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Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Paints and coatings used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied onsite) must comply with the following criteria as applicable to the project scope1:
- Architectural paints and coatings applied to interior walls and ceilings must not exceed the volatile organic compound (VOC) content limits established in Green Seal Standard GS-11, Paints, 1st Edition, May 20, 1993.
- Anti-corrosive and anti-rust paints applied to interior ferrous metal substrates must not exceed the VOC content limit of 250 g/L (2 lb/gal) established in Green Seal Standard GC-03, Anti-Corrosive Paints, 2nd Edition, January 7, 1997.
- Clear wood finishes, floor coatings, stains, primers, sealers, and shellacs applied to interior elements must not exceed the VOC content limits established in South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings, rules in effect on January 1, 2004.
Credit substitution available
You may use the LEED v4 version of this credit on v2009 projects. For more information check out this article.What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
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Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
How should graphic arts paint or coatings be categorized?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
The standards referenced for this credit have been updated since those listed in the LEED Reference Guide – does our project need to follow the latest SCAQMD Rules and Green Seal editions, or the ones listed in the reference guide?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
How should handheld aerosol spray paints be handled?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
What are the VOC limits for primers? They seem to be listed in both GS-11 and SCAQMD Rule 1113.The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Addenda
Primers have been adjusted from the GS-11 VOC limits to the SCAQMD Rule 1113 limit for consistency with the original balloted version of LEED 2009. General purpose primers for wall and ceiling paint are widely available at lower VOC concentrations than the specified limit. Content will vary for certain substrates and in high-performance applications.
Architectural paints and coatings list VOC limits of 50 g/L for flats, and 150 g/L for non-flats - however, these limits specify application at walls and ceilings. Layout lines and markings applied to resilient athletic flooring often include graphics and lettering; the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113 defines Graphic Arts Coatings as "coatings formulated for hand-application by artists using brush or roller techniques to indoor and outdoor signs (excluding structural components) and murals, including lettering enamels, poster colors, copy blockers, and bulleting enamels." Graphic Arts Coatings carries a VOC limit of 500g/L. As indicated above, paints applied to resilient athletic floors do not meet the VOC limits for paint as specified in the credit requirements, however, they are compliant with VOC limits of Graphic Arts Coatings as specified by SCAQMD Rule 1113. Please clarify if roller or brush-applied paint for layout lines and markings would be classified as Graphic Arts Coatings, under SCAQMD rule 1113. If not, please advise how to otherwise achieve the credit requirements. Additionally, graphics applied to textured resilient athletic flooring require air-brushing layout lines and markings; the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113 defines Aerosol Coating Products as "pressurized coating product containing pigments or resins that dispenses product ingredients by means of a propellant, and is packaged in a disposable can for hand-held application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground marking and traffic marking applications." VOC limits for Aerosol Coating Products are excluded from Green Seal Standard GS-11, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District rule 1113. The USGBC also ruled on 02/10/2009 that Aerosol Coating Products are excluded from EQc4.2. As paint for floor graphics is loaded into a compressor, and applied using air as the propellant, please clarify if this would be deemed an Aerosol Coating Product, and therefore excluded from this credit. If not, please advise how to otherwise achieve the credit requirements.
The project team is seeking clarification on the applicable standards for paint used for layout lines and markings on athletic flooring. For any roller or brush-applied paint, the proposed reference standard, Graphic Arts Coating for SCAQMD rule 1113 appears to be the appropriate standard for this application. Similarly, when the paint is applied using a compressor and propellant, it would meet the definition of an aerosol coating product, per the same rule. Applicable Internationally.
This project is a healthcare facility consisting of 3 renovated floors, floors 9, 10 and 13. As part of patient care and to meet patient safety requirements on the 13th psychiatric floor, 21 square feet of Tabrasa Ultra Dry Erase Coating has been applied to each of 27 patient rooms. This dry erase coating does not clearly fall within any of the architectural coating categories defined in LEED for Commercial Interiors Version 2.0 IEQ Credit 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings under South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113. The product does comply under LEED for Schools 2009 IEQ Credit 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings requirements as defined by the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers. The project team is requesting that this product be acceptable under the LEED for Commercial Interiors Version 2.0 IEQ 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings.
The project team is asking how to classify dry-erase coatings which are not specifically addressed in South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113. The product regulatory category and credit reporting classification should be determined and declared by the manufacturer. If the regulatory category and classification cannot be determined or the product is a specialty product not otherwise listed in the Table of Standards or defined in the associated Definitions per section (b) , it would fall under the default VOC limit of 250 g/L as per section (c)(1) of South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113 (dated July 09 2004). Alternatively, if the classification cannot be determined or the product is a specialty product, the product\'s compliance with the LEED for Schools 2009 IEQ Credit 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings requirements for the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers is an acceptable alternative to the SCAQMD Rule 1113 VOC content requirements for healthcare projects. CDPH testing is also acceptable for office projects provided the office testing scenario is used. Applicable Internationally.***Updated 01/01/2013 to modify applicability for LEED-NC v2.2 from not applicable to applicable.
Can the VOC limits of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2007, Suggested Control Measure (SCM) for Architectural Coatings be used to meet the credit requirements for paints and coatings used on the interior of the building as an alternative to the VOC limits in Green Seal GS-11 1993, Green Seal GC 03 2nd Edition 1997, and SCAQMD Rule 1113 2004?
Yes, paints and coatings that comply with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2007, Suggested Control Measure (SCM) for Architectural Coatings meet the requirements of this credit.
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© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Paints and coatings used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied onsite) must comply with the following criteria as applicable to the project scope1:
- Architectural paints and coatings applied to interior walls and ceilings must not exceed the volatile organic compound (VOC) content limits established in Green Seal Standard GS-11, Paints, 1st Edition, May 20, 1993.
- Anti-corrosive and anti-rust paints applied to interior ferrous metal substrates must not exceed the VOC content limit of 250 g/L (2 lb/gal) established in Green Seal Standard GC-03, Anti-Corrosive Paints, 2nd Edition, January 7, 1997.
- Clear wood finishes, floor coatings, stains, primers, sealers, and shellacs applied to interior elements must not exceed the VOC content limits established in South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings, rules in effect on January 1, 2004.
Credit substitution available
You may use the LEED v4 version of this credit on v2009 projects. For more information check out this article.XX%
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Got the gist of IEQc4.2 but not sure how to actually achieve it? LEEDuser gives step-by-step help. Premium members get:
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- Guidance documents on arcane LEED issues.
- Sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions.
- Examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects.
How should graphic arts paint or coatings be categorized?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
The standards referenced for this credit have been updated since those listed in the LEED Reference Guide – does our project need to follow the latest SCAQMD Rules and Green Seal editions, or the ones listed in the reference guide?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
How should handheld aerosol spray paints be handled?The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
What are the VOC limits for primers? They seem to be listed in both GS-11 and SCAQMD Rule 1113.The answer to this question is available to LEEDuser premium members. Start a free trial » (If you're already a premium member, log in here.) |
Primers have been adjusted from the GS-11 VOC limits to the SCAQMD Rule 1113 limit for consistency with the original balloted version of LEED 2009. General purpose primers for wall and ceiling paint are widely available at lower VOC concentrations than the specified limit. Content will vary for certain substrates and in high-performance applications.
Architectural paints and coatings list VOC limits of 50 g/L for flats, and 150 g/L for non-flats - however, these limits specify application at walls and ceilings. Layout lines and markings applied to resilient athletic flooring often include graphics and lettering; the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113 defines Graphic Arts Coatings as "coatings formulated for hand-application by artists using brush or roller techniques to indoor and outdoor signs (excluding structural components) and murals, including lettering enamels, poster colors, copy blockers, and bulleting enamels." Graphic Arts Coatings carries a VOC limit of 500g/L. As indicated above, paints applied to resilient athletic floors do not meet the VOC limits for paint as specified in the credit requirements, however, they are compliant with VOC limits of Graphic Arts Coatings as specified by SCAQMD Rule 1113. Please clarify if roller or brush-applied paint for layout lines and markings would be classified as Graphic Arts Coatings, under SCAQMD rule 1113. If not, please advise how to otherwise achieve the credit requirements. Additionally, graphics applied to textured resilient athletic flooring require air-brushing layout lines and markings; the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113 defines Aerosol Coating Products as "pressurized coating product containing pigments or resins that dispenses product ingredients by means of a propellant, and is packaged in a disposable can for hand-held application, or for use in specialized equipment for ground marking and traffic marking applications." VOC limits for Aerosol Coating Products are excluded from Green Seal Standard GS-11, and the South Coast Air Quality Management District rule 1113. The USGBC also ruled on 02/10/2009 that Aerosol Coating Products are excluded from EQc4.2. As paint for floor graphics is loaded into a compressor, and applied using air as the propellant, please clarify if this would be deemed an Aerosol Coating Product, and therefore excluded from this credit. If not, please advise how to otherwise achieve the credit requirements.
The project team is seeking clarification on the applicable standards for paint used for layout lines and markings on athletic flooring. For any roller or brush-applied paint, the proposed reference standard, Graphic Arts Coating for SCAQMD rule 1113 appears to be the appropriate standard for this application. Similarly, when the paint is applied using a compressor and propellant, it would meet the definition of an aerosol coating product, per the same rule. Applicable Internationally.
This project is a healthcare facility consisting of 3 renovated floors, floors 9, 10 and 13. As part of patient care and to meet patient safety requirements on the 13th psychiatric floor, 21 square feet of Tabrasa Ultra Dry Erase Coating has been applied to each of 27 patient rooms. This dry erase coating does not clearly fall within any of the architectural coating categories defined in LEED for Commercial Interiors Version 2.0 IEQ Credit 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings under South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113. The product does comply under LEED for Schools 2009 IEQ Credit 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings requirements as defined by the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers. The project team is requesting that this product be acceptable under the LEED for Commercial Interiors Version 2.0 IEQ 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings.
The project team is asking how to classify dry-erase coatings which are not specifically addressed in South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113. The product regulatory category and credit reporting classification should be determined and declared by the manufacturer. If the regulatory category and classification cannot be determined or the product is a specialty product not otherwise listed in the Table of Standards or defined in the associated Definitions per section (b) , it would fall under the default VOC limit of 250 g/L as per section (c)(1) of South Coast Air Quality Management District Rule 1113 (dated July 09 2004). Alternatively, if the classification cannot be determined or the product is a specialty product, the product\'s compliance with the LEED for Schools 2009 IEQ Credit 4.2 Low Emitting Materials Paints and Coatings requirements for the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers is an acceptable alternative to the SCAQMD Rule 1113 VOC content requirements for healthcare projects. CDPH testing is also acceptable for office projects provided the office testing scenario is used. Applicable Internationally.***Updated 01/01/2013 to modify applicability for LEED-NC v2.2 from not applicable to applicable.
Can the VOC limits of the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2007, Suggested Control Measure (SCM) for Architectural Coatings be used to meet the credit requirements for paints and coatings used on the interior of the building as an alternative to the VOC limits in Green Seal GS-11 1993, Green Seal GC 03 2nd Edition 1997, and SCAQMD Rule 1113 2004?
Yes, paints and coatings that comply with the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2007, Suggested Control Measure (SCM) for Architectural Coatings meet the requirements of this credit.