I am preparing responses to a LEED review but have a couple questions on how to approach the VOC Content reporting for credit form IEQC4.1.
The LEED online forms will allow me to enter VOC of 50 g/L (max allowable per credit IEQc4.1). However, the LEED review is worded in a way that implies this number must be under 50 g/L (implying 49 or below). The LEED review comment sais to ensure the number is below 50g/L. Does 50 g/L VOC content for adhesives and sealants meet the requirements for this credit or must the number be 49 or below?
Also, Some manufacturers report VOC content of their adhesives in milligrams per Liter rather than g/L. In those cases, the real world VOC content would be in the thousandths of grams per liter range. In these cases is it acceptable to enter VOC content of Zero? Or would we need to enter VOC of 1 to properly account for the tiny amount within the product?
One could round the number up to 1 or down to 0 based on total VOC content in g/L but this wouldn't be 100% accurate if you are claiming zero since the product does contain trace amounts.
Just wanting to clarify.
Thank you!
Jon Clifford
LEED-AP BD+CGREENSQUARE
LEEDuser Expert
323 thumbs up
September 17, 2016 - 6:41 pm
Christopher—To your first point: Credit IEQc4.1 requires adhesives, sealants and sealant primers to comply with VOC limits listed in SCAQMD Rule #1168 as in effect July 1, 2005. SCAQMD-1168 prohibits the use of any such product having “a VOC content in excess of the limits specified” in the Rule. Therefore, the limits are maximums. VOC content must be less than or equal to the specified limits. The reviewer’s language appears to be slightly inaccurate.
As for your second point: I do not believe that I have ever seen VOC Content expressed in milligrams-per-liter (mg/L). The methods prescribed by SCAQMD calculate the VOC content of fluid products strictly in grams-per-liter (g/L); though, I have sometimes seen manufacturers convert these values to pounds-per-gallon (lb/gal).
On the other hand, I have seen manufacturers report VOCs in milligrams-per-cubic-meter (mg/m³) or micrograms-per-cubic-meter (μg/m³), but these reports do not use the same methods as those prescribed by SCAQMD. Such values may be valid in LEEDv4, which references California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1, as well as SCAQMD, but they are not applicable to LEED-2009. Check your product data to make sure that you have cited the correct values. (Most US manufactures who provide CDPH-based data also publish g/L SCAQMD-based values.)
Finally, when in doubt, round up (or whichever direction is LEAST advantageous),
Jon Clifford
LEED-AP BD+CGREENSQUARE
LEEDuser Expert
323 thumbs up
November 10, 2016 - 6:04 am
In two misplaced posts above (https://www.leeduser.com/comment/redirect/67474), Nichole asks, “What do you mean that the products measured in mg/m3 may not be applicable in LEED-2009?... I have a product measured in mg/m3, and using the LEED-2009. Are you saying I just don't include it at all?” Debra then asked if we could just convert the value from mg/m³ to g/L.
No. I don’t think so.
I actually wrote, “Such VALUES may be valid in LEEDv4, which references California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1, as well as SCAQMD, but they are not applicable to LEED-2009.” The VALUE is invalid. The product may still be relevant, but you need to make sure that you report the appropriate VALUE.
It is like being asked to measure the length of a football field in meters, but instead measuring the diameter of a football in millimeters. Even if you convert the mm measurement to meters, you will not know anything more than you did before about the football field.
For IEQc4.1 and 4.2, you need a VOC value in g/L, measured using the methods prescribed by SCAQMD.
Robert Andrews
Partner - Managing Director Boston OfficeAHA Consulting Engineers, Inc.
20 thumbs up
January 8, 2019 - 2:41 pm
VOC units different in the Low Emitting Materials Calculator, WHY?
While much of the LEED world is used to thinking of VOC data in g/L, the CDPH standard method refers to mg/m3. In fact the LEED V4 Low Emitting Materials Calculator references g/L in the instructions and mg/m3 in the calculator drop down choices. Why does the LEED calculator use two different units? it seems to make a complicated credit even more difficult to complete. See the CDPH language below, which corresponds with the calculator drop downs.
VOCs Must meet testing and emission requirements of California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method V1.1-2010
Specify which range of TVOC a products falls under after 14 days (336 hrs): Less than or equal to 0.5 mg/m3
Between 0.5 and 5.0 mg/m3, Great than or equal to 5.0 mg/m3
https://services.ul.com/service/cdph-standard-method-for-voc-emissions/