The LEED® – Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design Certification – standard is a rating system for the designing, the construction and the management of environmentally friendly buildings and areas.
LEED® certification was born in the U.S. thanks to the efforts of U.S. Green Building Council and is now present and recognised internationally. The certification is divided into specific protocols developed for different types of works – new construction, existing buildings, homes, neighborhood – and it is based on a score attribution that shows the building’s degree of environmental sustainability.
According to the number of score points achieved during the inspection audits, there are four rating levels:
Certified (40-49 points))
Silver (50-59 points)
Gold(60-79 points)
Platinum(80-110 points)
LEED® assessment criteria require the presence of mandatory prescriptive prerequisites and of other non-compulsory environmental performances which together define the final score of the building. Credits are conferred according to the examination of the following categories:
n accordance with the LEED® protocol and in compliance with the American standards, ASACERT provides different services:
Feasibility study for a pre-inspection of the conformity between the performances expected by the client and the design project. LEED® Pre-assessment activity offered by ASACERT consists in a preliminary inspection of the environmental sustainability’s degree of the project, carried out by analyzing the design documents. This service allows to verify the project’s achievable rating level and the buildings compliance with compulsory Minimum Requirements for LEED® certification.
Processing of documentation for the LEED® Pre-certification. Pre-certification is a useful tool for owners who want to sell or rent their real estate. The service carried out during the design stage makes possible to promote the building with the LEED® brand even during the building construction phase
ASACERT guarantees the presence of a LEED AP – an USGBC certified professional – during all designing and construction stages, ensuring the project compliance with certification requirements and spreading LEED® knowledge to all the involved stakeholders. The LEED® AP role during designing or project review phase is to support the design team and to recommend essential strategies for the achievement of the desired rating level. Changes and adjustments will be responsibility of the design team. The LEED® AP verifies that the OPR (Owner’s Project Requirements) and the BOD (Basis of Design) would be prepared respectively by Owner/Customer and by the design team in compliance with LEED® Standards. During the construction stage the LEED® AP verifies the Construction Supervision activities and the right development of works, in accordance with the requirements of LEED® certification, and it organises the collection of documents, checking its contents and accuracy. The LEED® AP oversees and verifies the whole documentation needed for the Design and Construction Review.
LEED® process suggests a dynamic synergy of all professionals during different working stages, with a punctual management of credits in order to satisfy requirements and achieve the chosen certification level. ASACERT coordinates the certification process through a management of the commission focused on LEED® requisites and credits.
DESIGNING STAGE OR DESIGN REVIEW
To certification purposes ASACERT supports experts during the certification process, aiming to respect and optimise requirements. Thanks to technical meetings and informative moments of mentorship all the design team members are supported in the implementation of requisites and in the identification of the best practice of sustainability. The designing stage terminates with the Design Review.
CONSTRUCTION STAGE
ASACERT ensures support during construction stages regarding planning and control of activities for the LEED® certification acquisition, considering to carry out audits on site throughout the whole working period. The Construction Supervision is assisted in the documental archiving of the terminated work and in the continuous supervision the requirements established by the LEED® protocol. ASACERT also verified the documentation during the construction stages according to the certification provisions. The construction phase ends with the Construction Review and Project Award.
ASACERT helps customer to register the project online and supports the connection with USGBCI.
High Surveillance service is an inspection process that ensures buildings, related systems and sub-structures are correctly planned, designed, installed, tested, put into operation and managed in accordance with prearranged requirements. Commissioning is a modular activity and it changes according to required level and project stage. Following the general construction process of a building system, High Surveillance could be recap as follows:
DESIGN STAGE
Assessment and control of performance criteria and design data, writing of baseline notes, Commissioning Plan
BUILDING STAGE
Commissioning Plan final version, works monitoring and performance tests, writing of the Commissioning report
MANAGEMENT AND RETENTION STAGE
Review of the Operation & Maintenance Manual, development of the Performance Inspection Manual, re-examination and reporting of the training activities.
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