In reference to postings dated 10/23/13 by Steve Keppler and Hernando Miranda, the response did not take into consideration the LEED Interpretation #10250 dated 4/1/13 stating that composite wood products that meet the CARB requirements for ULEF can contribute to IEQc4.4 if the product utilizes a melamine urea formaldehyde (MUF) resin system. Can you please clarify this change to IEQc4.4?
You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?
LEEDuser is supported by our premium members, not by advertisers.
Go premium for
Hernando Miranda
OwnerSoltierra LLC
344 thumbs up
March 3, 2015 - 12:21 pm
ULEF does not equal NAF.
Dawn, do you know whether the v4 allowance for MUF is for composite woods only, or whether assemblies that encapsulate composite wood are allowed? Not allowing encapsulation of UF was a major issue when the UF ban was developed by the USGBC. Although product may pass testing, if they are modified by cutting into an assembly (door lites, or demolition) then UF issues can occur.
Dawn Garcia
Marketing CommunicationsRoseburg Forest Products
14 thumbs up
March 3, 2015 - 2:59 pm
You are correct that ULEF is not the same as NAF. However, as you can see from the CARB formaldehyde emission limit requirements, CARB approved ULEF exempt emission limits are equal to CARB approved NAF emission limits.
NAUF = 0.09 ppm maximum (same as CARB Phase 2)
CARB approved ULEF = 0.08 ppm maximum
CARB approved ULEF exempt = 0.06 ppm maximum
CARB approved NAF = 0.06 ppm maximum
The LEED interpretation #10250
http://www.usgbc.org/node/1732513?view=interpretations
does not pertain to v4, it pertains to LEED v2009 and it does not address assemblies. It specifically addresses the raw composite wood product. The credit previously only allowed for NAUF resin systems and now allows for CARB approved ULEF made with MUF resin systems. Assemblies should be fabricated using composite wood panels that meet this criteria.
For clarification, LEED v4 – Low-emitting materials –Composite Wood evaluation allows ULEF and NAF products to meet the criteria without a stipulation regarding resin system.
Composite Wood Evaluation. Composite wood, as defined by the California Air Resources Board, Airborne Toxic Measure to Reduce Formaldehyde Emissions from Composite Wood Products Regulation, must be documented to have low formaldehyde emissions that meet the California Air Resources Board ATCM for formaldehyde requirements for ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) resins or no added formaldehyde resins.