Users can generate supporting documentation for the USGBC LEED v4.0 - IEQ: Quality Views credits using cove.tool's Views 3D Analysis.
Before we begin
Download the Daylight and Quality Views Calculator from USGBC. The forms are available for both LEED v4.1 and LEED v4.0 versions of the credit.
cove.tool does not generate a compiled single-form document, rather users can use the analysis from the app to complete LEED forms manually and attach supporting documentation generated in the 3D Analysis Page.
To ensure the simulation ran with the cove.tool's Quality Views Analysis meets the credit requirements users must comply with the following guidelines:
Users must distinguish between regularly occupied floor-area and non-regularly occupied floor-area. The section titled Geometry Requirements goes more into this point.
Achieve a direct line of sight to the outdoors via vision glazing for 75% of all regularly occupied floor area.
View glazing in the contributing area must provide a clear image of the exterior, not obstructed by frits, fibers, patterned glazing, or added tints that distort color balance.
Any permanent interior obstructions must be included as shading devices or interior walls to be included in the final calculations
May exclude movable furniture and partitions.
According to LEED, the typical seated height is 42 inches above the floor, so walls below that height may be excluded as they will not obstruct any direct lines of sight.
Additionally, 75% of all regularly occupied floor areas must have at least two of the three available view types in cove.tool
Meeting these requirements, users will sufficiently have set up an accurate simulation to generate the results needed to complete the credit documentation. More on documentation in the next section.
Geometry Requirements
Before uploading geometry to cove.tool, users must distinguish between regularly occupied floor areas and non-regularly occupied floor areas. According to the LEED BD+C v4.0 Handbook regularly occupied and non-regularly occupied spaces are determined by the duration of the occupancy. Regularly occupied spaces are enclosed areas where people normally spend time, defined as more than one hour of continuous occupancy per person per day, on average. After exporting geometry into cove.tool, users can take their model to the drawing tool by following the steps in this help article to specify if the rooms are occupied or unoccupied.
Written Tutorial for Documentation
Step 1 - Run 3D Analysis
After uploading your building geometry, run the quality views analysis in cove.tool. As the analysis is completed, levels will load one by one with their % performance. If the percentages do not load up, try refreshing your browser page. Before hitting the "Calculate" button, ensure your building is correctly placed and loaded (tutorial).
Step 2 - In the Calculator, Identify each Space ID
Begin by setting your LEED calculator to IP units. In the Quality Views tab of the excel sheet, start listing the regularly occupied spaces in the building. Details of the Space ID, Space Description, and Total Regularly Occupied Area (sqft) should be sourced from the project drawings.
Step 3 - Calculate Area with Direct Line of Sight to Vision Glazing
Users can collect information about Area with Direct Line of Sight to the Outdoors via Vision Glazing from their model, based on layout and access to views. Detailed steps are outlined in the LEED Reference Guide. With this complete the 5th column on the Quality Views Calculator.
Step 4 - Select View Types
Each level in the building geometry is analyzed by cove.tool for 4 quality view assessments:
Total Quality Views: Total percentage of floor area that has at least two of the following three kinds of views.
Type 1 - 90° Sight Lines: Multiple lines of sight to vision glazing in different directions at least 90 degrees apart
Type 2 - Sky and Context: Views that include at least view to the sky and objects at least 25 feet (7.5 meters) from the exterior of glazing
Type 3 - Unobstructed View: Unobstructed views located within a distance of three times head height of vision glazing
The overall result for the analysis is shown in the top right-hand corner. If the building has more than 75% Quality Views, in each category, the LEED result says Pass otherwise it shows Fail. This can be viewed for each of the view types separately. Using this information, a similar result can be generated for each floor level. Next to the floors on the right, a percentage value is displayed for that view type. Users can turn on one floor at a time to record the percentage value and save an image using the camera tool (in the top left corner).
Step 5 - Enter data for each floor level
Check the percentage values, for each level of the building, in each of the view type categories. If the number is higher than 75% then that floor level passes the requirement for that view type. Thus, that view type can be selected in the LEED Calculator's drop-down menu under View Types. LEED requires that each space achieve at least two out of the four view types to get the credit.
Step 6 - Compile Documentation
Export 2D maps for each level using the snapshot feature. Make sure visibility for all 3D elements is toggled off, using the "Element Selection" icons, before taking the screenshot. Finally, compile all of your snapshots into a single report along with the Views calculator and narrative. With this method, users will have used the analysis.tool's Views analysis to document for LEED certification. As of 11/20/2021, we have had a team earn points for this credit using our tool.
Happy Modeling!