The v4.1 standard VOC & particulate testing requires, that the testing is made "after the construction has ended and before occupancy". To be more precise, should the occupant's furmiture be installed ready-to-be-used before air quality testing?
At least in core&shell projects the tenant's influence on material emissions on office and retail furniture could be overwheling conserning VOC emissions. Particulate is mostly building related.
Timo Rintala, LEED AP
Russ Pellegrino
Technical DirectorCentek Laboratories, LLC
20 thumbs up
August 26, 2020 - 10:06 am
Timo,
We are an ISO17025 laboratory that does all the LEED 3.2, V4 and V4.1 IAQ testing. In answer to your question...Yes all the furnishing should be in place prior to testing. However, be extremely carful when such furnishing such as couches, press board shelves, carpeting etc is put in. We have seen elevated levels of formaldehyde that may not meet the required detection limits. Besides furnishing there are many other issues that will remain hidden that may cause you not to meet your TVOC requirements.
Feel free to give me a call to go further into some of the concerns that you have. I offer training classes on all of this along with sampling procedures with equipment...Russ 315-431-9730
Dionisio Franca
DirectorWoonerf Inc.
29 thumbs up
December 7, 2020 - 6:35 pm
Hi Timo,
Per LEED v4, you would need to have the furniture ready before doing the IAQ testing, so 4.1 should be the same.
"STEP 3. INSTALL FINISHES, FURNITURE, AND FURNISHINGS
Install all finishes, furniture, and furnishings before testing or beginning a flush-out.
·· Ensure that all owner-provided furniture has been installed in residential projects.
·· Complete all punch-list items that would generate VOCs or other contaminants.
·· Complete testing and balancing of the HVAC system before testing."
I agree with you that particulate matter would not be negatively influenced by furniture. Perhaps GBCI would accept doing the IAQ test earlier if a project asks to do so and explains why it should be acceptable...