Chapter 11 & Chapter 13 Clarification: 2020 NGBS Remodeling & Commercial Spaces
Published Wednesday, March 20, 2024
Verifiers working on existing mixed-use buildings, where there is no planned renovation to the existing commercial space(s) have asked if Home Innovation allows certification of the entire building, not just the residential portion of the building. The answer is yes, there is a path for certification of the whole building as discussed below.
The 2020 NGBS allows the certification of mixed-use existing buildings if the residential portion is greater than 50% of the gross floor area of the building. Building owners have three compliance choices. First, the residential portion can earn certification at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald levels using NGBS Chapter 11 conformance criteria. Second, the whole building can earn dual certification by demonstrating the residential portion complies with Chapter 11 (Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald ) and the commercial portion complies with Chapter 13 (Certified level.)1 Third, the whole building can be certified at the Bronze, Silver, Gold, or Emerald levels using NGBS Chapter 11 conformance criteria, provided that the residential portion meets the Chapter 11 for lot design, resource efficiency, indoor environmental quality, and building operation and maintenance and the entire building achieves the Chapter 11 performance criteria for energy and water savings consumption. Existing buildings cannot earn a whole building certification using the third approach by merely verifying compliance with the Chapter 13 Core-and-Shell requirements if the space has already been built out and there are operating tenant(s) in the commercial space.
Download the Detailed Clarification
1 Commercial spaces have an additional choice of earning Core-and-Shell certification or Fully Fitted Out and Equipped, as desired by the building owner and/or commercial tenants.