-
It’s all or nothing
Like most of the other low-emitting materials credits, this credit is all-or-nothing. Composite products and laminating adhesives can have no added urea-formaldehyde1. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring VOC found in small amounts in animals and plants but is carcinogenic and an irritant to most people when present in high concentrations, causing headaches, dizziness, mental impairment, and other symptoms. When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm, it can cause watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; nausea; coughing; chest...
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.
16 Comments
Formaldehyde-free 1/8" Hardboard/MDF/Masonite?
Does anyone know of a formaldeyhde-free 1/8" hardboard product?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Dec 16 2009
I checked the GreenSpec products that we list in the Related Products area (shown in the right-hand sidebar), and Glacier Clear from Plum Creek is listed as being in sizes as low as 1/10", and UF-free. Would have to inquire further if 1/8" is specifically available, but most other companies did not go that narrow, so it's a good bet. Let us know what you find!
engineered lumber (parallam, LVL)
Why is it that parallams, LVL's and other engineered lumber products are never listed under this category? It would seem this is covered. Under 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 from NC 2.1 it said these products woudl be covered under NC 2.2 but they are not listed. Are they covered in NC 2.2 and where is this specified?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Dec 22 2009
The credit covers any 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. products inside the "waterproofing system," so that would clearly cover the engineered framing products you mention. I-beams are even specifically mentioned in the reference guide (for NC v2.2 as well as NC 2009), so we also list them in the credit guidance above.
Any additional questions about this? I am also checking to see if we can list more framing products from our GreenSpec directory in the sidebar to the right.
What if we don't use
What if we don't use 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. products at all? Will we earn this point or not?
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 15 2010
Lou, if you don't use 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. or agrifiber productsAgrifiber products are made from agricultural fiber. Examples include particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, oriented-strand board (OSB), wheatboard, and strawboard. here, you can't earn the credit. Note that laminating adhesives are also covered by the credit, so check if you are using any of those.
Should Epoxy be tested ?
Hello,
Would anybody know if Epoxy also needs to be tested for added UF ?
Many thanks,
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Apr 21 2010
George, epoxy would only have to comply with the IEQc4.4 credit requirements if it's being used as a laminating adhesive.
Hi there
I'm quite new to all this & UK based. No added Formaldehyde1. Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring VOC found in small amounts in animals and plants but is carcinogenic and an irritant to most people when present in high concentrations, causing headaches, dizziness, mental impairment, and other symptoms. When present in the air at levels above 0.1 ppm, it can cause watery eyes; burning sensations in the eyes, nose, and throat; nausea; coughing; chest tightness; wheezing; skin rashes; and asthmatic and allergic reactions. 2. A known carcinogen with no known safe exposure level. Formaldehyde occurs naturally, but appears in unnaturally high concentrations in many buildings because it is an ingredient in binders used in many building materials and furnishings. was a new thing to me. Can anyone advise what categorises a material as "No added". I am particularly interested in Particle board. MDFMedium-density fiberboard (MDF): Panel product used in cabinets and furniture; generally made from wood fiber glued together with binder; similar to particleboard, but with finer texture, offering more precise finishing. Most MDF is made with formaldehyde-emitting urea-formaldehyde binder.. MFC
Regards.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 10 2010
It's urea formaldehydeUrea formaldehyde is a combination of urea and formaldehyde that is used in some glues and may emit formaldehyde at room temperature. (UF) specifically, which is often used as a resin or glue in composite lumber products. UF is also naturaly occuring at low levels in wood, so the stipulation is to use products that use "no added" UF. There are many such products available in North America, and I'm guessing that's the same in the UK.
Andrew Wills replied Environment Manager, R S Building Products Ltd Jun 11 2010
Thanks Tristan. so does this mean that the binderGlue used in manufacturing wood products, such as medium-density fiberboard (MDF), particleboard, and engineered lumber. Most binders are made with formaldehyde. resin cannot conatin anny Urea formaldehydeUrea formaldehyde is a combination of urea and formaldehyde that is used in some glues and may emit formaldehyde at room temperature. full stop. Is it that simple or is there a %age value in the composition that is allowable.
Mostly here in UK we are asked to meed Class E1 formaldehyde emission standards but typically a board would contain 11-15% Urea formaldehyde and still acheiev this.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jun 11 2010
For LEED purposes, zero added UF content is allowed under this credit.
Base element vs fixture, furniture and FF&E
Is there any solid definition for base elements and fixture/furniture/FF&E? Are Acoustic Panel, Timber Veneer, Plastic Laminate to Wall and movable openable wall panel defined as base elements?
Many thanks.
Seema Pandya replied Sustainability Manager, YRG sustainability Jul 01 2010
The Interior Design and Construction Reference Guide gives a little more clarity to this issue, even for the BD&C guide. It states that "products included in IEQc4.4 Low Emitting Materials: Systems FurnitureSystems furniture includes panel-based workstations comprising modular interconnecting panels, hang-on components, and drawer and filing components or a free-standing grouping of furniture items designed to work in concert. and Seating are excluded" from this IEQc4.4 credit.
The ID&C Guide defines that furniture as:
"1. Systems furniture is defined as either a panel-based workstation comprising modular, interconnecting panels, hang-on components and drawer and filing components, or a freestanding grouping of furniture items and their components that have been designed to work in concert. Furniture other than systems furniture and task and guest chairs used with systems furniture is defined as occasional furnitureOccasional furniture is located in lobbies and in conference rooms. and is excluded from the credit requirements.
2 Seating is defined as task and guest chairs used with systems furniture.
3 Salvaged and used furniture that is more than one year old at time of occupancy is excluded from the credit requirements."
That would mean that everything else is a base material and needs to comply with the urea formaldehydeUrea formaldehyde is a combination of urea and formaldehyde that is used in some glues and may emit formaldehyde at room temperature. free requirements. I would assume that every item you have listed in your comment would need to comply.
Vivian Wan replied Jul 01 2010
Thanks Seema. How about fixture? Theres no definition of fixture in glossary nor footnotes.
Tristan Roberts replied Editor – LEEDuser, BuildingGreen, LLC Jul 01 2010
Fixtures refers to lighting and plumbing items, right?
Please register to use the forum.