LEEDuser’s viewpoint
Explore this LEED credit
Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Implement any of the following advanced framing techniques for at least 90% of each component.
- Implement one of the following optimum value engineering measures in exterior walls and common walls (1 point):
- Install no more than one horizontal 2x top plate on walls by aligning studs with joists and roof rafters.
- Place window and door headers in the rim joist.
- Install raised (directly beneath the top plate), single-ply headers not more than 2 inches nominal thickness in a 2x4 wall or 4 inches nominal thickness in a 2x6 wall, in accordance with International Residential Code 2012.
- Install structural insulated panels (SIPs) for walls.
- Implement any two of the following for all interior and exterior walls (0.5 point):
- Size headers for actual loads.
- Use ladder blocking or drywall clips.
- Use two-stud corners or California corners.
- Space interior wall studs greater than 16 inches o.c. (400 mm o.c.) (0.5 point).
- Space floor joists greater than 16 inches o.c. (400 mm o.c.) or SIPs (0.5 point).
- Space roof rafters greater than 16 inches o.c. (400 mm o.c.) or SIPs (0.5 point).
What does it cost?
Cost estimates for this credit
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Frequently asked questions
See all forum discussions about this credit »Documentation toolkit
The motherlode of cheat sheets
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
Requirements
Implement any of the following advanced framing techniques for at least 90% of each component.
- Implement one of the following optimum value engineering measures in exterior walls and common walls (1 point):
- Install no more than one horizontal 2x top plate on walls by aligning studs with joists and roof rafters.
- Place window and door headers in the rim joist.
- Install raised (directly beneath the top plate), single-ply headers not more than 2 inches nominal thickness in a 2x4 wall or 4 inches nominal thickness in a 2x6 wall, in accordance with International Residential Code 2012.
- Install structural insulated panels (SIPs) for walls.
- Implement any two of the following for all interior and exterior walls (0.5 point):
- Size headers for actual loads.
- Use ladder blocking or drywall clips.
- Use two-stud corners or California corners.
- Space interior wall studs greater than 16 inches o.c. (400 mm o.c.) (0.5 point).
- Space floor joists greater than 16 inches o.c. (400 mm o.c.) or SIPs (0.5 point).
- Space roof rafters greater than 16 inches o.c. (400 mm o.c.) or SIPs (0.5 point).
