Is the ROhS Directive a valid approach for demonstrating the cable meets the credit requirements?
Please check this out: http://www.rohscompliancedefinition.com
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Gabriela Crespo
BECxP, CxA+BE, LEED AP BD+C, O+MRevitaliza Consultores
20 thumbs up
March 4, 2014 - 6:49 pm
Great question Gustavo! It would be great to know this, because they do not specify it on the Healthcare Supplement.
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1299 thumbs up
March 5, 2014 - 8:34 am
I can do some more research into RoHS applicability in LEED later today. But when i do the math, the RoHS standard is lead can't be more than .1% where the LEED standard is 300 ppm or .0003%. It looks to me like the LEED standard is more stringent.
Gustavo De las Heras Izquierdo
LEED Expert181 thumbs up
March 5, 2014 - 12:22 pm
I have seen this standard for both cable and copper pipes.
Since the credit requirements for copper pipes is 0.25% and lead can't be more than 0.1% in RoHS standard, I think it complies.
I don't know the threshold for cables in RoHS standard (ppm).
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1299 thumbs up
March 5, 2014 - 1:29 pm
Copper might comply then, I looked at the lead piece. For me, when I'm asking GBCI to consider a new standard it is important to watch the thresholds and ensure that the standards is not being diminished.
Gustavo De las Heras Izquierdo
LEED Expert181 thumbs up
March 11, 2014 - 6:28 pm
In case RoHS is not applicable for electric wiring and cable, does anyone know a standard that meets the 300 ppm requirement?
The manufacturers seem to be reluctant to provide signed letters with the lead content.
Gustavo De las Heras Izquierdo
LEED Expert181 thumbs up
March 12, 2014 - 11:58 am
According to the Official Journal of the European Union, the thresholds are: http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:174:0088...
Lead (0,1 %)
Mercury (0,1 %)
Cadmium (0,01 %)
Hexavalent chromium (0,1 %)
Polybrominated biphenyls (PBB) (0,1 %)
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDE) (0,1 %)
0.1%=1,000 ppm
This would make RoHS compliant for copper pipes but not for electric wring.
Susan Walter
HDRLEEDuser Expert
1299 thumbs up
March 19, 2014 - 9:17 am
I was over on the International alternative compliance thread today and came across a great link that may help. This is the matrix for credits that have an ACP. They do have HC in the matrix but this particular credit is not one where a pathway exists. If you feel like this is an oversight, you can do some legwork, gather information on both programs, create a matrix and work with the GBCI on this gap.
http://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/LEED%202009%20List%20of%20ACPs.pdf
Gustavo De las Heras Izquierdo
LEED Expert181 thumbs up
March 19, 2014 - 2:57 pm
I would love to volunteer for the GBCI to create an ACP for this credit. Would you please tell me how to apply?
Jolene McLaughlin
4 thumbs up
November 4, 2019 - 11:28 am
Did anything come of this? I have product documentation from the manufacture confirming content in compliance with RoHS. Have we determined that this lead content still will not meet the LEED credit?
Gustavo De las Heras Izquierdo
LEED Expert181 thumbs up
November 4, 2019 - 12:48 pm
Quote form the LEED v4 Reference Guide "Project teams are encouraged to ask vendors about wire and
cable that complies with lead-free standards, such as RoHS in the European Union."
I think that if RoHS is accepted in v4 projects it is assumed that a v3 project can also meet credit requirements the same way...
Aury Hathout
Certified Environmental AuditorEnviropass
2 thumbs up
November 11, 2023 - 9:01 pm
It's a good question. RoHS (Restriction of Hazardous Substances) primarily focuses on restricting the use of hazardous substances in electronic and electrical equipment (EEE). On the other hand, LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) is a green building certification program that covers a broad spectrum of sustainable practices in building design, construction, and operation. I am not familiar with the current LEED requirements. However, here are the currently restricted chemicals under the European Union RoHS: cadmium, hexavalent chromium, lead, mercury, and their compounds, two brominated families (PBBs and PBDEs), and more recently, four phthalates (BBP, DBP, DEHP, and DIBP). PBBs and PBDEs are at risk of being present in cables as they serve as flame retardants. BBP, DBP, DEHP, and DIBP phthalates are flame retardants in plastics, including PVC.
Importantly, RoHS applies at the so-called homogeneous materials level. In short, every material composing a cable must meet the threshold of 0.1 % weight by weight (w/w). This limit of 0.1% applies to every material except for cadmium, ten times lower at 0.01%.
RoHS testing of chemicals will help you determine the actual concentration of lead compounds or any other in-scope hazardous substances in building cables.
While RoHS compliance does indicate a commitment to reducing hazardous substances in electronic products, it is not directly applicable to meeting LEED credit requirements. In the context of LEED, cable and wiring products contribute to credits primarily through compliance with specific criteria related to material selection, such as recycled content, regional materials, and low-emitting materials.
In summary, while RoHS compliance demonstrates a commitment to reducing hazardous substances, it is not a direct or sufficient approach for meeting LEED credit requirements. To meet LEED criteria, you should explore additional aspects related to the environmental and social impacts of materials like cables.
I hope these details will help someone. Thanks for inquiring!