I'm in the process of getting 3 Campus projects Certified. All of which are virtually the same, just with different quantities of projects included. Each project used virtually the same building materials. For the third campus I received the following comment: 2. The National Gypsum ProForm Brand XP Lite Joint compound and UZIN NC 886 Skim and Repair Compound have been included in the Paints and Coatings category, although they belong in the Adhesives and Sealants category.
Neither of the previous campus reviews said this, and the second campus review told me to put the UZIN NC 886 in the paints category. To me - joint compound is a coating. It is not an adhesive. It is not a sealant. UZIN is a patch/repair material used before laying flooring, but it isn't the adhesive to keep the flooring down, nor is it a sealant for the substrate.
What should I do with reviews that contradict themselves, and that I inherantly disagree with. The results will impact detrimentally if I have to put the UZIN in the adhesives category for sure since it doesn't have the emissions testing.
Elizabeth Kertesz
PresidentResilient Oak Consulting, LLC
9 thumbs up
January 6, 2022 - 9:46 am
Hi Brianne! I think I remember working with you on a previous project. Hope you're doing well. I would gather the documentation that you have from the second campus review where they said to put the Uzin NC 886 in the paints category, as well as any documentation you have describing the the function of the product, and in your clarificiton narrative, compare that with the definitions of paints/coatings/adhesives/sealants from the SCAQMD rules. You may even be able to get a letter from the manufacturer's technical team to clarify the category that the product should be placed in. In the meantime, I would also suggest reaching out to USGBC customer service to inform them of the conflicting review comments so that they can make an effort to be more consistent in the future. Good luck!
Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
494 thumbs up
January 6, 2022 - 10:20 am
I agree with Elizabeth's approach.
One item to add....if GBCI does not allow you to include these products in the Paints and Coatings category perhaps ask for a one-time exception. They may grant this if it is the 40th or 50th or 60th point.
Good Luck!
Melanie Blacklock
Senior Project AdministratorClark Contractors, LLC
3 thumbs up
January 6, 2022 - 11:08 am
I agree with you as well. Joint compound is a coating. This goes with my opinion that the people in charge of reviewing these documents don't have enough actual construction knowledge.
Michelle Halle Stern
Senior Sustainability ConsultantGreenwood Consulting Group
120 thumbs up
January 6, 2022 - 11:39 am
If you press the Feedback button in LEED online and describe the issue you will get an email allowing you to set up a call with GBCI
Susan Di Giulio
Senior Project ManagerZinner Consultants
152 thumbs up
January 6, 2022 - 12:32 pm
A thought: joint compund is meant to seal the gap between gyp board panels and when used in that capacity, I would call it a sealant. But UZIN is a different animal and might be called a coating.