The project we are working on requires the use of specialty adhesive with high VOC Content, as no one sees an alternative that is technically feasable to be used for insulation systems on HVAC equipment.
Is there any way around this when using Option 1, or is Option 2 VOC Budget the only way in the case?
Thanks in advance.
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Dave Hubka
Practice Leader - SustainabilityEUA
LEEDuser Expert
532 thumbs up
September 19, 2023 - 8:36 am
None that I am aware of.
Don't believe I have ever achieved the Adhesives and Coatings option, our 'go to' product categories (with great success) are Insulation, Ceilings, Paints & Coatings, and Flooring.
The most typical option from my experience is "90%+ compliance in three product categories" = 3 points awarded within this credit.
Deborah Lucking
Director of SustainabilityFentress Architects
LEEDuser Expert
258 thumbs up
September 19, 2023 - 1:45 pm
We have the same experience as Dave's. Have given up on the Adhesives and Coatings category. FSC wood is also viable as long as you keep on top of the tracking from the very beginning.
Kimberly Lombardozzi
Sustainability ManagerW. R. Meadows, Inc.
9 thumbs up
September 19, 2023 - 2:44 pm
I know Dave H. mentioned 90% complliance for 3 products equals 3 points but, for NC v4 I see 5 categories for 3 points.
If you are doing well with the other categories you are documenenting and this adhesive is the only one that is challenging, I would switch to v4.1 requirements and omit the adhesve sealant category. If you are looking for 3 points, v4.1 requires 4 categories.
v4 combines Ceilings, walls, thermal, and acoustic insulation into one category.
v4.1 separates them out into 3 categories: Wall Panels, Ceilings, Insulation. So there is less work documenting or more categories to accumulate points depending on how you look at it. :)
Stephanie Graham
Sustainability ManagerBurns & McDonnell
26 thumbs up
September 19, 2023 - 3:03 pm
Dave is correct. Need to read the small print in older opies of v4.1. 3 product categories at the 90% or greater theshold = 3 points. This is currently in the credit library lanuage in Table 1, whereas previously it was in the fine print under the table of thresholds and points. https://www.usgbc.org/credits/new-construction-core-and-shell-schools-ne...
Kimberly Lombardozzi
Sustainability ManagerW. R. Meadows, Inc.
9 thumbs up
September 19, 2023 - 4:12 pm
Good to know! I was looking at the printed copy, not the online version.
Azra
8 thumbs up
September 20, 2023 - 5:14 am
Thanks everyone, I see it now.
Sadly we can not use v4.1 since almost no products in EU meet the new criteria, with v4 we still have a bunch of Labels that are conform.
Renee Shirey
Stantec422 thumbs up
September 20, 2023 - 8:53 am
Azra which "new criteria" are you specifically refering to? Most people find v4.1 of this credit easier to achieve because the percentage of compliance is lower than v4.
Kimberly Lombardozzi
Sustainability ManagerW. R. Meadows, Inc.
9 thumbs up
September 20, 2023 - 9:05 am
Can you still use this LEED Interpretation which uses the previous versions of test criteria?
10495 LEM for v4 projects | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
Ruling
Yes, LEED v4 projects using the Low-emitting materials credit from LEED v4.1 via credit substitution may alternatively use the following low-emitting criteria in lieu of the LEED v4.1 requirement:
• For VOC emissions evaluation Option 1: test in accordance with CDPH v1.1-2010 and comply with the VOC limits in Table 4-1 of CDPH v1.1-2010 • For VOC emissions evaluation Option 2: test in accordance with German AgBB Testing and Evaluation Scheme (2010) and comply with the LCI values in German AgBB Testing and Evaluation Scheme (2010)
• For VOC content evaluation: SCAQMD Rule 1113, effective June 3, 2011; SCAQMD Rule 1168, July 1 2005
• For furniture emissions evaluation: Product has been tested in accordance with ANSI/BIFMA Standard Method M7.1–2011 and complies with ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 or ANSI/BIFMA e3-2012, Sections 7.6.1 (for half credit, by cost) OR 7.6.2 (for full credit, by cost).
Azra
8 thumbs up
September 20, 2023 - 9:15 am
Hi Renee
I meant the VOC Emissions evaluations requirements, which are to my knowledge more stringent in v4.1.. CDPH testing is more stringent and not really used that much in the EU.. see the Link
CDPH List of certifications that use CDPH Standard Method v1.2 | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
In v4 more testing methods were allowed for projects outside of the U.S. hence making the list of certification systems longer.
here is the list for v4:
Low-Emitting Materials Third Party Certification table | U.S. Green Building Council (usgbc.org)
I'd love to be mistaken in this case. If someone knows for sure it would be most helpful, less work is always better. :)
Reinhard Oppl
Independent consultant on VOC issuesformerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S
329 thumbs up
September 20, 2023 - 12:30 pm
Hi, this here might be your solution:
https://www.usgbc.org/leedaddenda/100002473
Azra
8 thumbs up
September 22, 2023 - 1:46 am
Thank you, Reinhard.
How do we apply this, do we just mention this addenda in special circumstances?
Reinhard Oppl
Independent consultant on VOC issuesformerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S
329 thumbs up
September 22, 2023 - 4:47 am
Yes, that should work.