Just want to make sure if the consumable materials like oils, gaskets, O-rings etc. used for HVAC units and water pumps are excluded in MR credit category during Policy and plan formulation and /or credit requirement.
And under FMR Policy, are base building elements the only items that should be addressed in Facility maintenance waste? How about for the HVAC and MEPs?
Trista Brown
Project DirectorWSP USA
456 thumbs up
February 24, 2017 - 12:46 pm
Yes, those types of ongoing consumables are excluded from the policy and USGBC hasn't defined any sustainable criteria for them.
To your second question, the policy template developed by USGBC isn't as clear about this as it could be. But under the Requirements section for the related FMR waste credit (MRc5: Solid waste management - facility maintenance and renovation) it states: "Exclude furniture and furnishings that pose human health concerns (e.g., mold) as well as components not considered base building elements; mechanical, electrical, and plumbing components; and specialty items, such as elevators." I think the best approach is to recycle/divert these materials from landfills whenever possible, but know that you can't include them in your MRc5 calculations.