Tile Setting Adhesives and Grout

Yes, this is a requirement. Unlike the requirement for mineral-based flooring which a lot of people groused about and which was relaxed, I haven't heard any indication about this one being relaxed.On the bright side, given the low emissions it shouldn't be too hard to comply with...?

Grout is not addressed by the SCAQMD standard or by FloorScore for emissions--so what do you recommend be used as a VOC content limitation?

Hi Linda and Tristan, I've never heard of grout having a high VOC and I'm personally never included it. I've heard of some folks loosely placing it under the Tile Adhesive requirements but this seems wrong. I don't believe that it falls clearly under the SCAQMD requirements and so I personally believe that you would not need to include it. That being said, it's always good to shoot for a low-VOC grout as a matter of good practice. Lauren

Hey guys! Any progress in this matter? I'm trying to figure out the VOC limit for tile grout as well right now... Petr

When you select the following categories in LEED Online the following VOC limits automatically appear: Grout/Mortar = 250 g/L Ceramic Tile Adhesive = 85 g/L

OK, thanks Susan!

Hi Susan! Didn't find "Grout/Mortar" in the dropdown menu in form IEQc4.1 nor in IEQc4.3. Which version fo the form you are using? Mine is V04... Oh, and for "Ceramic Tile Adhesives" the limit it gave me was 65g/L not 85g/L! Thanks!

Morning Marcio and Lauren, Grout is definitely included in the requirements but so far has never shown up on the pull downs and doesn't have a clearly defined VOC limit that I can find. We use Ceramic Tile Adhesive at 65 g/l for grout and thinset. Since I also haven't seen one so far with more than negligible VOC content, it seems fairly moot. We haven't been called on this in reviews so that seems to work.

Thanks Michelle! My other question would be: Table 1 in p. 483 of the Reference Guide NC shows 3 different VOC limits that I've never quite understood, those being "Ceiling Limit", "Current Limit" and the limits under "Effective Date". What's the difference between them and which of those should I be looking at as the threshold? Thanks!

Hi Marcio, These distinctions come from the underlying standard document itself. The ceiling limit is the limit in effect unless there is "a revised limit in subsequent columns" to the right. The current limit I do not know for sure but assume it has something to do with a revision to the ceiling limit prior to the first effective date change of 1/1/03. The standard keeps getting more stringent over time. You need to move to the right on the table until you reach the effective date per the reference manual which is currently 2004. If there's a number in the 2004 column, that is what you are subject to. If not, you are subject to whatever the furthest right number in that row is prior to 2004. That might be 1/1/03 effective date, or current limit, or ceiling limit. For example, Bond breakers would be 350; Traffic coatings would be 150; Floor coatings would be 100. Industrial maintenance coatings would be 250.

Thank you VERY much Michelle, you just clarified something we've been confused about for a long time!!