Schools IEQc4.1: Low-Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants

Only the adhesives, sealants, paints and coating that are inside the weather barrier AND applied on-site have to comply. Thus you don't have to track the stains, paints, and adhesives used to assemble and finish items that are produced off site. As much as that would address many more instances of poor air quality, especially for workers who are part of the manufacturing process, it would also be administrative nightmare!

An 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, cut sheet, or letter from the manufacturer is sufficient to verify the VOC content—a lab certificate is also sufficient but not needed.

The documentation requirements are discussed above under the Checklists tab, under Construction Documents. If you don't have an actual VOC number, but the manufacturer says the product is compliant, that's okay, but you have to assume that the VOC number is at the threshold, e.g. if the limit is 150 g/L, assume that the product is 150 g/L.

Would it be classified as a Dry Wall and Panel Adhesive? SCAQMD 1168 defines a Dry Wall Adhesive as "an adhesive used during the installation of gypsum dry wall to studs or solid surfaces." Dry wall joint compound does not seem to meet this defintion.

Alison, I would be curious to hear what others have to say but I don't think this falls under either IEQc4.1 and IEQc4.2. It is clearly not a paint or coating, and I think it would be stretch to call it an adhesive or sealant. It is really functionally more similar to the drywall itself rather than an adhesive.

If anything, it would be covered under IEQc4.6: Low-Emitting Materials—Ceilings and Wall Systems, but as we discuss under IEQc4.6, it is not covered there either (although using a low-emitting product is a good idea, especially if you're doing IEQc3.2.

Check the link that's on the "Product Certification and Testing" strategy page in the upper right of this page -- or follow this link.

Has anybody documented compliance with this "California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Souorces Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers"? it was a requirement under LEED for Schools 2007, but USGBC has retired this requirement in newer versions.
The problem is that almost no product list any reference to this standard in their product data, and the standard itself is very complex in its requirements; impossible to prove compliance with the information provided by manufacturers.
CHPS has started an online lsit of compliant products, as mentioned by Tristan above. But this list has been discontinued and the remaining list is very poor.

Does anybody believe USGBC would grant an alternative compliance path by using the requirements of newer versions of LEED?

Thank you

Product listings that comply with the CA 01350 small chamber testing such as doors and furniture can be found on Scientific Certfication Systems website under Green Products. You can search by the CA 01350 standard and all products 3rd party certfied by SCS to that standard will be listed.

I am the technical information & public affairs manager for GREENGUARD Environmental Institute and GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification shows compliance to the CA 01350 standard. These can be found on www.greenguard.org and there are over 200 individual adhesives in the free product guide that would show compliance to the CA 01350 requirements.