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This credit only works for the right kind of project
If salvaged materials are appropriate for your project, this credit should be easy enough to achieve. But you have to use a lot of salvaged materials to reach the threshold, so it's most feasible for small projects that target sources of salvaged materials early in the design process. Even then, it can be tricky because these are not the sort of things you can specify and count on being able to order from a supplier--the contractor or owner usually has to procure and stockpile salvaged items when they become available. That has to happen early enough that they can be included in the design, which is often long before they are needed on the job site.
Some projects also run into trouble with the fact that salvaged items aren't rated for structural strength or flame resistance....
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42 Comments
What about furniture?
If instead of purchasing new furniture for the new buidling if we re-use the furniture from the old building will that qualify? Assuming we are counting furniture across MR credits.
Nena,
I believe that would count.
Does anyone have experience with this?
You can count the furniture for this if you are using furniture in your calcs across the MR credits. The threshold can be difficult to reach with furniture alone so hopefully you have other products that will allow you to get there.
Cost to be Excluded in the total proj material costs for MR CR3
I just want to inquire if we will include HVAC equipment, PV arrays, Solar hotwater collectors, generator, fire alarm control panels, etc. in our overall project materials costs when calculating percentages of reused or recycled material used
Benchito, I believe the answer is no, you should not include those in your overall project materials costs. For this credit, the reference manual instructs: "do not include mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components or appliances and equipment in the calculation for this credit." It also says to calculate the total project materials costs using CSI MasterFromat divisions 03-10, parts of 31 & 32, and 12 optionally. The equipment you list would most likely fall in CSI divisions 21-28, which are excluded.
MRc3 and MRc4 - a salvaged material that has recycled content
If a material qaulifies for MRc3, but also is known to have recycled content, can the team choose which category to put it under? Can the credit be split? For instance, if a metal panel is known to have 25% recycled steel, and it is being reused for a new purpose, can 25% go to MRc4 and the remaing 75% go to MRc3? If not, can you choose which category?
Heather, I think the safest bet here would be to apply this material to MRc3 only, since that is the key environmental attribute in the situation. You cannot apply a material to MRc3 and MRc4, per LEED rules.
As Tristan wrote, you cannot count the same amount of material twice, but you can split the material in parts and count those parts separately for different credits. I do not have it confirmed...
My opinion is that you could use part of a material to each credit MRc3 and MRc4 only the calculation will be different. If it has 25% recycled content, it costs $100 and replacement value is $200 and you want to split it 50/50 then it should look like this:
MRc3 compliant value - $200*50% = $100
MRc4 compliant value - $100*50%*25% = $12,50
And vice versa with other MR credits...
Am I rihgt?
New location
According to pg.365 of the 2009 reference guide..."items must no longer be able to serve their original functions and must then be installed for a different use or in a different location." If a structural item is reused as a structural support (relatively same function) but in a different location on the site, would it qualify?
Aliesa, yes, that qualifies as a new location, and its being used in the same function is fine.
Reuse bricks
Hi!
I am working on a project where a building will be demolished and then construct a new building, the project is thinking of keeping the bricks from the old building to build new walls and etc., can I count this forward credit MRc3?
The problem I see is that the project probably wount pay for the bricks so which cost should we then use in MRc3, what it would cost so buy new bricks?
Thanks in advance!
That seems like it would qualify for MRc3, Tanja.
Material reused
We are trying to re-use existing regular gravel from the site for the concrete mix of the new building. Will that qualify for materials reused credit? We will have to take existing gravel to the plant, have it run it through the sieves and see what % of it could be used.
Thanks.
Maria, from one angle, I would say that this definitely qualifies. From another angle, it seems like a stretch. Was the gravel a native feature of the site, or was it added at some point?
Actually, I think it was added when the existing building was operating. Then, the owner demo the ex'g building few years ago, and left the site. When we got the site, it was just a concrete slab and regular gravel all over the site. I thought reusing the gravel could be a good idea.
Hi, I have a similar situation in one of our projects. Due to excavation works, we will get a good volume of gravel (naturally on site) that could be used for pervious pavement in the parking lot or as aggregate for the concrete mix. Do you think this could be taken into account for MRc3? If not, it may work for MRc2 and/or MRc5, since we would be deviating this material from local landfills and it is of course a material extracted on the region. What do you think? Thank you!
Its seems to me since the gravel will excavated, then used in another function (pervious paving) that you would be able to count it for MRc3 and MRc5. I don't think you could use it for MRc2 unless you separate it from any soil or other land clearing debris to be diverted from the landfill since soil and organic matter are not counted in the calculations.
Great! Thank you for your help Susie.
Shipping containers
We are desining a 550m2 office building using several shipping containers as the main structure. The containers will be adapted thermally, etc. The Minimum Program Requirements (MPR) indicate that "LEED Projects shall not consist of mobile structure...", The building will be permanent, still I wonder if there is any restrictions against using shipping containers? Any experiences with similar projects?
I think that as long as the building is designed to be permanent, and it's clear that the containers are not easily disassembled, the building would meet the requirements of this MPR. I think this MPR Is mainly aimed at things like vehicles, mobile homes, etc.
Agree, Tristan.
Materials Reuse
We are tearing down an old buiiding and constructing a new building on the same site. The concrete walls and floors from the existing building will be crushed and used as fill for the new building. We believe MRc3 will apply as we are reusing the existing building materials (concrete walls and floors) to reduce demand for virgin materials and reducing waste, thereby lessening impacts associated with the extraction and processing of virgin materials. We believe we should use the cost of new fill for the template beacuse if we do not reuse the old materials for fill, we will have to purchase new fill. Agreed?
Unfortunately I don't believe you can count these materials as reuse.
As noted above, 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 for LEED v.2.1 for MRc3 dated 8/14/03 states the intent of this credit is to extend the life cycle of building materials through re-use rather than re-manufacture. The CIR stated that using fill material from the demolition of structures (in this case on-site structures) does not meet the intent of the credit. However, this material could be counted as diverting waste from the landfill (MRc2).
Has anyone else tried and had luck with it being accepted?
We have a similar situation on my project. We were also told it would not apply to MRc3 so we will not be attempting it unless we hear otherwise. One question though... Why would you NOT be able to count the fill as 100% post-consumerWaste material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose. This includes returns of materials from the distribution chain (source: ISO 14021). Examples of this category include construction and demolition debris, materials collected through curbside and drop-off recycling programs, broken pallets (if from a pallet refurbishing company, not a pallet-making company), discarded products (e.g., furniture, cabinetry and decking) and urban maintenance waste (e.g., leaves, grass clippings, tree trimmings, etc.). recycled content for MRc4?
I agree with you Susie, that unfortunately the material will not be able to be counted for MRc3.1 or MRc3.2, but will count for MRc2. I think it is worth pursuing the MRc4 credit as well, using the value/weight of new material in the calculation. It is unfortunate with this material and others that accomplish goals of lessening impacts associated with the extraction and processing of virgin materials, but that don't fit the reuse credit requirements. However, it is good they can count for other credits.
We crushed 8,000 tons of granite on site to use as structural fill, and we're taking down an existing building, crushing and using it on site as well. I assume this does NOT count towards MRc5, Regional Materials, because it doesn't fall within the listed CSI divisions - correct?
But I just realized -- MRc4, Recycled Content, refers to the same CSI divisions and the comments above suggest we can apply it to MRc4. If MRc4, then MRc5 as well - ?
Since this material is 're-manufactured' and doesn't count toward MRc3 for reuse it can be applied for MRc4 and MRc5. If being used for a foundation that division is included in those credits. See page 365 of the LEED Ref Guide for Green Building Design and Construction 2009 Edition.
We are working on a project where a building is to be demolished and demolition waste generated (Concrete debris, etc) is to be reused for infilling. as per the above comments my understanding is that we cant document this measure under MRc3 but still possible to consider under MRc4 & MRc5. correct me if im wrong. and is it justifiable to document construction debris as regional materials?
A good way to know a material qualifies for MRc5, even if it is demolition waste from the project site, is to verify that the 'product' would have been purchased otherwise. Is the material necessary? Would you have had to purchase it from another source? If yes, and you are able to collect and use that material from your own site, it should qualify. Since you are not counting this toward MRc3 you can count it for MRc4.
Reference Guide typo?
This, from p. 365 of LEED 2009 Green Building Design and Construction (sentence fragment not mine): "Other reused material found on-site. Components that are retained and continue to serve their original function, such as door hardware, are eligible for this credit."
Should read, "are _not_ eligible", right? Everything I've read indicates that this type of material would certainly not qualify for MRc3.
If this is a real typo, it was not addressed in the 5/3/2010 addenda.
Yes, I agree this looks like a typo. Retained components reused for their original function don't qualify here.
I agree as well. But don't forget that in some cases those materials can qualify for MRc5.
It is my understanding that "fixed" items that are retained for their original function are not eligible for MRc3 and should be applied to MRc1.2. However, "finish" items, such as door hardware, that are retained, are eligible for MRc3. Agree?
Karen, I would agree here.
I agree as well and feel that is probably the best way to view materials as "fixed" vs "finish" as they apply for MRc1.2 vs MRc3, respectively.
Equipment and furniture for building reuse credit MR. C3
In designing a vehicle maintenance facility there are many items that can be reused from one facility to be demolished to another. I have a building that is being taken down after the new building is built. All viable equipment which is valued at a couple hundred thousand dollars will be taken from the old building and used in the new facility. New equipment can be purchased; we have intercepted the Agency and recovered many pieces to be ‘reused’. Would this count toward the MR C3 intent? Any other projects have the same experience?
This seems like a tough one. If you look at the CSI sections that are applicable for MRc3, equipment does not qualify, as far as I can tell.
You might have better luck with CI MRc3.2 which covers furniture and furnishings. Since you're an NC project maybe you could pursue this under IDc1? One issue there might be that the reused material either needs to be from a different "site" or be reused in a different purpose. Not sure if either of those apply here. Also there may be restrictions relative to the CSI section for furniture.
This might warrant followup with GBCI. Anyone else have thoughts?
I agree with Tristan here, equipment is not recognized in the MRc3 for NC. I would recommend pursuing this as an IDc1. If you pursue it this way the question becomes whether or not you need to now include the FFE budgets in all of the materials credits. As Tristan suggests, I would check with GBCI on this.
Similarly, I am pursuing the CI credit EQc4.5 for a LEED NC project as an IDc1. They have not yet confirmed that if the project pursues this as an ID credit whether we will then be required to include the FFE in the MR credits. The team has looked at the calculations both ways and has determined that it is not to the benefit of MRc4 and MRc5 if the FFE budget has to be included - it makes reaching the target threshold much more difficult. This might not be true in your case. Based on the feedback we get from GBCI we will decide whether or not to pursue it as an ID credit.
I will post again once I hear. You do the same!
MR c3 Materials reuse
Hi
If the site is using alot of infill from other projects will that qualify?
That should qualify as long as the materials fall within the qualifying CSI categories and you are not using virgin materials.
I am not sure if the use of infill from other projects does qualify for this credit. 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 for LEED v.2.2 for MRc3 dated 8/14/03 states the intent of this credit is to extend the life cycle of building materials through re-use rather than re-manufacture. The CIR stated that using fill material from the demolition of structures (in this case on-site structures) does not meet the intent of the credit. However, this material could be counted as diverting waste from the landfill (MRc2).
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