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What’s simple isn’t necessarily easy
The simplest way to meet this credit is to make sure that all your flooring and floor coverings meet the standard designated in the credit requirements. That’s not necessarily easy, because not that many hard-surface flooring products are FloorScore-certified or the equivalent.It’s easier to achieve this credit if all your regularly occupied spacesRegularly occupied spaces are areas where workers are seated or standing as they work inside a building. In residential applications, these areas are all spaces except bathrooms, utility areas, and closets or other...
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Got the gist of the LEED credit but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Members get:
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15 Comments
Existing flooring materials to remain
Has anyone dealt with a project that has both existing flooring (carpet) to remain as well as new flooring? Is the existing flooring exempt from meeting the requirements? Is this credit only for newly installed flooring?
Leticia SooHoo replied Mar 17 2010
I know it is OK to reuse furniture to meet the IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. criteria as long as it is older than 1 year. Not sure about carpeting. Perhaps 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 is required in this case?
Walk-Off Mat w/ Carpet Inserts
I have a project that is seeking both EQc4.3 and EQc5.
Does anyone know if a walk-off mat made with carpet inserts is required to meet EQc4.3 and be certified by the Carpet and Rug Institute's Green Label Plus program?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Mar 17 2010
I don't see any reason why IEQc4.3 would not apply to a walk-off mat that has a carpet component. It's part of the flooring in the building, right? Did the contractor have some reason to think that it's exempt? Is it hard to find a Green Label Plus product?
Molly Jones replied Corporate LEED Coordinator, The Benham Companies, LLC Mar 17 2010
The mat is a permanent, recessed aluminum walk-off mat with carpet strip inserts. I think the contractor is assuming that it does not apply because the walk-off mat is made off-site. While this is true for the adhesive, I do not think it is true for the carpet strips. I think he's got his credit requirements mixed up. He did not provide any supporting documentation for his claim.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Mar 17 2010
Right—all carpet is produced off-site so it doesn't seem like this would be any different from the usual requirements.
Sounds like he is getting mixed up with IEQc4.1 and IEQc4.2 which only apply to site-applied paints and coatings, and adhesives and sealants.
Mix and Match Option 1 & Option 2
Is it possible to use both Option 1 and Option 2, for this credit?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Mar 31 2010
Yes. The way this credit is documented in LEED Online, for each flooring material you use, you have the opportunity to enter the certification that applies to it, and you can use either Option 1 or 2. In other words, you can select your option on a material-by-material basis, not on a whole-credit basis.
Stained or Sealed Concrete Floors = FInished Floor?
If all finished floors are stained and/or sealed concrete and meet SCAQMD Rule 1113, can you earn the credit without installing carpet or other hard surface flooring?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 13 2010
Yes, you are correct! Use a SCAQMD concrete finish and you can earn the credit.
FloorScore certified cork flooring?
Has anyone found a FloorScore certified cork flooring product? There's nothing listed as compliant on FloorScore's website and I've tried a few manufacturers without any luck. Thanks!
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jul 12 2010
No, I don't. I would think that if there was one it would be on the FloorScore website, and the manufacturer would be letting everyone know.
If anyone finds one, please post. Or if a mfr. is reading this—please get your product certified!
Janika McFeely replied EHDD Architecture Jul 12 2010
Thanks Tristan. Capri Cork is working on it but they're the only one's I've found so far who are close. Would love another option!
Synthetic Gymnasium Flooring
We have a project that uses a seamless site-installed pulyurethane product for a gymnasium floor. (Pulastic or Elastiplus are two tradenames.) We are trying to establish whether they would be classified as a coating or as a resilient floor covering. Any thoughts?
Non-integrated walkoff mats?
I read the earlier post on walkoff mats that are recessed and permanently installed. What is the case for the rubber-back walkoff mats that are serviced weekly and replaced? I've seen none that meet Green Label Plus.
Techincally they aren't finished flooring, the floor is finished concrete and the mats are placed on top....
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