Yesterday we had a conversation with a US manufacturer who told us that the VOC content outside the US can also be determined according to the respective national requirements. In our case, the specifications of the EU have to be implemented.

Contrary to the requirements of LEED, the VOC content within the EU is calculated with water. LEED requires the VOC content less water.

Therefore, I ask for clarification whether this statement by the US manufacturer is right and which limits for the product groups are to be used.

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Dave Hubka

Practice Leader - Sustainability

EUA

LEEDuser Expert

510 thumbs up

Wed, 04/10/2019 - 03:41

Per the LEED reference guide: "For projects outside the U.S., all paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants wet-applied on site must either meet the technical requirements of the above regulations, or comply with applicable national VOC control regulations, such as the European Decopaint Directive (2004/42/EC), the Canadian VOC Concentration Limits for Architectural Coatings, or the Hong Kong Air Pollution Control (VOC) Regulation." So i believe the manufacturer is correct in their guidance.

Ernst Schriefl

Schöberl & Pöll GmbH

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Wed, 04/17/2019 - 15:42

Thanks a lot for your answer. As all the limits in the LEED reference guide are in given in the unit g/L less water, do you know where to find information about what limits in case the VOC content is measured with water (g/L with water) have to be applied? Would you say that your answer as a LEED expert could be regarded as a kind of "official answer" resp. is there a possibility to find out about "official answers" (resp.answers that are very likely to pass a review)? An additional point: In the LEED reference guide 2009 edition, page 483, there are two tabels on the VOC-limits for paints and coatings. In Table 1 the limit for Low-Solids Coatings is 120 g/L (including water, as written in the note below). Whereas in table 2 there is also a limit for "Low-solids coating" with 120 g/L, but in this case minus water. How can this be explained? Which limit shall be applied for a paint for a door frame? Thanks a lot in advance for an answer.

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