I'm working on a Platinum-seeking CI restaurant, and this credit is causing us some problems. We're custom-building tables from reclaimed wood, and it looks like independent testing is approaching prohibitively expensive for the project. We have a lot of control on the build of the tables, and could easily track all materials used in their construction. We will also have some other furniture (barstools, chairs) which will be Greenguard certified to meet this credit. So:
-Could our dining tables count as Occasional Furniture since they are easily moved, etc?
-Could we track all materials rather than sending them out to a testing facility? This would be much cheaper.
-We will have some custom-built reclaimed wood benches which will be built and finished on site (plus a bar top, same deal). Can I get away with covering those furnishings in IEQ4.2 (Paints and Coatings) rather than 4.5?
Thanks very much!
Josh Jacobs
Technical Information & Public Affairs ManagerUL Environment
515 thumbs up
December 29, 2010 - 9:28 am
The CI EQc4.5 technically only covers System Furniture (workstations or case goods in commercial office terms) and Seating. So I think your dinig tables would be exempt from this credit as occasional furniture. The custom-built wood benches however may be interpreted as seating however (although the seating that they were referencing within the credit was task seating, like a desk chair). Covering them in low-emitting or low VOC content paints would be good for the indoor air quality, but would not show qualification for EQc4.5 as that is a complete piece of furniture credit. Are the benches going to be 'built-ins'? If they are going to be part of the structure of the building - almost like cabinets - then I could see them not being considered within the furniture credit. Then you would just need your seating (bar stools & chairs) to pass the criteria.
Jerry Jaz
Disruptive TechnologistGreenBlueprint
2 thumbs up
January 25, 2011 - 2:26 am
The wood benches are not fixed in place so they may be moved to customize seating. The chairs and bar stools are steel (new manufacture). The tables, if it matters, are not fixed in place either. The tables and benches are made from the same reclaimed wood.
Josh Jacobs
Technical Information & Public Affairs ManagerUL Environment
515 thumbs up
January 25, 2011 - 7:45 am
You may want to also look at submitting the tables and benches as being over 1 year old as you are stating that they are completely reclaimed wood. As long as you are not adding anything new to the piece that was not there that could be high-emitting - such as stain or other coatings - that may be the best way to show compliance. Obviously the new products would need to pass the stated EQ 4.5 criteria.