EMICODE For US project

The EMICODE EC1 is valid for the non-US compliance path only. In contrast, the US compliance path for VOC emissions, referring to the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method, does not have any criteria at all for sealants. But the US compliance path for VOC content, referring to SCAQMD Rule 1168, has higher (less stringent) limits for VOC content than any EMICODE labelled product has to fulfil: 250 g/liter versus 5% which is circa 50 g/liter. Therefore use of an EMICODE certificate probably needs additional explanation when provided to GBCI. You can see more details here: www.eurofins.com/emicode.

Hi Reinhard, Maybe you could help. I have a question if the EMICODE EC1 can stand alone. I mean, any additional documentation is needed? I know that according to the " LEED v4 EQ Credit Low-Emitting Materials Third Party Certifications and Labels" document, low VOC is required. What if a manufacturer has documentation for EMICODE EC1 (no limits mentioned) and EPD (with mentioned 50 micrograms per m3). Would that be sufficient? Best,

Hi Izabela, if the project is located in Europe, then you should not need any further documentation. The table that you mentioned makes clear that the EMICODE EC1 labeled product is in compliance with this credit, even for VOC content limit. It is more complicated only for US based projects because the European compliance path is not valid for such projects. Just take care that products labelled with EC1 without the "plus" need to show low formaldehyde emissions on top of the label. This is given if the product also shows the French A+ class, or if there is any other documentation on that performance.

Thank you very much Reinhard. Or I should write, Danke sehr! :) Can you please confirm if the document for the primer https://cdnmedia.mapei.com/docs/librariesprovider2/products-documents/primer-g_1333_mapeispa_en515cb07379c562e49128ff01007028e9.pdf?sfvrsn=a43c2559_0  is enough? 

Hi Izabela, this certificate shows that the product is EMICODE EC1 licensed, but not EC1 PLUS. Thus the product is in large compliance with this credit, even for VOC content limit. But it needs to show low formaldehyde emissions on top of this. Normally primers will comply, but you do not have such information available. As the French A+ class is not shown on the product, you will need to require additional information from Mapei.

Thank you very much. I have to look further then. 

I jump in to this discussion perhaps a bit late but I have a question regarding your disucssion above. Regarding the test certificate Izabela showed; Nowhere does it say which testing standard was used. Dont you need to show that the testing standard is AgBB?

Hi Hanna, when EMICODE EC1 and EC1 PLUS were included in the "LEED v4 EQ Credit Low-Emitting Materials Third Party Certifications and Labels" document, US GBC had investigated and confirmed that all EMICODE testing is compatible with AgBB testing. Therefore, this should be valid even if not specifically written in the product certificate.

Thank you so much for your reply! It helps. But what about if its not tested by EMICODE, hence not certified but just compared to the EMICODE  limit values and passes? Do you need to confirm the testing method then and does it have to be AgBB or can it be ISO 16000?

If the certificate is a license issued by GEV, then that statement is based on a test by an accredited testing laboratory as specified in the EMICODE test method, which is fully compliant with AgBB testing. GEV organizes the EMICODE and runs the quality assurance regarding respect of the procedures and application of the correct testing protocol.