://www.knaufinsulation.us/products/commercial__industrial/air_handling_insulation/insulation_board_with_ecose.aspx

http://www.knaufinsulation.us/ecose_technology/ecobatt®_glasswool.aspx    

We knew that Johns Manville had a low formaldehyde duct liner, and a formaldehyde free external duct wrap.  They also now have a formaldehyde free duct board.  So far they do not have it in duct liner.

http://www.specjm.com/commercial/insulation.asp

Their formaldehyde free duct board used to make ducts.

http://www.specjm.com/products/ductboard/enviroaire.asp

It is obvious then that duct liner is on the way.

(Thanks to Noral Stewart for getting the links together and our Kinetics Noise Control rep for making this information known to us)

…Heating, lighting, acoustic[s], air quality, cleanliness and dynamic architectural design were also included in the criteria as based on a study on health and productivity benefits of green schools released by the National Academy of Sciences….

(article http://www.icis.com/blogs/green-chemicals/2009/10/green-school-investment-is-rip.html )