ASHRAE Journal - August 2013 - 33

Technical FeaT
FeaTure

In fact, the CxA should join the project team even before the
Table 1 Space utilization table.
design team is selected. That way, the CxA can help the owner
Space
Size Number of Number
elecTrical plug
HourS
Type
(fT 2) occupaNTS
of pcS
requiremeNTS
occupied
prepare the OPR document, and can also help the owner
office
select the design team.
120
1
2
Printer 7:00 – 17:00
(Typical)
Another reason the owner needs an experienced CxA is
opeN cubeS,
Printer, Task 7:00 – 17:00
because architects and designers may try to talk the owner
8,500
75
100
1ST floor
Lighting
out of the need to create an OPR document in the first
opeN cubeS,
Printer, Task 7:00 – 17:00
10,000
85
100
place. The problem is that architects too often confuse the
2Nd floor
Lighting
OPR document with the pre-design programming work
opeN cubeS,
Printer, Task 7:00 – 17:00
6,000
55
100
3rd floor
Lighting
they do at the outset of every project. I’ve heard designers
coNfereNce
say, “We don’t need to produce any additional documents;
Printer, Task 12:00 – 16:00
room
250
12
12
Lighting
we’ve already worked with the owner to understand how to
(Typical)
configure the building, use the space effectively, and meet
large
Large-Screen LED
coNfereNce
all code requirements.”
750
50
50 Flat-Panel TV, LCD 7:00 – 17:00
room, 3rd
Projector, Small
floor
Refrigerator
It’s a fact: The OPR and the architect’s program of work
are different documents. For example, unless the OPR and
reSTroom
Electric Razor, 7:00 – 17:00
125
4
0
(Typical)
Hair Dryer
BOD documents are prepared before design work begins,
the design process can be well advanced before the owner Based on unpublished NEBB Standard Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) Guideline, p. 8.
realizes the project no longer meets stated expectations.
Table 2 Outdoor design criteria.
And, the later changes are made in the design phase, the
deSigN coNSideraTioN
SpecificaTioNS
more expensive they become.
What’s even more stressful and expensive for everyone
a. Elevation
837 ft
involved is when changes must be made during construcb. Heating Dry-Bulb Temperature
–13.4°F
tion, and completed work has to be redone. The result is
c. Cooling Dry-Bulb Temperature
91°F
almost always a strained relationship between the designd. Design Wet-Bulb Temperature
73.5°F
ers, the builders, the subcontractors, and the owner.
e. Design Dew-Point Temperature

Creating the Document
To help prevent such problems from occurring, the process of developing the OPR document involves assembling
a complete and detailed list of the features, requirements,
and expectations the owner feels are essential to the project’s success. The list must then be carefully itemized and
categorized so the design team will have a clear understanding of owner expectations.
Executive Summary. The first content section of the OPR
document should be a high-level overview that describes
the range of project objectives that the owner says must
be achieved. For example, a thorough executive summary
should state that the building must:
• Fulfill the occupants’ needs to perform their daily mission with an industry-standard amount of space available
for all functions.
• Provide both ease of access and complete occupant security.
• Meet or exceed ASHRAE/IES Standard 90.1 and local/
state energy code requirements.

73.5°F

f. Mean Dry-Bulb Temp at Design Dew-Point Temperature

83.5°F

g. Humidity Ratio at Design Dew Point

121

h. Maximum Infiltration Wind Speed

15 mph

i. Maximum Building Leakage Rate at 50 Pascals

0.2 cfm/ft2

Outdoor design conditions shall be based on ASHRAE-determined weather data for Minneapolis, Minnesota
using ASHRAE guidelines, including 99.6% winter-design dry-bulb, 1% summer-design dry-bulb, and 1%
summer-design wet-bulb. Outside air quantity shall be the greatest of the following three factors:
a. Outside air code requirements, or
b. Outside air required to offset exhaust, or
c. Outside air needed to maintain a 0.02 in. positive building at an external test pressure of 0.15 in.
Based on unpublished NEBB Standard Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) Guideline, p. 13.

• Be operable and maintainable within the owner’s
stated budget requirements and the technical ability of the
owner’s maintenance staff.
• Meet the owner’s stated requirements for environmental quality and a healthy working/living environment.
• Meet the owner’s stated architectural appearance
requirements.
• Achieve the owner’s stated sustainability goals.
Au g ust 2013

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