Does anyone have input on how to classify a black epoxy floor coating? We're looking at a product w/ VOC content of 320 g/L (high performance coating to protect concrete slab from moisture, stains and abrasion). It's technically a coating, but acts as a sealer...
SCAQMD 1113 definitions:
FLOOR COATINGS (VOC limit of 100g/L) are opaque coatings that are formulated for or applied to flooring; including but not limited to decks and porches, and clear coatings formulated for or applied to concrete flooring, but do not include Industrial Maintenance Coatings.
WATERPROOFING CONCRETE/MASONRY SEALERS (VOC limit of 400 g/L) are clear or pigmented sealers that are formulated for sealing concrete and masonry to provide resistance against water, alkalis, acids, ultraviolet light, and staining.
Abena Darden
Senior AssociateThornton Tomasetti
273 thumbs up
June 3, 2010 - 5:50 pm
We've also had this question float around our office and it would be so great if GBCI would issue a clarification. The problem as I see it is that a poured epoxy product IS the finished floor itself. Sometimes sealers are applied after curing--that is more straightforward. It's been our experience in a couple of other projects that ANY VOC emitting sealer/coating even though not specifically called out by the LEED ref guide--if it is wet-applied onsite inside the weatherproofing barrier--MUST still comply with the SCAQMD standard. So the onus is on us to go to the SCAQMD site and look up the material in question and determine what the VOC limits are. I've not done that with epoxy flooring and would love it if someone could post a reply if they've researched it. Another little side note--I wonder if, as with paints, the darker pigments carry a larger VOC burden.
Mara Baum
Partner, Architecture & SustainabilityDIALOG
674 thumbs up
June 7, 2010 - 9:42 pm
I have looked this up on the SCAQMD site, and the answer is still not clear. As far as I can tell, SCAQMD 1113 does not list fluid applied flooring of any type. Of all the types of products they list, the two above seem to be the closest, and of those I would pick the waterproofing sealer -- epoxy floorings are intended to provide serious protection above that of just a regular floor coating. My sense is that there is a fundamental difference between fluid applied flooring and other types of floor coatings -- but I generally avoid the issue by specifying low VOC fluid applied flooring products.
James Scruggs
20 thumbs up
December 21, 2010 - 12:31 am
Is there ever a time when you do not have use the floor coatings category? It seems to be fairly all-encompassing. The definition for floor coatings is written in such a way that it appears the only products not considered to be floor coatings are industrial maintenance coatings and clear coatings not applied to concrete.
If there is an applicable category, is it okay to use that rather than the floor coatings limit? Can a waterproofing concrete/masonry sealer used on a concrete floor be considered to only have to meet the limit of 400 g/L, or must it meet the more stringent 100 g/L?
Tristan Roberts
RepresentativeVermont House of Representatives
LEEDuser Expert
11474 thumbs up
January 20, 2011 - 10:32 pm
James, I'm afraid I'm not 100% sure, but I think that if there is a standard that is more specific than the generic "floor coatings" you should be able to use it.