-
No reason not to earn this credit
It shouldn’t cost you anything to earn this credit—it will just take a little work (the same is true for the related credit, IEQc4.2: Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and Coatings). Your first priority should be to specify only adhesives and sealants that comply with the credit’s VOC limits, and enforce those specifications on the jobsite. Research low-VOC adhesives and sealants before construction begins and provide lists of acceptable materials to contractors to help ensure that the right products are used. Proactive communication on the jobsite
To observe VOC limits on the project, maintain there proactive communication between the...
Step-by-step credit help
Got the gist of the LEED credit but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Members get:
- Checklists covering all the key action steps you'll need to earn the credit.
- Hot tips to give you shortcuts and avoid pitfalls.
- Cost tips to assess what a credit will actually cost, and how to make it affordable.
- Ideas for going beyond LEED with best practices.
- All checklists organized by project phase.
- On-the-fly suggestions on useful items from the Documentation Toolkit, Resources, and Credit Language.
-
Credit language straight from USGBC
Need to check up on the exact LEED credit language from the LEED Rating System on the fly? LEEDuser includes the verbatim language. Members get:
- Easy access to the official LEED credit language with just a couple of clicks.
- On the jobsite without your bulky LEED Reference Guide? Check up on the credit language details here.
- Credit language content is used by permission of the U.S. Green Building Council.
Your credit-by-credit reference library
Why waste time chasing down referenced standards and supporting resources when LEEDuser links you directly to the ones you need? LEEDuser has gathered all the best tools out there and organized them by credit for easy reference. Members get links to:
- Organizations that can give information or help on a credit.
- Standards or studies that are key reference points for credits and prerequisites.
- Articles that help explain important topics.
- Key documents or references for credit inputs.
- Software tools you can use to run calculations or simulations.
Documentation Toolkit
In the end, LEED is all about documentation. LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit saves you time and helps you avoid mistakes with:
- Calculators to help assess credit compliance.
- Tracking spreadsheets for materials purchases.
- Spreadsheets and forms to give to subs and other team members.
- Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
- Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
- Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
32 Comments
Silicone sealant for glass block installation
Dear all,
Does the silicone sealant used for the glass block installation need to comply with the maximum VOC requirements of this credit? if it does, it includes in which type of adhesive, is it structural glazing or special purpose contact adhesive or what? please comments on this.
Many thanks,
Is the sealant inside of the weatherproofing system and applied on-site? If so, then it does need comply. I don't have experience with this particular product, so perhaps someone else knows where this would fall?
I don't know the meaning of inside the weatherproofing system, but the silicone sealant will be applied on site and it will used inside and outside of the building (glass block installed on wall, between indoor and outdoor)
Inside the weatherproofing system means within the space people will be occupying, inside the water, vapor, or air barrier(s). So this would qualify as inside the weatherproofing system. Thus I would say it does need to comply with the VOC regulations, but I'm still unsure which category it would fall under.
Anyone else?
If it looks like this:
http://www.ceskestavby.cz/clanky/luxfery-ktere-izoluji-teplo-18928.html
I'd say it can/should be considered "Multipurpose construction adhesive" with limit 70g/L. Can anybody confirm?
Petr, I would say that the adhesive there is part of the weatherproofing system, and the VOC level you quote seems appropriate.
LEED Assessor & VOC Certification at the same Institution
Hi there:
I work at an institution member of the USGBC that offers several services among LEED certification.Some of this services include assesing projects in order to provide guidance through LEED certification process. Another service offered is VOC Testing and VOC Analysis to comply with LEED and other certifications in the building industry.
Is it possible to upload some documentation that indicates low VOC Content for a particular project, if the certification and testing laboratory that signs the low VOC documentation depends directly on the LEED assesor institution?
Thanks and regards
Nicolas, I am not aware of any USGBC or LEED policy that would prevent this, or cause problems for a project using these services.
If I were paying for these services I would want to think it through carefully and check up on this provider to make sure I am getting what I'm paying for.
Documenting VOC content in products
Hi everybody... again.
Does anybody know if manufacturers' letters are accepted as proper documents to proof VOC levels? I know, that in submittal templates there is listed a "letter" option.
We have some documents in which manufacturer has stated the level of VOC according to SCAQMD 1168 or Green Seal.
Actually, how is a compliant product for a VOC budget method defined? Officially: "SPECIFIC_PRODUCTS that are used inside weatherproofing system must not exceed the VOC content limits established in SCAQMD/GS."
So according to information in the reference guide and submittal templates, this means that manufacturer's declaration of VOC content in a form of letter should be sufficient. MSDS1. Material safety data sheets (MSDS) are detailed, written instructions documenting a method to achieve uniformity of performance. 2. A report that manufacturers of most products are required to make available to installers and purchasers, informing them of product information on chemicals, chemical compounds, and chemical mixtures, the existence of potentially hazardous ingredients, and providing instructions for the safe handling, storage, and disposal of products are definitely better, but manufacturers do not declare the VOC content for all their products in MSDSs, especially if it does not contain any VOCs1. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are carbon compounds that participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions (excluding carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, carbonic acid, metallic carbides and carbonates, and ammonium carbonate). The compounds vaporize (become a gas) at normal room temperatures. 2. A molecule containing one or more carbon atoms that tends to evaporate (volatilize) into the air at typical ambient conditions. Some legal definitions of VOCs are restricted to those that react with sunlight to generate smog. Some VOCs are carcinogens, suspected carcinogens, or known irritants at typical levels.. Can anybody confirm please?
Petr, a letter from the manufacturer giving the value is sufficient.
Asphalt vapor barrier on roof
How do you see the use of hot air/flame applied bituminous sheets as a vapor barrier on roofs regarding VOC? Which category should I use? Or should I even count it to meet the compliance with this credit?
It is not a part of primary waterproofing system, but maybe it can be considered a secondary waterproofing system. Does the addenda to the ref. guide exclude this as well as singly-ply roof membranes?
Ready Mixed Mortar
Dear all,
Does "ready mixed mortar" need to comply with the maximum VOC requirements of this credit? The definition of the material is the following:
Material XYZ "is a ready mixed mortar based on mineral bonding agent used for preparing cement based surfaces before rendering. It improves the adhesion of the new plaster, cement & gypsum based."
I am not too sure we need to worry about this for this credit. Any suggestions?
Many thanks,
George, cementitious materials are not within he scope of this credit.
Is TVOC in lieu of VOC acceptable?
I have a test result report that only shows TVOCThe sum or total of all volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released from a product or measured in a space under certain defined conditions. contents value. With this information, can I get this Credit?
VOC limits declaration for European Materials
Can someone tell me some informations about using materials with VOC limits tested with testing method other than SCAQMD? for example like GEV - EMICODE E1? Does anyone have experience with VOC content declaration under LEED 2009 for C&S -IEQ c4? I'm looking for MAPEI and similar brand materials which use European test method and I would like to Know if their use is allowed under LEED 2009.
LEED Italy requires VOC emissions to be in compliance with EMICODE EC1, no VOC content limit apply there. Any other LEED system requires VOC content limits that were taken from greater Los Angeles Basin regulation "SCAQMD". Up to now, low VOC emissions do not help there. But any product that is not only tested, but also licensed by GEV as being EMICODE EC1 will contain maximum 0,5% solvents. Even though test and calculation procedures differ from SCAQMD, in most cases this will translate into compliance with LEED and SCAQMD limit values for adhesives and sealants. Hoping this helps, else read more here: www.eurofins.com/leed-adhesives-sealants.
Hi Alessio.
So far I didn't get far enough. I'm still looking for positive information regarding this issue. According to my opinion, if your project is going to be certified in LEED Italy certification system, then it requires compliance with EMICODE EC1, and not SCQAMD. So you should be fine with Mapei.
I'm still wondering about the possibility of accepting EMICODE in other countries as well...
Thanks Petr,
our project is in Italy but we are following the Leed Core & Shell v.3 on USGBC, because actually we don't have in italy this version on rating system. Anyway if you find more information please let me know.
A
Ciao Alessio.
I will reply you in English, also if we are italians.
This is a big issue and in these years we have discussed a lot with the manufacturers...LEED US asks for SCAQMD and not for the European standards as LEED Italia does, so for our projects registered under LEED US we should follow SCAQMD to be absolute certain of the compliance with the credit.
Moreover, there are some EU manufacturers that declare this compliance.
You describe the situation as also I understand it. But I want to add that SCAQMD is using very bad test method (not suitable for many modern water-borne or 2-component products - you may even receive VOC content less than 0 mg/m³ with these test methods!), and it uses a strange calculation formula, looking only at the non-water portion of a product. Last draft of LEED 2012 (as of early this year) therefore will accept EU Decopaint Directive test results and limit values as equivalent. Let us see how the final version of LEED 2012 will look like. But this may not help you right today, I am afraid.
Ciao DTTN Habitech,
thank you for your good advices. Could you please send me the reference and information about EU manufacturers that you have?
Do you know if Mapei is one of those?
Cleaning tissues
In our project cleaning tissues will be used. It's a special cleaning agent for plastic weld joints.
This tissues are soaked with cleaning fluid based on ethyl alcohol.
Cleaning purposes are not mentioned in the LEED Reference Guide. Do we have to document it anyway?
Accepting other testing methods
Building materials are required to comply with SCQAMD rules which state VOC limits for various types of materials. SCQAMD also dictates testing methods that should be used for determination of these limits.
What about using materials, that have declared VOC limits with other testing methods than ASTMVoluntary standards development organization which creates source technical standards for materials, products, systems, and services? Does anyone have experience with declaring of VOC content under LEED 2009 CS - IEQc4? Does certification body accept any other methods, specificaly European - EN, DIN, CSN?
Right today LEED accepts only the SCAQMD methods, but there is some discussion to expand the range of accepted VOC declarations and test methods for LEED 2012. Please see www.eurofins.com/scaqmd for discussion of the test methods in California and in Europe.
Thank you very much, this gave me some directions...
Is Eurofins an only laboratory accredited for VOC testing according SQAMD and FloorScore in Europe?
Don't know, but I would expect that other labs can do the same in Europe.
fire stopping sealants and duct sealants
I am assuming that the VOC limit for these sealants is "Other" 420 g/l. Can anyone confirm?
Hi Peter,
For duct sealant, there was a CIRCredit Interpretation Ruling. Used by design team members experiencing difficulties in the application of a LEED prerequisite or credit to a project. Typically, difficulties arise when specific issues are not directly addressed by LEED information/guide ruling on 6/26/09 that states duct sealant would fall under "other". However, CIRs from previous versions of the rating system are not necessarily applicable to 2009 but in this case it seems to make sense that the ruling would still apply. For fire stop, I have mostly submitted it under architectural.
Has anyone had luck with submitting fire stop as "other"?
Shannon
Low emitting materials in CS 2.0
Regarding low emitting materials such us solvents, adhesives, carpets, in CS2.0. Can I put just one compliant door for example and still get that credit. It is my understanding that CS 2.0 does not address quantities. Same as for the carpets. My project does not have carpets or composite woodComposite wood consists of wood or plant particles or fibers bonded by a synthetic resin or binder. Examples include particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, oriented-strand board (OSB), wheatboard, and strawboard., but we are planning to do just a small part with this materials so we can get those credits. Is it possible to earn those credits in such a way?
Yes, you are understanding things correctly. These credits have no minimum materials needed. In LEED 2009, the credit has been changed to address all flooring systems, for for LEED CS 2.0, you can install just some carpet and earn the credit.
Documentation
I have a question regarding a core and shell building. So I understand the credit that we have to follow the VOC Limits in the general area of the building/core and shell and require VOC Limits in the Tenant Design and Construction Guideline. Is this what I have to document? Or do I also have to document that the tenant actually follows the LEED VOC Limits?
Many thanks for answers,
Tatjana
Yes, follow the IEQc4 limits for work within the CS scope. According to CS Appendix 4 from the BD&C LEED Reference Guide, you can get Exemplary PerformanceIn LEED, certain credits have established thresholds beyond basic credit achievement. Meeting these thresholds can earn additional points through Innovation in Design (ID) or Innovation in Operations (IO) points. As a general rule of thumb, ID credits for exemplary performance are awarded for doubling the credit requirements and/or achieving the next incremental percentage threshold. However, this rule varies on a case by case basis, so check the credit requirements. for requiring tenants to meet IEQc4 in the tenant guidelines. You don't have to document that they do so.
Please register to use the forum.