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Tenant limits for Core and Shell
To get the full benefit of this credit, consider requiring VOC limits for tenant construction by incorporating either recommended compliant products, or recommending that tenants use compliant paints and coatings with specific VOC limits in a tenant guideline document (per SSc9: Tenant Design and Construction Guidelines).
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An easy, no-cost credit
Like the similar credit, IEQc4.1: Low-Emitting Materials: Adhesives and Sealants, it shouldn’t cost you anything extra to earn this credit—it will just take some work. Your first priority should be to specify only paints and coatings that comply with the credit’s VOC limits, and enforce those specifications on the jobsite. Research low-VOC paints and coatings before construction begins and provide lists of acceptable materials to contractors to help ensure that the right products are used.Performance should not be an issue
Major manufacturers offer paints and coatings that are just as durable and perform just as well as their higher-VOC...
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7 Comments
VOC Limit Table - LEEDuser and Reference Guide
I'm wondering whether the VOC limits table posted is accurate to the LEED D&C 2009 requirements. It does reflect the CS 2.0 requirements, but the 2009 table in the Reference Guide indicates lowering the VOC limits over time. This does not seem to be reflected in the LEEDuser Table.
For example, the nonflats number of 150g/l seems to have been dropped to 50 g/l on 7/1/06, and the nonflat high gloss limit seems to have been dropped to 50 on 7/1/07.
Am I reading this correctly? If so, the Table 1 in the Reference Guide is confusing and a summary table on LEEDuser would be very useful.
Mara Baum replied Sustainability Coordinator, Anshen + Allen Architects Feb 08 2010
This question is about Table 1 in the Reference Guide (p. 483 of the 2009 edition). The language on Table 1 is truly perplexing. I have a few comments, although mostly they are mostly creative interpretation. I think the big problem is that the USGBC just blindly copy/pasted the SCAQMD chart without thinking through what it means for LEED 2009.
1. LEED references GS-11 for paints applied to interior walls and ceilings. It references SCAQMD for other coatings, not paints;. However, SCAQMD as a whole also addresses paints -- and since the USGBC just blindly copied the SCAQMD table, it includes paint standards that theoretically shouldn't be relevant at all. Oops.
2. Similarly, this chart includes exterior paints and coatings that are not covered under LEED, such as "roof coatings". We can ignore these for LEED, but from an environmental perspective it is of course always better to do what we can.
3. The "effective date" section of the chart clearly makes no sense for LEED 2009, because all of the dates listed had passed when the ref guide was published. Again, the USGBC just copied the table straight from the SCAQMD document without any analysis or discussion. Interestingly, the '*' note for "ceiling limit" in the original SCAQMD document (link posted at the top of p.483) is longer: "The specified limits remain in effect unless revised limits are listed in subsequent columns in the Table of Standards." This is much more clear about the fact that we should be following anything listed under the "effective date" columns.
4. The "current limit" column is specific to a certain time when this version of the SCAQMD was posted, so can presumably be ignored for LEED 2009.
Given this, I think we should 1) ignore Table 1 for paints and exterior items, and 2) follow the most current numbers listed under "effective date", where applicable.
FYI, there are several errata for this credit, but as of 2/8/10 none address this issue.
If anyone has additional guidance on this topic, please let us know!
I don't think we need to
I don't think we need to follow the most current numbers listed under "effective date" in Table 1. The credit requirements for SCAQMD Rule 1113 say "rules in effect on January 1, 2004". I would interpret this to mean we should be using the VOC limits listed under the 1/1/04 Effective Date column in Table 1.
Related question: credit requirements list only several specific coating types which much comply with SCAQMD Rule 1113: "Clear wood finishes, floor coatings, stains, primers, and shellacs". If you read this literally it appears that all other remaining coating categories listed in Table 1 are NOT covered under LEED. Does anyone agree? Why else would they list only those specific coating categories? Why can't they be clear for once!?!
Mara Baum replied Sustainability Coordinator, Anshen + Allen Architects Apr 01 2010
I agree on both counts - that we probably can ignore the "effective date" column, and that it's unclear how we address the many products not explicitly named.
Given the intent of the credit, I don't think that it would be acceptable to ignore all paints and coatings not directly mentioned. Anything not clearly defined in the credit language would fall under "other", which is 350 g/L as per SCAQMD 1113.
VOC Methodologies
Which methodology for analyzing VOC content is acceptable as per referenced standards of LEED? Are the following methodologies acceptable? BS EN ISO 11890-2 2006, UK-PG6/23(97) Appendix 3
Carmelito Tatlonghari replied Sep 08 2010
Also how about JIS K 5601-5-1, testing methods for paint componemts to determine VOC content in paints using gas chromatography analysis?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Sep 08 2010
As far as I know, LEED does not reference a specific standard for testing VOC emissions of paints. LEED simply sets a VOC limit using Green Seal standards.
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