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Allow time for documentation
Documenting this credit can take time, since cost and exact percentages of post- and pre-consumer materials must be collected for each recycled item used.
LEED requires the base materials budget to be consistent across all MR credits. The LEED Online credit forms help provide consistency across MR credits by applying the same data to multiple credits. Materials used to earn this credit cannot also be counted for MRc3: Materials Reuse, nor for MRc7: Certified WoodWood from a source that has been determined, through a certification process, to meet stated ecological and other criteria. There are numerous forest certification programs in general use...
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7 Comments
Rebar
I have a question about tracking the recycled content for rebar. Considering the various metal components included in rebar, can you include letters from all relevant manufacturers with their percentages of recycled content and then use the lowest percentage for the line item for the formula? I know there is the default percentages, however, on average the various percentages are in the 90s. Thanks for any advice.
Nell
Back up documentation
When this credit is audited and the total back-up documentation is requested, what does LEED require aside from the cut-sheets/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/letter from manufacturer that specifically identifies the % and type of recycled content? Sorry if I missed where that information was listed within the resources/checklist page...
Nothing else. Just the things you've mentioned--any official documentation from the supplier verifying the information you've provided in the credit form.
Nell, also to clarify, auditing is not something that is happening any more. You just need to supply the requested documetnation up-front for the regular review.
Thank you! I appreciate your feedback.
Cost per Item/Number of Items Purchased Inquiry
This question pertains to all of the following credits: MRc3, MRc4, MRc5, MRc6, MRc7, and IEQc4.
In order to document each of these credits, the forms on LEED Online asks you to indicate a cost per item and number of items purchased, which then calculates sustainable criteria percentages based on those numbers. Our contractor only provided the total material cost for each product, and does not have that separated into the two categories (cost per item and number of items purchased) that LEED requests. Would it be possible to enter the total material cost under the cost per item and 1 under the number of items purchased? You will arrive at the same number whether the cost is broken down or not. When the credits are submitted, will the reviewing board accept or reject this approach to documentation?
Thanks!
This is an interesting predicament. It really shows how much easier this whole thing is if the process is set up well--ideally the contractor would have the credit calculator from the beginning of construction (perhaps even be responsible for filling it out), and would have been collecting the data in the way you need from day one. It always causes problems when you don't start documenting something until after it's done.
Getting off my soapbox now... I can only say that what you're proposing might be accepted, but it's also likely to lead a reviewer to wonder whether the data you've entered is reliable, and trigger a request to see back-up documentation. So you can go ahead and enter it that way now, but be prepared to go back to your contractor for more details (and perhaps even documents validating those details), if the reviewers ask for it.
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