08. Shared Space - Daylighting Access

Provide access to natural daylight

Rationale: Implementing design strategies, such as high-visible light transmittance and optimal window-to-wall ratios, increases access to natural daylight, which supports circadian rhythm regulation — contributing to wide-ranging health benefits including improved sleep quality, a strengthened immune system, and lower stress levels.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Window-to-Wall Ratio (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all of the following requirements:

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Ensure that all windows within all regularly occupied common spaces in the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common spaces must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events. Spaces include resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.
2. Provide a minimum window-to-wall ratio of 35% on all floors with common spaces within the project.

Option 2 - Natural Daylight Simulation Score (Full Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by meeting all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Ensure an average sDA300,50% is achieved for a minimum of 60% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common spaces must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events. Spaces include resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.

Option 3 - Natural Daylight Calculation (Full Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by demonstrating compliance with the following:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Ensure that all windows within all regularly occupied common spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common spaces must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events. Spaces include resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.

2. Ensure that 60% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common spaces within the project includes access to natural daylight.

   Dwelling units and spaces accessible to employees-only in addition to areas that require darkness or controlled light — such as a movie theater, theater, spa, or massage room — may be excluded from the calculation.

   Note that all qualifying regularly occupied spaces outlined above must be included in the daylight calculation.

   Qualifying Calculation:

   To calculate the total percentage of access to daylight across all regularly occupied common space(s) follow the steps below and input the required values in the tables on the calculation tab to apply the following formula [((A + B) / C) x 100)]:

   Step 1, determine C: establish the total area of regularly occupied common space(s).
   Step 2, determine A and B: establish the area with access to daylight, using the windows located in the regularly occupied common space identified for C in Step 1 by applying the following:
   – (i) to determine A, identify each window with access to daylight for north and south façades and input the required values in the table for each identical window with access to daylight to apply the following formula: North and South façades Area with Access to Daylight = [(Window(s) Head Height x 1.5) x (Window(s) Width + 2 feet from the right side of the window(s) + 2 feet from the left side of the window(s))]. 
   – (ii) to determine B, identify each window with access to daylight for east and west façades and input the required values in the table for each identical window with access to daylight to apply the following formula: East and West façades Area with Access to Daylight = [(Window(s) Head Height) x (Window(s) Width)]. 
   – (iii) repeat steps (i) and (ii) on each unique window type within the space. 
   – (iv) determine A and B by adding the results calculated from Step (i) and (ii).
   Step 3, determine the percentage: to determine the percentage of the regularly occupied common space(s) with access natural daylight, apply the formula [((A + B) / C) x 100)].
   Step 4, repeat steps 1 through 3 for each regularly occupied common space within the project.

   Permanent furniture partitions or other permanent features that measure above 42 inches or 106 centimeters are considered obstructions of natural daylight. Areas behind these obstructions should not be included in the daylit area. Window head height is the height of the window measured from the finished floor level to the top of the window frame.

   If there are spaces behind walls and obstructions: Subtract those areas behind obstructions from the total area with access to daylight (A+B). These obstructed areas include spaces behind partitions 42 inches or higher as well as enclosed rooms. The final formula would appear like this: ((A+B) - area behind obstructions) / C

Option 4 - Natural Daylight Calculation 51% (Partial Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by demonstrating compliance with the following:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Ensure that all windows within all regularly occupied common spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common spaces must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events. Spaces include resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.

2. Ensure that 51% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common spaces within the project includes access to natural daylight.

   Dwelling units and spaces accessible to employees-only in addition to areas that require darkness or controlled light — such as a movie theater, theater, spa, or massage room — may be excluded from the calculation.

   Note that all qualifying regularly occupied spaces outlined above must be included in the daylight calculation.

   Qualifying Calculation:

   To calculate the total percentage of access to daylight across all regularly occupied common space(s) follow the steps below and input the required values in the tables on the calculation tab to apply the following formula [((A + B) / C) x 100)]:

   Step 1, determine C: establish the total area of regularly occupied common space(s).
   Step 2, determine A and B: establish the area with access to daylight, using the windows located in the regularly occupied common space identified for C in Step 1 by applying the following:
   – (i) to determine A, identify each window with access to daylight for north and south façades and input the required values in the table for each identical window with access to daylight to apply the following formula: North and South façades Area with Access to Daylight = [(Window(s) Head Height x 1.5) x (Window(s) Width + 2 feet from the right side of the window(s) + 2 feet from the left side of the window(s))]. 
   – (ii) to determine B, identify each window with access to daylight for east and west façades and input the required values in the table for each identical window with access to daylight to apply the following formula: East and West façades Area with Access to Daylight = [(Window(s) Head Height) x (Window(s) Width)]. 
   – (iii) repeat steps (i) and (ii) on each unique window type within the space. 
   – (iv) determine A and B by adding the results calculated from Step (i) and (ii).
   Step 3, determine the percentage: to determine the percentage of the regularly occupied common space(s) with access natural daylight, apply the formula [((A + B) / C) x 100)].
   Step 4, repeat steps 1 through 3 for each regularly occupied common space within the project.

   Permanent furniture partitions or other permanent features that measure above 42 inches or 106 centimeters are considered obstructions of natural daylight. Areas behind these obstructions should not be included in the daylit area. Window head height is the height of the window measured from the finished floor level to the top of the window frame.

   If there are spaces behind walls and obstructions: Subtract those areas behind obstructions from the total area with access to daylight (A+B). These obstructed areas include spaces behind partitions 42 inches or higher as well as enclosed rooms. The final formula would appear like this: ((A+B) - area behind obstructions) / C

Option 5 - Natural Daylight Simulation Score 51% (Partial Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by meeting all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Ensure an average sDA300,50% is achieved for a minimum of 51% of the floor area across all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.

   Qualifying regularly occupied common spaces must include but are not limited to the following:

   • Common spaces: which include spaces where building occupants gather for social events. Spaces include resident lounges, common kitchen facilities, multipurpose rooms, and game rooms.
   • Common building amenities: which include resource centers, fitness facilities, and exercise rooms.

Option 6 - Equivalent Standard (Full Credit):

Provide access to natural daylight by meeting all of the following requirements:    

Low-Rise Residential with shared interior spaces (LR+)

1. Achieve credit for one of the following equivalent credits on a current and valid certification for the project:
   • LEED v4 BD+C: Daylight, Option 2 OR Option 3.
   • LEED v4.1 BD+C EQ Credit: Daylight, Option 2 OR Option 3.

Compliance Documentation

Design Pathway (LR+)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all regularly occupied spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.        
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings showing all regularly occupied spaces within the project. 
  • Upload glazing specifications showing the VLT level of the windows.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload annotated design drawings or plans for each group of typical buildings with common areas, indicating the window-to-wall ratio for each floor that includes common spaces.        

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload annotated computer simulation calculations showing the sDA range of all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.        

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all regularly occupied common spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.        
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings showing all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.       
  • Upload glazing specifications showing the VLT level of the windows.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that 60% of all regularly occupied spaces within the project will include access to natural daylight.       
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings detailing the areas with natural daylight across all regularly occupied spaces within the project.       
  • Upload the qualifying calculation detailing the planned percentage of daylit area within the project using the required formulas.        

Option 4: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all regularly occupied spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.        
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings showing all regularly occupied spaces within the project.
  • Upload glazing specifications showing the VLT level of the windows.       
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that 51% of all regularly occupied spaces within the project will include access to natural daylight.       
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings detailing the areas with natural daylight across all regularly occupied spaces within the project.       
  • Upload the qualifying calculation detailing the planned percentage of daylit area within the project using the required formula.        

Option 5: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload annotated computer simulation calculations showing the sDA range of all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.        

Option 6: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload the official report of the qualifying equivalent credit showing:
    • a current, valid certification for the project
    • the project's address
    • the rating system and version
    • proof of award of the equivalent credit.  

Built Pathway (LR+)

Option 1: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all regularly occupied spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.       
  • Upload an annotated plan(s) or design drawings showing all regularly occupied spaces within the project.
  • Upload glazing specifications showing the VLT level of the windows.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Upload annotated design drawings, plans, or photographs for each group of typical buildings with common areas, indicating the window-to-wall ratio for each floor that includes common spaces.       
  • Upload a calculation demonstrating that a minimum window-to-wall ratio of 35% is met for each floor that includes common spaces within the project.        

Option 2: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload annotated computer simulation calculations showing the sDA range of all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.        

Option 3: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all regularly occupied common spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.       
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photograph(s) showing all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.      
  • Upload glazing specifications showing the VLT level of the windows.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that 60% of all regularly occupied spaces within the project includes access to natural daylight. 
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photographs detailing the areas with natural daylight across all regularly occupied spaces within the project.       
  • Upload the qualifying calculation detailing the percentage of daylit area within the project using the required formulas.        

Option 4: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Checkbox to certify that all windows within all regularly occupied spaces within the project can exceed a Visible Light Transmittance (VLT) of 40%.       
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photographs showing all regularly occupied spaces within the project.                       
  • Upload glazing specifications showing the VLT level of the windows.      
• Requirement 2:
  • Checkbox to certify that 51% of all regularly occupied spaces within the project includes access to natural daylight.      
  • Upload an annotated plan(s), design drawings, or photographs detailing the areas with natural daylight across all regularly occupied spaces within the project.       
  • Upload the qualifying calculation detailing the percentage of daylit area within the project using the required formula.        

Option 5: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload annotated computer simulation calculations showing the sDA range of all regularly occupied common spaces within the project.        

Option 6: 

• Requirement 1:
  • Upload the official report of the qualifying equivalent credit showing:
    • a current, valid certification for the project
    • the project's address
    • the rating system and version
    • proof of award of the equivalent credit.