Would cement mortars and grouts containing 0 VOCs be considered Inherently Non-emitting?
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NC-v4 EQc2: Low emitting materials
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Inherently Non-emitting materials
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FAQs about EQc2:
Are throw rugs subject to the credit requirements?
What are the adhesives and sealants to be included in the documentation?
Is there a VOC budget method for this credit?
What are the limits on the VOC budget method?
Do products applied to the weather barrier need to comply with VOC thresholds?
If one part of my multicomponent wall system is not compliant, can I still get full credit?
Jon Clifford
LEED-AP BD+CGREENSQUARE
LEEDuser Expert
321 thumbs up
March 12, 2015 - 11:48 pm
Maybe, if they do not include organic-based binders, polymers, or resins. Some mortar and grouts are labeled latex or polymer “modified” or contain epoxies or other additives that disqualify them.
A product’s Safety Data Sheet is a good place to start to determine that a product is NOT an “inherently nonemitting source.” Check the MSDS ingredient list for organic goo. If the ingredients list includes only metal- or mineral-based materials (such as Portland cement, plaster of Paris, gypsum, lime, talc, mica, perlite, silica, or clay), there is a chance that the product may be inherently nonemitting.
Just keep in mind that MSDS may not list ALL ingredients. MSDS sometimes do not include a complete list of trace ingredients, and sometimes manufacturer issue a single MSDS for a range of related products. They can also be cagy about reporting “trade secrets.” When in doubt, contact the manufacturer for more detail on ingredients.
Susan Di Giulio
Senior Project ManagerZinner Consultants
147 thumbs up
March 30, 2023 - 6:12 pm
No because they might have additives.