Excluding Soil Brought in from Off-site

Sorry - No answers here, just more questions. So, you are saying that imported soils (or lean fill as in the case on the project I am working on) can be counted toward regional materials?

If the soil is in the an applicable MasterFormat division (I'm assuming 32.30.00 Site Improvements), then it should be counted for both MRc4 and MRc5. LEED would not allow you to selectively exclude it from specific credits.

I agree with Tristan. I have had numerous projects with imported soil with situations similar to Tim and Margaret's. I have had to use the cost of the imported soil in the denominator across all credits and generally soils do not have recycled content, so they only contribute to the MRc5 (in my case all soils come from within 500 miles of project sites). There are some instances where I have used crushed concrete either imported or used from a stockpile on site- this is 100% post-consumer recycled content for the entire tonnage. These instances are unusual, because it takes an extra step of coordination with the structural engineer of record to review/allow use of material as infill. Also note that compost can be considered as recycled content- our region calculates Cedar Grove compost at 99% post-consumer recycled content. Of course this will be in limited amounts in your Division 32.90.00 Planting. I have not had any issue with GBCI review of MRc5 contributions of infill materials or the MRc4 contributions of crushed concrete or compost.

Wouldn't soil replacement come under Division 31.20.00 Earth Moving, (grading and excavation) and therefore not be included in the recycled content calculations? The only section in Division 31 that is included is 31.60.00 Foundations, right?

OK, now I am concerned. Division 32.30.00 Site Improvements if for things like fences, gates, retaining walls, fabricated bridges, sound barriers and screening… So I do not think that imported soils fall into that and probably should not be included in the LEED materials calculations. Division 31.60.00 Special Foundation and Load Bearing Elements are included in the LEED materials calculations, but that is for things like driven piles, piers, and caissons… Again, I would think this does not included imported soils. Amy questions above the following, wouldn’t soil replacement come under Division 31.20.00 Earth Moving. I tend to agree that it would and the cost of this work should not be included in the LEED material calculations. Can I get confirmation on these notes? Also, to complicate things even more... On one of the project I am working on the contractor has submitted lean fill information and I need to know if it is applicable to the LEED Material Calculations. I am assuming that it is since it is concrete used as lean fill. Wouldn't this be part of Division 3 and therefore be applicable to my LEED Material Calculations?

Tim, it's not within my expertise to offer an opinion on where imported soils should call within MasterFormat. My opinion earlier in this thread was meant to be confined to the LEED part of the equation, around consistency in counting materials.

Tristan - I understand where you are coming from by offering the LEED direction, but I would really like someone out there to let me know their exert opinion on where the noted items fall as far as the spec sections are concerned so I can determine if I need to follow up on these items or not for the LEED calcs. Anyone?

Having looked at this a bit more with a colleague on our GreenSpec team here, it seems to me that soil would go under 31 23 23 Fill in the 31 23 00 Excavation and Fill section. In MF 2010 you could even drill down to 31 23 23.13 Backfill.

Tristan - therefore, the soils should not be included in the LEED materials calculations since they are not part of divisions 31.60, 32.10, 32.30 or 32.90 (which are the only parts of divisions 31 and 32 that do apply), correct? This seems to contradict what a LEEDuser Member noted earlier in this thread noting that they had used "...the cost of the imported soil in the denominator across all credits..." without any issues from the GBCI during review. Furthermore, it still leaves on the table my question about lean fill as noted above: On one of the project I am working on the contractor has submitted lean fill information and I need to know if it is applicable to the LEED Material Calculations. I am assuming that it is since it is concrete used as lean fill. Wouldn't this be part of Division 3 and therefore be applicable to my LEED Material Calculations? Please let me know your thoughts.

Morning, You seem to have this worked out. A small note from the application side of this issue. The previous rating system's neat declaration of CSI Div 2 - 10 for these credits worked fairly well to determine what was in and what was out of the calculation. However, the new CSI divisions don't split so nicely. Architects are now placing items that we have seen in the past as part of Div 2-10 in sections not identified specifically by LEED. While I am usually the most literal of people, in this case, we have returned to intent. If the material is permanently installed and would reasonably be something we have counted in the past like imported fill or lockers, we include it regardless of the actual specification section. We assume that as long as we are incorporating the cost on both sides of the equation and sticking to intent that we are in compliance. This is one of many areas where LEED simply can't provide that one size rule that fits all. Design teams can specify materials where it makes sense to them, regardless of LEED's druthers, and we don't believe a project should be penalized for choosing a different spec section. Especially when they go to the trouble of sourcing recycled or regional content. The newest BDC calculator does include CSI division but it's optional, so LEED reviewers are basically relying on your assessment anyway, as they already must for overall project building materials cost. And as this thread started, there are trade offs if you do this right that should take care of any questionable inclusions.

Michelle - your comments are very helpful. After reading your post it seems to me that I can include imported fill and the lean fill / concrete, regardless of what spec section they are in for my LEED material calculations. Much appreciated.