Hi All - I noticed that the v4 calculator was different than the v4.1 calculator for the category of "All Other Architectural Sealants." It went from 250 g/L to 50 g/L which is a big shift, and is causing issues with some firestop sealants we are seeing. When I look at Rule 1168 from 10/6/17, there is a table which shows the 250 under "current." But then there is a column under 1/1/2019 where it drops to 50 g/L. My interpretation would be that we would use the "current" numbers, i.e. the numbers as of the 10/6/17, and not the "future" numbers such as 1/1/2019 and 1/1/2023 that are in the table. Otherwise the standard is constantly in flux over the lifetime of a LEED rating system, and the calculators are out of date etc. I have sent a note to USGBC to clarify, but wondering if anybody else knows the proper way to read the Rule 1168 table? Are all architectural sealants now 50 g/L max now that it is past 1/1/2019? Why does the v4 calculator still show 250 when the v4.1 shows 50 if that is that case?
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Joseph Snider
PrincipalIntegrative Sustainability Solutions
51 thumbs up
February 6, 2020 - 10:14 pm
Answering part of my own question here...FYI, it looks like the v4 was the 2005 version of 1168 and v4.1 is the 10/6/17 version of 1168. However, that still doesn't totally answer my question about how to read the 1168 table. For those considering an update to v4.1, this is something I missed, but is potentially a big shift in the thresholds.
Joseph Snider
PrincipalIntegrative Sustainability Solutions
51 thumbs up
February 11, 2020 - 6:08 pm
OK, replying to my own post with an important update. I heard back from USGBC, and indeed we should be using the "Current" column in the 10/6/17 Rule 1168 document. That means their latest calculator is wrong. They said they have noted it and will be updating it in the future. So, for the record, "All Other Architectural Sealants" should be 250 g/L in v4.1, NOT 50 g/L. A big difference.
Renee Shirey
Stantec422 thumbs up
February 12, 2020 - 9:14 am
Thank you for sharing that with us! *wipes brow* One less thing to worry about, in a cumbersome and already complicated credit.