Option 2 - Excluding Demo

Nathan - My apologies in not responding sooner. I somehow got unsubscribed from this forum.

I agree that there is an inconsistency between the credit requirements and the Reference Guide formula. However, it would be odd if teams could somehow exclude demolition waste if they chose Option 2. Maybe this Option was intended for new construction projects that don't have demolition and are better able to design to reduce waste?

Nonetheless, I'll contact my sources at USGBC and let you know what I hear.

Nathan - The GBCI Materials and Resources Subject Matter Expert got back to me promptly and appreciated you bringing forward this inconsistency. She indicated that she will work to get an answer. But in the meantime, she said she would assume the worst-case scenario (i.e., we must include construction and demolition waste) specifically because the credit title includes both. But, she will let me know if she hears otherwise, and I will post what I learn. She also hopes that we will see this publicly clarified soon.

I haven't had this come up on a project yet, but I know I will in the near future. Has there been any update to this issue that anyone is aware of?

Hi Emily - I reached out to the GBCI MR SME again on this issue. She connected me with USGBC staff who assured me that they are aware of this issue and that this item is on a list of clarifications. Staff is working with MR TAG on the list of clarifications.

When I hear more, I will post the info.

Ok, thanks, Michelle!

Hi,

any news about this issue? We are working on a strip out/demolition + renovation and addition and we would like to know if we can ignore the Demolition waste and consider only the renovation and addittion.

Thank you

Hi - I'm sorry but there is still no news on this issue, which is why I haven't posted again. There was nothing in the limited October Quarterly Addenda release - https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/tipsheet/essential-leed-interpretatio.... With Greenbuild this week, I won't be able to get an answer, and I think the earliest response will be the January 2018 addenda release. As indicated above (https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/forum/option-2-excluding-demo#comment...), the conservative thing to do is include demolition waste. While there is an inconsistency in language, LEED has always included demolition waste as part of Construction Waste Management, and until we get clarification otherwise, I say include it.

Hi Michelle, My thoughts would be that demolition of hazardous would most likly be excluded whereas demo of non-hazardous wastes such as structurally unsound material might also be excluded.

However what might be included is demolition of structurally sound material/ bldg.

Maybe you can ask USGBC to break out there reply for these 3 categories of demo.

I have this situation on my current NC-2009 project and am looking forward to seeing their reply on this topic.

Many Thanks!

Debra - I agree that anything hazardous would be excluded - that has always been the way hazardous materials as part of construction and demolition waste have been handled in LEED. I would suggest e-mailing leedcoach@usgbc.org and outlining your additional ideas. Please post any responses you receive.

Thank you Michelle, I'll keep you posted! Debra

Unfortunately the January 2018 Quarterly Addenda Release did not address this concern.

My summary of the overall release will be posted later this month at https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/tipsheet/essential-leed-interpretatio.... I'll check again in April.

Hi - USGBC did not address Nathan's question about demo in either the April 2018 or July 2018 addenda releases. My summaries of those two quarter's releases are available here - https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/tipsheet/essential-leed-interpretations-addenda-and-rating-system-updates. 

However, the July 2018 release included another fix for Equation 2 that removed the erroneously included "x 100" factor. See Reference Guide Correction ID #100002227 for more information.

I've heard the USGBC TAGs are using the using the LEEDuser forums to identify items to address in LEED v4.1. Hopefully they will pick this one up - but feel free to submit a proposal from this link - https://new.usgbc.org/leed-v41.

I'll check the October 2018 addenda release and report back either way.

The October 2018 Addenda Release was extremely minimal. There were no LEED v4 commercial rating system or reference guide corrections. I've heard that LEED BD+C v4.1 will be released at Greenbuild so we'll be hopeful that the MR TAG has heard us on this issue.

We have a project which will be built on the site of an existing building. Does the demolition of that existing building need to be included in the MRc5 waste diversion calculations? Or is the intent of the credit to apply only to demolition waste created from renovation of an existing building? Is it included only when the existing building demolition is in the LEED project scope? In many cases, an existing building is removed in advance of the LEED project, and the waste not tracked at all. We realize that deconstruction of the existing building would be beneficial, though costly.

Hi Erik.  The demolition waste should be included in your calculations, however, I know that based upon my current experience with this credit as well as comments indicated above, there are some discrepancies with the inclusion of demolition material based upon which path option you pursue. The demolition inclusion is not only specific to an existing building renovation.  It is appropriate to include it for a complete demo and brand new rebuild to be LEED certified.  It sounds like you are involved and knowledgeable of the project at the beginning, knowing that this building will be demolished within your LEED boundary, and so the conservative and appropriate thing to do would be to include it in your calculations. Do you know which path option you will pursue?

Thanks Tiffany, I appreciate your response!

I wanted to note that current LEED v4.1 draft for BD+C takes the guesswork out what to include in Option 2 by specifically renaming Option 2 as "Reduction of Total (Construction and Demolition) Waste Material." So, our assumptions regarding including demolition as the worst case scenario turned out to be true.

USGBC also added a new Thresholds for Compliance table by the type of waste. They also relaxed the pounds of construction waste per square foot from 2.5 to 7.5 for all BD+C projects except warehouses, which remain at 2.5 lbs/sf.

See more at https://new.usgbc.org/leed-v41#bdc.  Click "BD+C v4.1 draft" to read more.