Self-leveling material is used in making the floor flat and ready to be covered with vinyl flooring. We got from the supplier a report showing two VOC content values, after 3 days and after 28 days. Which VOC value should we use? and which category this material included in?
Thanks
John-David Hutchison, LEED AP BD+C, PMP
Sustainability ManagerBGIS
LEEDuser Expert
166 thumbs up
January 2, 2013 - 7:25 am
VOC content is tested/measured for the time of use; this credit is not only intended for the welfare of the future users, it is primarily (in my opinion) to protect the health and safety of the construction workers. I can find no reference in SCAQMD 1113 or 1168 for this product, and I have found the cementitious materials such as self levelling compound are fairly inert. What would be relevant to the credit is if the product was being used as, or claimed to be in the product name, a "self-leveling sealant", but I do not believe the product is being used for this purpose. If you are preparing the self-leveling compound with a concrete / waterproofing sealant, that product would apply, but I do not believe the self levelling material itself is applicable.
Nadav Malin
CEOBuildingGreen, Inc.
LEEDuser Moderator
844 thumbs up
January 2, 2013 - 7:50 am
I agree with John-David--this is not a product that you have to worry about for this credit. It's also useful to understand, however, that the 3-day and 28-day values you're given are emission rates, not VOC content levels. So those wouldn't apply to these requirements anyway. LEED is moving towards referencing emission rates more in v4 (and in LEED for Schools 2009), but it's doing that by citing third party standards, such as California's Section 01350 and Greenguard Children and Schools.
Abdulrahman Sherazy
LEED AP bd+c - Sr. ArchitectMidrar Development Management
21 thumbs up
January 2, 2013 - 9:52 am
Thanks for the explanation. I thought that LEED covers all emitting materials so it should be considered regardless which category it falls under. Actually I am not good in putting materials in the correct category. For such reason, I appreciate if you help me in categorizing the following ones and/or demonstrating whether it is targeted material for IEQc4.1&2:
- Grout for concrete.
- Concrete curing
- Bonding material for concrete
- Gypsum decorative
Thanks