Forum discussion
CI-2009 IEQc4.1: Low-Emitting Materials—Adhesives and Sealants
Does anyone have experience with products tested and licensed under the German EMICODE VOC rating system?
EC1 specifieds a maximum of 1000 micrograms/m3 (1 gram/liter) emission after three days. As far as I can determine, the test methodologies are somewhat different.
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Do products applied to the weather barrier need to comply with VOC thresholds?
How do I determine what application my product falls under?
How is VOC % less water determined for aerosol adhesives?
Do grout and caulking need to be included, and if so, what is the application category?
Josh Jacobs
Technical Information & Public Affairs ManagerUL Environment
515 thumbs up
August 22, 2011 - 9:47 am
Michael - EMICODE is a product emission test method/standard. Due to this it does not directly tie to the criteria that the LEED rating system has traditionally looked at - content minimization.
So you are correct, they are different.
Reinhard Oppl
Independent consultant on VOC issuesformerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S
329 thumbs up
August 22, 2011 - 10:10 am
EMICODE licensed products must have less than 0.5% solvents. But solvents are defined differently than VOCs. In most cases EMICODE EC1 products will fulfil the 50 mg/kg limit for e.g. Indoor Carpet adhesives, but there is no 100% guarantee that they always will do so.
LEED for schools requires California CDPH Section 01350 VOC emissions compliance – it has been shown that this is always the case with EMICODE EC1 or EC1 PLUS licensed products. And draft LEED 2012 foresees compliance with AgBB VOC emissions as alternative pathway outside NA – this will be more than fulfilled by EMICODE EC1 PLUS licensed products - but we are not yet in 2012.
Michael Smithing
Director - Green Building AdvisoryColliers International Ltd.
304 thumbs up
August 22, 2011 - 12:08 pm
Reinhard - Thanks for your help. I read your "it has been shown" before asking the question - it seems like EMICODE is "almost good enough."
Since the testing methodologies appear to differ, it seems the only way to demonstrate LEED compliance is to send the contractor back to look for products which have been tested in the "right" way.
Reinhard Oppl
Independent consultant on VOC issuesformerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S
329 thumbs up
August 22, 2011 - 1:54 pm
Correct, but ... EMICODE in most cases is rather "better, but just different" ... another alternative (or supplement) could be to register for use of Pilot Credit 21 and show compliance with AgBB specification by using EMICODE EC1 PLUS licensed products. This can give additional points for fulfilling the draft LEED 2012 criteria on low-emitting products, see www.eurofins.com/leed-2012, and http://www.usgbc.org/ShowFile.aspx?DocumentID=8196.
Michael Smithing
Director - Green Building AdvisoryColliers International Ltd.
304 thumbs up
May 14, 2014 - 8:59 am
We've revisited this topic based on a recent review comment. The v4 credits are not on the list of credits which can be used in v2009, however I found LI#1862 from 2007 which states (for a South Korean project) that it is acceptable to use the California CDPH Section 01350 values. We'll see in a month or so whether it works!