LEED v5 Updates

On April 28, 2025, the United States Green Building Council (USGBC) released LEED version 5. Prior to the latest version, LEED v4 was released in November 2013, with v4.1 following in April 2019. While v4.1 addressed market feedback, improved performance, and expanded LEED’s applicability, LEED v5 has now been released to tackle critical challenges in the built environment, particularly decarbonization, human health, and ecological conservation.

Let’s dive into the changes associated with commissioning requirements in LEED v5, specifically for the New Construction BD+C requirements (note: O&M and Core & Shell have different requirements).

Overall, the USGBC worked closely with ASHRAE to align LEED’s commissioning (Cx) requirements with industry best practices. Since fundamental commissioning is required for all projects, this section received substantial updates, including requiring the commissioning agent (CxA) to be hired during early design and making building envelope commissioning mandatory. With these updates, the Enhanced Commissioning credit is more straightforward to achieve. Lastly, Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx) has been significantly expanded, requiring a comprehensive scope and a three-year post-occupancy commitment.

Fundamental Commissioning

The Fundamental Commissioning requirements have undergone the most extensive updates.

First, the commissioning framework is now based on ASHRAE 90.1. As these standard updates every three years, aligning LEED with it ensures that commissioning practices remain current.

One of the biggest shortcomings of LEED v4.1 was the absence of design-phase requirements. As a result, the CxA was often hired after construction began which is almost always too late. To correct this, LEED v5 requires that the CxA be hired before the 100% Design Development (DD) phase and perform at least one design review. This allows the CxA to help develop the Owner’s Project Requirements (OPR) earlier and provide commissioning specifications that are integrated into the construction documents.

The second major improvement is that envelope commissioning is now mandatory. Previously an optional enhanced commissioning credit in LEED v4.1, is now part of the fundamental requirements, helping to ensure a whole-building commissioning approach. While scope is lightly defined, project teams should pay careful attention to vetting envelope commissioning providers and defining a clear scope that both satisfies LEED and supports project performance.

In addition to the above notable changes, the following commissioning services are also required in LEED v5:

1. Submittal reviews
2. Construction site visits
3. Review of training plans
4. Development of an ongoing commissioning plan

 

Option 1: Enhanced Commissioning Credit

Due to the expanded scope of Fundamental Commissioning, the Enhanced Commissioning credits are now much more accessible. Based on our review, the additional scope for MEP systems can be achieved with minimal effort beyond what’s already required. However, envelope commissioning now involves additional testing which may vary significantly based on project type.

Previously, Enhanced Commissioning required the CxA to be hired during design and to include envelope commissioning. Since these are now covered under Fundamental, the new Enhanced credits focus on additional deliverables and testing.

Option 1, Path 1: MEP Systems

• The CxA must comply with ASHRAE Standard 202 (“The Commissioning Process for New Buildings and New Systems”), which adds requirements for developing a systems manual and verifying the delivery of training.

Option 1, Path 2: Building Enclosure

• v5 requires envelope performance testing, specifically:
  1. Air leakage testing per ASTM E783, E779, E1186, or E3158
  2. Water penetration testing per ASTM E1105 or AAMA 501.2
  3. Infrared thermography per ASTM C1153 or C1060

One “grey area” is that the number of required tests is not explicitly defined. Therefore, the CxA should be engaged early to coordinate with the design team, ensuring that envelope testing is included in project specifications and commissioning plans. Envelope systems will also need to be incorporated into the training plan.

Option 2: Monitoring-Based Commissioning (MBCx)

MBCx likely received the most significant updates in LEED v5. When introduced in LEED v4, the credit was vague and often inconsistently implemented. Many clients and project teams did not fully understand the scope or intent of MBCx.

At its core, MBCx is the use of automated analytics to track and assess building performance after construction. While LEED v4 required basic metering and an MBCx plan, execution was often weak and failed to meet the true intent of long-term performance validation.

Under LEED v5, this credit is now split into two clear paths. The project team can choose to pursue either Path 1 or Path 2:

• Path 1 focuses on long-term monitoring of building energy consumption and metering to confirm that the facility is performing in line with the design and energy model.
• Path 2 builds on this by adding automated fault detection and diagnostics (AFDD) to identify and flag system issues in real time.

Option 2, Path 1: Basic Software

Path 1 provides much clearer direction on duration, responsibilities, and expectations. Most importantly, clients must understand that this is a three-year commitment requiring active engagement from their facilities team. In most cases, the BAS vendor will also need to remain involved through a service contract or similar agreement.

Key requirements include:

• Three-Year Commitment: MBCx must be maintained for a minimum of three years post-occupancy (increased from one year in LEED v4).
• Expanded Plan Requirements: The MBCx plan must include quarterly and annual summaries of system anomalies and faults, along with at least two formal building performance reviews.
• Energy Information System (EIS): The platform must support:
  • Remote data analytics
  • Annual energy benchmarking
  • Energy use visualization and comparisons
  • Integration with the LEED v5 Energy Metering and Reporting credit (EAp4)

Option 2, Path 2: Enhanced Software

Path 2 includes all requirements from Path 1 but adds automated fault detection and diagnostics (AFDD), enabling real-time system issue identification.

Due to the additional complexity, selecting a qualified MBCx provider is essential. The provider should establish a clear workflow and collaborate closely with the CxA, controls contractor, and facilities team to identify and resolve issues. To ensure sustained performance, MBCx services should be integrated into the building’s ongoing vendor support contracts.

Final Thoughts

The commissioning updates in LEED v5 significantly expand scope and rigor. Key improvements include requiring the CxA to be engaged prior to the 100% DD phase and mandating envelope commissioning as part of Fundamental Commissioning. Together, these changes promote a more complete whole-building commissioning process.

SES is fully equipped to support all LEED v5 commissioning credits from design-phase reviews to envelope commissioning to MBCx implementation. Contact us anytime to learn more about how our team can assist you on your projects.

⁽¹⁾  USGBC LEED v5