Schools IEQc4.6: Low-Emitting Materials—Ceiling and Wall Systems

Cheryl,

Traditionally this low-emitting product credit gets lots of questions so please do not feel as if you are the only ones. The specific things that you have to make sure meet the CA 01350 requirements are Insulation, drywall, acoustic ceiling tiles and wall coverings these all must be included. I know of other projects that have included the other products that you mentioned - mainly because they were focusing on good indoor air quality, but also to ensure that they were covered.

If you have the 4 main products pass, then you should be awarded the point. The other products can potentially impact the indoor air quality so you may want to look around for some low-emitting options for them as well, but it shouldn't impact getting the point.

The short answer is no - meeting IEQc 4.4 does not show qualification for IEQc 4.6.

The reasoning is a little more complicated. IEQc 4.4 looks at the amount of 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. being emitted from 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. and tries to minimize it. IEQ c 4.6 looks at the amount of 35 individual chemicals (including formaldehyde) being emitted from ceiling and wall systems and tries to minimize those 35 individual chemicals. Additionally, the testing required by the two credits is different.

So again, I would say that qualifying for IEQ c4.4 might help the overall intent of having a low amount of volatile organic compounds in the indoor environment, but it will not show compliance with IEQ c4.6.

Cheryl,

EQc4.6 officially reads that 'all gypsum board, insulation, acoustical ceiling systems and wall coverings' installed in the building need to meet CA 01350 emission requirements. I could see due to how I have seen it sold/talked about that mineral wool firestopping might be looked at as insulation. Obviously for the sake of the indoor air quality it would be good if it was a low-emitting product, but I could see the case being made that it isn't called out and therefore doesn't need to be.

Linda - I can say that I have never heard the interior of elevators asked about before, but here is my reading of the situation.

EQc4.6 officially reads that 'all gypsum board, insulation, acoustical ceiling systems and wall coverings' installed in the building need to meet CA 01350 emission requirements. So if you have none of those in your elevator cabs, then I do not believe that they have to comply.

Now the thing that I would make sure of is that if you are going after EQc4.3 (flooring), is that the flooring in the elevator meets CA 01350 requirements. I can see the elevator flooring being included in EQc4.3 requirements.

I am thinking that maybe providing the testing standards for GREENGUARD for Children and Schools and CHPS low-emitting database that show that the products must be tested to meet the 01350 standard. Do you think that would be sufficient?

HI Alison,

It sounds to me like the review team is off track in rejecting what you submitted. I'd suggest getting back to them with that info from the manual and pushing them to explain what's missing. Also, try to move the conversation up the chain from your initial reviewer to a more senior person if you can...

Alison - if you are looking to take that tact with them here are a couple of links that may help:

GREENGUARD C&S Standard: http://www.greenguard.org/Libraries/GG_Documents/GGPS_002_GREENGUARDChil... (this shows that the California CRELs, which are what is covered in CA 01350, are one part of the criteria which has to be passed).

California Dept of Public Health Indoor Air Quality Program page which lists what certification programs to look at for qualifying products: http://www.cal-iaq.org/vocs/voc-links

Thanks for your help! We have several other comments on other credits where it does seem like the reviewer does not even understand the standards and is not reviewing the requirements before they request additional information.

Unfortunately a more common occurence then I think we would all like. It is an incredible amount of information to retain, but walking through it with you before ruling would certainly be a better policy.

Linda - many people actually ask about what makes up a ceiling and wall component, so your team is having a normal reaction. In your example - unfinished metal (one that does not have a coating of any kind on it) would be exempt as it does not emit any 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 someone is looking for justification of that, then you can point them to the new proposed Low-Emitting Materials Pilot Credit. If the wood is a 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. (OSBOriented-strand board (OSB). Consists of wood or plant particles or fibers bonded by a synthetic resin or binder. Examples include particleboard, medium-density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, wheatboard, oriented-strand board, and strawboard., particle board, etc) piece then it would fall under EQc4.4, not EQc4.6.

What I have seen most teams that get this do is ensure that their gypsum board (ceiling and/or wall), insulation (ceiling and/or wall), acoustical ceiling tiles (if that is what you are using), and wallcoverings (fabric, wallpaper, other) show compliance to the CA 01350 requirements (see above comment for link to it). Now if you are not using acoustical ceiling tiles and you are using something else - such as some formed wood - then that would need to show compliance as well as it is a piece of the ceiling that is exposed to the occupants.

Josh,
In your reply you mentioned that unfinished metals without a coating of any kind would be exempt from this credit. What about ceiling accessories and grids that are factory finished? We're having trouble finding any information about how those elements fit into this credit. Has anybody else run into this confusion? Thanks!

When I was talking about metal being exempt it would be due to the new Pilot Credit 21 and its reference to unfinished metal being exempt from emission criteria.

What I have seen most often needed for garnering this credit is the actual ceiling tiles, but I can certainly understand if a LEED reviewer reads the credit as looking for the complete system to have emission clearance testing.

Unfortunately, the standard does not have a specific VOC level. This credit is not like the other low-emitting credits (IEQc4.1-4.4) where you can pick up a can of paint and easily see if it's compliant or not. You will need to do some research to find existing products that have already passed the testing standards. All of the following certifications are compliant for this credit: CA section 01350, GREENGUARD Children &Schools certification and Indoor Advantage Gold by SCS. Check out the LEED User Resources page for this credit to find links to these sources.

Shannon

The STANDARD PRACTICE FOR THE TESTING OF VOLATILE ORGANIC EMISSIONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES USING SMALL-SCALE ENVIRONMENTAL CHAMBERS (or CA 01350 as it can be called sometimes) has limits on breathable chemicals. Some of the other low-emission credits are actually based on VOC content. While looking for GREENGUARD Children & Schools or SCS Indoor Advantage Gold can be helpful, products can also prove compliance to this credit with a test lab report showing that the emission of 35 specific chemicals are below the limits.

Those limits are shown on page 37 here: http://www.cal-iaq.org/vocpublications?download=18%3Avoc_standard_method

I am running into the same type of question on the gypsum roof cover board that is directly under the waterproofing membrane but over the rigid insulation and roof deck. IEQ 4.6 addresses materials that might emit contaminates installed in the building interior of a school, However, It seems unlikely a thin layer of gypsum board essentually barricaded from the interior by rigid insulation, a wood or metal roof deck, and the ceiling system would have any impact on indoor air quality- just because it is under the waterproofing membrane.

I agree with your assessment Barry. If it is outside the roof deck I would say that it wouldn't have an effect on the indoor air quality, but I believe USGBC looks at it as if it is inside the 'weatherproofing barrier'. Therefore, they may be looking at the water proofing membrane as that barrier.

Hi Peggy,

The people who focus on material contributions to IAQIndoor air quality: The quality and attributes of indoor air affecting the health and comfort building occupants. IAQ encompasses available fresh air, contaminant levels, acoustics and noise levels, lighting quality, and other factors. are pretty adamant that anything inside the weather barrier communicates directly with indoor air (through gaps in the roof deck, for example), so I suspect that their intention WAS to include roofing insulation. If you put the insulation on top of the membrane, then it would clearly be outside the weather barrier.

But I can certainly see how this could be a gray area, and would love to hear from others with experience or informed opinions...

Yes, Nadav this is exactly how I see it. Insulation is generally inside the weather barrier and therefore would need to be included in this credit. For our projects, insulation is usually the sticking point of this credit but there are products out there.

Good luck!
Shannon

Thanks so much for your responses. Yes, roofing insulation is inside the weather barrier and I certainly support pushing the bar up as much as we can and as fast as we can, but roofing insulation is not part of the interior "ceiling system". Consideration needs to be given to insulation mounted on a metal deck as well (What percentage 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. would migrate through?), or on a plywood deck (what about the VOCs in the plywood?).

I checked the CIRs and nobody has posed this question yet. I hoping that someone with the definitive answer will respond to this post.

Whatever the outcome, the reference guide should clarify this issue in the future.

Thanks!
Peggy

The issue here seems to be that "ceiling" means something very different than "roofing," and USGBC was not sensitive to that in writing this credit.

However, USGBC is very consistent with these credits that all materials within the weatherproofing barrier are covered, so unless the insulation is outside of that barrier, it must be considered part of the "ceiling system" and comply with the credit.

Also, the credit language is more clear than the name of the credit. The language itself says "All gypsum board, insulation, acoustical ceiling systems and wall coverings installed in the building interior..." are covered. So again, interior means within the weather barrier.

Plywood is covered under IEQc4.4, so hopefully teams would pursue that as well. The point about metal is fair but for better or worse, LEED tends to avoid going into such detail as to prescribe different requirements depending on the roofing deck used.

Has anyone had any luck identifying isocyanurate roofing insulation that meets the credit requirements? In certain areas of our project, there is no roofing membrane, and the isocyanurate is fastened directly to the steel deck. I am researching the available products on the market, but would love to hear if anyone else has found anything.

The IEQc4.6 credit language seems to anticipate your question, stating that "acoustical ceiling systems and wall coverings" must comply. What you describe seem to be "acoustical ceiling systems." What do you think—is this not an accurate or fair description?

Yes, Tristan, I believe you are correct. Just wanted to confirm, since there is a limited availability of these products on the market. Our design team is currently researching the Certainteed Ecophon Hygiene Baffles (which appear to meet the requirements for EQc4.6), to see if they can be purchased in the dimensions that are needed for our project.