Avoiding carcinogens in building materials

Update: USGBC is closing Pilot Credits 54 to new project registrants as of 2/15/13.

This credit encourages LEED project teams to specify materials that do not contain chemicals that are known to negatively impact human health (specifically in regards to cancer and reproductive toxicity). While LCA is a powerful analytical tool, the information driving LCA based decisions often fails to adequately address material impacts associated with human health.

To address LCAs short comings, the MR section proposes requirements for avoidance of harmful chemicals in building products. This credit not only builds on the shortcomings of LCA, but also addresses USGBC’s larger mission of advancing product manufacturing and alternative assessment across the spectrum of indus-trial chemicals to support systematic redesign of building products for progressively better human health ecological health.

Credit Submittals

General

1. Register for Pilot Credit(s) here. 
2. Register a username at LEEDuser.com, and participate in online forum
3. Submit feedback survey; supply PDF of your survey/confirmation of completion with credit documentation

Credit Specific

Submit a list of products purchased contributing toward credit.  List the cost and number of items purchased per contributing products and calculate the weighted value according to total weight of materials purchased.

Additional Questions

• Were you able to determine targeted chemical content for all of the products selected? If not what were the challenges in obtaining desired data?
• Was the comprehensive evaluation of chemical ingredients, combinations and alternatives assessment useful to your product selection? How did you use it?
• Were targeted chemical-free alternatives available? What were those materials/products?