ASTM E2844-23

Standard Specification for Demonstrating That a Building’s Location Provides Access to Public Transit

ABSTRACT
This specification prescribes requirements for demonstrating that a building's location provides a minimal level of access to public transit that allows occupants to travel to places of employment and to run typical errands. It is intended to facilitate the decision-making process for selection of a building site that provides opportunities for occupants to use public transit. It specifies a single indicator regarding the environmental performance related to a building's location, and for evaluating whether a building is located in such a way as to minimize the impacts associated with occupants' travel.
SCOPE
1.1 This specification provides requirements for demonstrating that a building’s location provides a minimal level of access to public transit such that building occupants can rely on public transit to travel to places of employment and to run typical errands.  
1.2 This specification addresses a single indicator regarding the environmental performance related to a building’s location. It provides one option for evaluating whether a building is located in such a way as to minimize the impacts associated with occupants’ travel.
Note 1: The indicator in and of itself is insufficient to imply any level of “sustainability” for the building or the neighborhood. Similarly, a building’s failure to meet this specification does not necessarily signify a lack of sustainability. Other indicators may be more appropriate for that building or region; those indicators are outside the scope of this specification.  
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.  
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.  
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 30-Apr-2023
• ICS: 91.040.01 - Buildings in general
• Technical Committee: E60 - Sustainability
• Drafting Committee: E60.01 - Buildings and Construction

Standards Content (Sample)

This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: E2844 − 23
Standard Specification for
Demonstrating That a Building’s Location Provides Access
1
to Public Transit
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2844; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
1.1 This specification provides requirements for demon-
strating that a building’s location provides a minimal level of E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E2114 Terminology for Sustainability
access to public transit such that building occupants can rely on
public transit to travel to places of employment and to run
3. Terminology
typical errands.
3.1 Definitions:
1.2 This specification addresses a single indicator regarding
3.1.1 For terms related to building, refer to Terminology
the environmental performance related to a building’s location.
E631.
It provides one option for evaluating whether a building is
3.1.2 For terms related to sustainability relative to the
located in such a way as to minimize the impacts associated
performance of buildings, refer to Terminology E2114.
with occupants’ travel.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
NOTE 1—The indicator in and of itself is insufficient to imply any level
3.2.1 access location, n—closest point for the public to
of “sustainability” for the building or the neighborhood. Similarly, a
board a transit vehicle on a given route.
building’s failure to meet this specification does not necessarily signify a
lack of sustainability. Other indicators may be more appropriate for that
3.2.2 headway, n—time interval between public transit ve-
building or region; those indicators are outside the scope of this specifi-
hicles moving in the same direction on a particular route.
cation.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—If multiple routes at a given stop share
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded
60 % or more of their route, they can be viewed as the same
as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
route for purposes of calculating headways.
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only
3.2.3 local transit, n—public transit that meets one or both
and are not considered standard.
of the following characteristics: (1) operates within the same
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the
right-of-way as automobile traffic or (2) the distance between
1
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
its access locations averages less than ⁄3 mile (0.5 km).
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
3.2.3.1 Discussion—Transit types that typically meet this
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
definition include local bus and streetcar.
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
3.2.4 off-peak hours, n—all hours that are not peak hours.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accor-
3.2.5 peak hours, n—hour(s) of greatest commuting in the
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
region in the morning and evening as identified by the local
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
jurisdiction.
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
3.2.6 public transit, n—transportation by a land, aerial, or
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee. water conveyance that provides to the public regular and
continuing transportation over fixed routes but does not include
rideshare, private shuttle, school or charter bus, or intracity
transportation such as a taxi.
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E60 on
Sustainability and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E60.01 on Buildings
2
and Construction. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
Current edition approved May 1, 2023. Published June 2023. Originally contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM
ɛ1
approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as E2844 – 15 . DOI: Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on
10.1520/E2844-23. the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2844 − 23
3.2.7 rapid transit, n—public transit that has both of the the proxi
...

This document is not an ASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of an ASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately, ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
´1
Designation: E2844 − 15 E2844 − 23
Standard Specification for
Demonstrating That a Building’s Location Provides Access
1
to Public Transit
This standard is issued under the fixed designation E2844; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1
ε NOTE—Keywords in Section 7 were corrected editorially in September 2015.
1. Scope
1.1 This specification provides requirements for demonstrating that a building’s location provides a minimal level of access to
public transit such that building occupants can rely on public transit to travel to places of employment and to run typical errands.
1.2 This specification addresses a single indicator regarding the environmental performance related to a building’s location. It
provides one option for evaluating whether a building is located in such a way as to minimize the impacts associated with
occupants’ travel.
NOTE 1—The indicator in and of itself is insufficient to imply any level of “sustainability” for the building or the neighborhood. Similarly, a building’s
failure to meet this specification does not necessarily signify a lack of sustainability. Other indicators may be more appropriate for that building or region;
those indicators are outside the scope of this specification.
1.3 The values stated in inch-pound units are to be regarded as standard. The values given in parentheses are mathematical
conversions to SI units that are provided for information only and are not considered standard.
1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and healthsafety, health, and environmental practices and determine
the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
1.5 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization
established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued
by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
E631 Terminology of Building Constructions
E2114 Terminology for Sustainability
3. Terminology
3.1 Definitions:
1
This specification is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee E60 on Sustainability and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee E60.01 on Buildings and
Construction.
Current edition approved Aug. 1, 2015May 1, 2023. Published August 2015June 2023. Originally approved in 2015. Last previous edition approved in 2015 as
ɛ1
E2844 – 15 . DOI: 10.1520/E2844-15E01.10.1520/E2844-23.
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or contact ASTM Customer Service at [e-mail]. For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
E2844 − 23
3.1.1 For terms related to building, refer to Terminology E631.
3.1.2 For terms related to sustainability relative to the performance of buildings, refer to Terminology E2114.
3.2 Definitions of Terms Specific to This Standard:
3.2.1 access location, n—closest point for the public to board a transit vehicle on a given route.
3.2.2 headway, n—time interval between public transit vehicles moving in the same direction on a particular route.
3.2.2.1 Discussion—
If multiple routes at a given stop share 60 % or more of their route, they can be viewed as the same route for purposes of calculating
headways.
3.2.3 local transit, n—public transit that meets one or both of the following characteristics: (1) operates within the same
1
right-of-way as automobile traffic or (2) the distance between its access locations averages less than ⁄31/3 mile mile (0.5 km).
3.2.3.1 Discussion—
Transit types that typically meet this definition include local bus and streetcar.
3.2.4 off-peak hours, n—all hours that are not peak hours.
3.2.5 peak hours, n—hour(s) of greatest commuting in the region in the morning and evening as identified by the local jurisdiction.
3.2.6 public transit, n—transportation by a land, aerial, or water conveyance
...