The next version of LEED, LEED v5, is planned for release in 2025. The draft for Operations and Maintenance: Existing Buildings was released in September 2023. Within this draft, possible fire-rated glazing contributions include the following categories:

• Energy and Atmosphere
• Minimum Energy Performance (Prerequisite)
• Energy Performance and Commissioning (14 possible points)
• Occupant Satisfaction Survey (5 possible points)
• Fire-rated glass aids in minimizing solar heat gain and reducing the load on HVAC systems, increasing building energy efficiency.

The WELL Building Standard is an evidence-based system for measuring, certifying, and monitoring the performance of building features that impact health and well-being. It is also the world’s first building standard focused exclusively on human health and wellness. The standard is divided into 10 concepts: Air, Water, Nourishment, Light, Movement, Thermal Comfort, Sound, Materials (specifically deals with material transparency), Mind, and Community.

WELL v2 contributions:

• Concept: Light
• Concept: Thermal Comfort
• Precondition: Thermal Performance
• Concept: Sound
• Concept: Materials
• Optimization: Materials Transparency
• Concept: Materials
• Optimization: Materials Optimization

The latest advances in fire-resistive glazing can satisfy the needs of a shifting market. Vitally, they also meet the demanding standards of today’s market, both in life safety requirements and occupant desires for design. New fire-resistive glazing technology enables these benefits without compromising occupant safety. Health, safety, and welfare remain a fundamental aspect of building design practices. Incorporating fire-rated glass products provides creative design options while adhering to current model building codes. Today’s fire-rated glass seamlessly integrates safety and sustainability, enhancing environmental performance and occupant well-being.

END NOTES

¹ “Construction Glass Sales are increasing at 7% CAGR amid Rising Focus on Sustainable Living: Fact.MR.” Fact.MR. PR Newswire®. August 23, 2021. . Retrieved April 17, 2024.
² Ibid.
³ Fox, Daniel. “New Glass Shatters Old Perceptions.” AIA New York. October 30, 2007. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
⁴ “How is glass recycled?” The Waste and Resources Action Programme. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
⁵ “How glass can contribute to more energy efficient buildings.” Guardian Glass. 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
⁶ Hayter, Sheila J. and Paul A. Torcellini. “A Case Study of the Energy Design Process Used for A Retail Application.” NREL/CP-550-28129. August 2000. Retrieved April 17, 2024.
⁷ Abdol R. Chini, Brisbane H. Brown, and Eric G. Drummond, “Causes of the Construction Skilled Labor Shortage and Proposed Solutions”, Associated Schools of Construction Proceedings of the Annual Conference, (April 1999): 187-196.
⁸ Hughes, Sarah Bratton. “New Labor Norms: A Case Study in Construction”. American Century Investments. May 4, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
⁹ Associated General Contractors of America, “Seventy Percent of Contractors Have a Hard Time Finding Qualified Craft Workers to Hire Amid Growing Construction Demand, National Survey Finds”, August 29, 2017.
^10,11 “Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half a Million in 2023, Says ABC”. News Release. Associated Builders and Contractors. February 3, 2023. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
¹² “With Labor Shortages in Construction, Organizations Must Evaluate Upskillng and Reskilling Options”. Anser Advisory. January 19, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
¹³ “Bridging the labor mismatch in US construction”. McKinsey & Company. March 28, 2022. Retrieved April 18, 2024.
¹⁴ “ABC: 2024 Construction Workforce Shortage Tops Half a Million”. Associated Builders and Contractors. January 31, 2024. Retrieved May 1, 2024.
¹⁵ “Understanding America’s Labor Shortage: The Most Impacted States”. U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Retrieved April 2, 2024.
¹⁶ “Towards zero-carbon building”. Thought Leadership. Climate 2020. World Green Building Council. Accessed June 14, 2023.

Amanda Voss, MPP, is an author, editor, and policy analyst. Writing for multiple publications, she has also served as the managing editor for Energy Design Update.