Here is the technical advice we receive for one of the project:
"Provide general emissions evaluation results for ProForm All Purpose Joint Compound and Joint Tape. The documentation for these products indicates that they are UL Greenguard certified, but UL Greenguard Gold is required."
Now, I don't think there is a "Joint Compound" available in market that's Greenguard GOLD, meaning there is no way project can achieve Low Emitting Materials - Wall Panels category;
This is beyond frustrating, please advice.
David Posada
Integrated Design & LEED SpecialistSERA Architects
LEEDuser Expert
1980 thumbs up
July 29, 2019 - 6:59 pm
Jason,
1. With the credit threshold for 75% of wall panels needing to meet the VOC emissions criteria, can you achieve the 75% by cost or surface area without the joint compound?
2. You might also contact the manufacturer to see if they have emissions testing for the CDPH standard other than GreenGuard.
3. This may be not help your current frustration, but it looks like there are some joint compounds that may be GreenGuard Gold:
Some of the other ProForm products (FasTrack, Lite Ready Mix, Quick Set, Quick Set Lite , Ultra Lite All Purpose, XP Joint Compound);
Some of the USG Sheetrock & Synko joint compounds;
CertainTeed LITE Sand and M2Tech;
Westpac/ Hamilton Eco-Finish All purpose joint compound;
Ruco Lightweight Ready Mixed Joint Compound;
There are probably others - Spot UL is one website with a database search tool that can help identify products by GreenGuard, EPD, HPD, CSI division, etc. You can also try the healthymaterialslab dot org website for a list of databases for certified products on their Materials Collections page.
Cynthia Kaplan
Principalcmk LEED
42 thumbs up
July 29, 2019 - 8:29 pm
Just commenting...Low Emitting Materials in both v4 and v4.1 is a fiasco, to say the least. Ask for a LEED coach and have a conference call. They will at least provide guidance on how to simplify things for the reviewer. The reviewers hate this credit format as much as we do.
Jason Biondi
Managing DirectorEnergy Cost Solutions Group
17 thumbs up
August 1, 2019 - 1:59 am
Thank you David, your response with detailed resources is indeed helpful. Any idea where one can find GREENGUARD Gold certified Joint Tape ? I tired UL Spot library to no avail.
Mary Lea Tucker
PresidentGreen Sage Consulting LLC
8 thumbs up
March 18, 2020 - 5:40 pm
National Gypsum ProForm Paper joint tape and ADFORS Fibafuse MAX fiberglass joint tape are both Greenguard Gold certified
Lawrence Rennell
Rennell Associates, LLC2 thumbs up
March 25, 2021 - 4:49 pm
USG Plus 3 Joint compound is GreenGuard Gold Certified.
Danielle Waters
Project ConsultantSustainable Design Consulting, LLC
4 thumbs up
October 18, 2023 - 11:51 am
Is joint compounds under Adhesives & Sealants? Walls? Ceilings? If it has VOC 0 seems it should be Adhesives & Sealants (under Dry Wall Adhesive), but if is dry (until water is added) could it fall under Walls and/or Ceilings? Does that include Joint Tape as well?
Bipin Karki
Sustainability Project Manager87 thumbs up
October 18, 2023 - 4:44 pm
Joint compounds are reported under Adhesives and Sealants. Even if it has O g/L VOC, it should meet both VOC emisions and VOC content (if its zero it should meet) requirements. Even it is dry, its still wet applied on-site. All interior adhesives and sealants wet-applied on site should meet LEM requirements. As far I know, tapes are exempt from Low-Emitiing Materials requirement.
Edgar Arevalo
Associate19 thumbs up
July 17, 2024 - 1:50 pm
I thought joint compound was considered a coating