NC v2.2 EQc4.1: Low-Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants

I would use the indoor carpet adhesives as it is an architectural application specific to the carpet. VOC limit is 50 g/L,

Suzanne, you can read about how to do the VOC budget method in the tips under the Checklists tab, above.

Thank you, If there is a very small amount of one non
compliant material in a very large project - I mean it is
obvious it will level out... is there a short cut for the process? Does one only have to budget it against one
other material?

Several other questions/comments discuss this issue already.

Does anyone knows what "Sheet applied rubber lining operations" refers to? if adhesive- can this category applies to waterproof membrane contact adhesive?

It sounds like an industrial process to me and not something dealing with building waterproofing. See Tysa and John's conversation below for waterproofing VOC limits.

Yes

HI Myra.
For this particular credit you can use the VOC budget method, but it is a bit complicated. I'd be happy if there were other solutions as well.

No other solutions, unfortunately, other than ripping out the product everywhere it's installed and starting over. Budget method or no credit.

Hi Matthew.
I'm in a similar situation and the question is not as simple as it sounds. My interpretation of this situation is that you need one more number which is specific weight and do a bit of calculation. Let's say that for this example the specific weight of your product is 2000g/L and the VOC 79g/L is counted less water. The Solid Content is then 28%x 2000 equals 560g/L. 79g/L of VOC divided by 560 equals 14,1% of VOC based on weight.

Am I right?

It sounds like the product you're concerned with is the waterproofing barrier itself? USGBC has issued a clarification on this that the actual barrier does not need to comply with this credit. (I think this applies to all rating systems but don't recall offhand.)

I believe it would qualify as an architectural sealant.

i also think same.

I've never heard about solder and flux being considered under this credit. Seems outside the intended scope.

From SCAQMD:

CONTACT ADHESIVE is an adhesive applied to two separate surfaces, allowed to dry, and brought together for adhesion and bonding with subsequent pressure.

SPECIAL PURPOSE CONTACT ADHESIVE is a contact adhesive that is used to bond melamine covered board, unprimed metal, unsupported vinyl, Teflon, ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene, rubber and wood veneer 1/16 inch or less in thickness to any porous or nonporous surface.

I'm sharing the link to the definitions. It is a useful document.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/drdb/sc/suphtml/1168_s_6-7-02.htm

LEED has no ban on steel weldings that I've ever heard of. I can't even think what this might be referring to. There are air emissions from welding, and they can be bad, although I didn't know they were considered 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.. If that's the concern, I would need to near more from you on where you consider them to fall under this credit. And maybe it's simply not pursuing this credit if it's going to compromise the integrity of the system.

Thanks Tristan :)
I had never heard from this before neither, but I wanted to be sure before I give an answer. The issue is that their solution for pipes´ unions have a high level of stress compromising the plumbing system of all the building and the justification was just that "LEED does not allow to use steel welding"...
Anyway... thanks a lot for your help!

The best way that I have ever had it explained to me by a LEED Reviewer is that if it is 'touched by the indoor air' then it has to be considered for EQc4.1. So I would say that it isn't the weatherproofing system itself - as its emissions should hopefully mostly be mixing with outdoor air.

Just on another note - you asked about insulation. Insulation has been called out in 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 (http://www.usgbc.org/LEED/Credit/CIRDetails.aspx?CIID=2517) for being low-emitting and helping contribute to EQc4.6. Hope this helps.

Any Ideas on whether this is a EQ4.1 or EQ4.2 item!

From my understanding a fluoropolymerA polymer (compound made up of many identical molecules linked by chemical bonds) containing the element fluorine; the most recog­nized fluoropolymer is polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), sold under DuPont's Teflon trademark. A key constituent in making some fluoropolymers, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), has come under scrutiny as a "likely carcinogen." coating's purpose is as a corrosive resistant. I would put that in a Paint and Coating so EQc4.2. Also remember while we would all like all of our coatings and adhesives to have low voc content, sometimes they can't be and you can do a VOC budget of all the products either in EQc4.1 or c4.2 to get your credit.

LEEDuser.com's explanation of EQc4.1 and c4.2 both have an explanatoin of this method if you need it.

*correction, EPA Method 310

EPA Method 310 is a test procedure used to identify the amount of 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.. SCAQMD Rule #1168 provides a maximum VOC content for various materials, in this case sealants. Rule #1168 states that the VOC content of sealants shall be determined in accordance with EPA Method 24 or SCAQMD Method 304. EPA Method 310 has a number of testing procedures, many of which are based on EPA method 24: http://www.arb.ca.gov/testmeth/cptm/sopssumm.htm

The EPA method is the test procedure used to determine the VOC content which needs to be compared to SCAQMD for compliance.

Hope that helps clear it up.

I would assume that the wood filler would be considered a sealant. Looking at the actual 1168 rule, http://www.aqmd.gov/rules/reg/reg11/r1168.pdf , there are only a few categories listed for sealants: architectural, non-membrane roof, roadway, single ply roof membrane, and other. Based on the definitions outlined by the 1168 rule, you could probably categorize the filler as either architectural 250g/l or other 420 g/l. It doesn't seem to be an exact science but you will need to make you best guess for what category it should fall under.

It's been our understanding that these products are sealersSealers are coatings applied to either block materials from penetrating into or leaching out of a substrate, to prevent subsequent coatings from being absorbed by the substrate, or to prevent harm to subsequent coatings by materials in the substrate. (as opposed to sealants, which have adhesive properties), and would be under the scope of EQc4.2.

It sounds correct to me, but it's a little unclear. The manufacturer is not presenting the information very clearly. I would check with them, to make sure they don't mean 70%–75% of 500.

Thank you very much. I also have another question on the same subject of Sealant Primer.
I could not find a Sealant Primer for Architecftural Non Porous application which has VOC content less than 250g/l and does not freeze at low temperature. The Sealant Primers which have low VOC less than 250g/l are water based and freeze at Zero deg. C and are not suitable for application during winter construction in Northern Climate. Any suggestion will be appreciated.

I am not surprised: alkyd primers are more versatile, and have higher 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..

I don't know of a specific product to suggest (although you may want to peruse the GreenSpec products listings the sidebar to the right), but I would suggest you go to the VOC budget method to get around this issue.

I guess I may have to do VOC budget but for that it will be useful to know 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 declared VOC limits, Is it 70%-75% less than 500 g/l or 70%-75% of 500 g/l ?

I think Mara's response here on IEQc4.2 to a similar question about flooring products is great, and helpful.

For your second question, I don't know.... is there a specific product you were wondering about?

Keith, you may find this forum discussion on the 2009 version of this credit useful.

Key quote from that post: "single-ply roofing adhesives and single-ply roof membrane sealants do not have to be considered when evaluating compliance with this credit."

Push the mechanical contractors to get options from their vendors - even some solvent based roof membrane adhesives are now low-emitting so mechanical application adhesives should be coming along. Remember the original goal of LEED rating systems was to transform the marketplace...

Of course you can always go the VOC budget route.

If they're not adhesives or sealants applied during construction, and it sounds like these aren't, then they are not covered by this credit.

Yes, this credit is applicable to ALL adhesives, sealants, paints and coatings (including specialty items)...not just in Division 2-12 like in the MR credits. If you can't find products that meet the requirements you could always do the VOC budget...it's really not as difficult as it seems.

Shannon

So just to clarify, the VOC reporting requirements also apply to all Firestopping sealants used in the interior of the building? And if so, what VOC limit does that fall under?

Yes, that's right, Kim. Sounds to me like "other" with a VOC limit of 420.

Are there credits other than EQc4 which include and/or do not specifically exclude (like in the MR credits) MEP and specialty equipment?

Matt, MR credits 3–7 specifically exclude MEP components. There is more info on that on those pages on LEEDuser.

Thanks Tristan, I should have been more specific-- I was wondering if there are other Contractor credits which would require the spec data for MEP & specialty items. I am aware of only the MR credits (which exclude them) and EQc4 (which specifically include them).

Matt, I can only think of EA credits that require this information. Maybe IEQc3.2 if building HVAC will be used for flush-out.