VOC information

Lilian, that specific wording is not necessary, but if you are reviewing specifications or cut sheets, you should feel confident that the number being reported is what LEED is looking for.

I have a product that I considered an architectural sealant.It says VOC Content <400 g/l (excluding water) for EPA Purposes <120 g/l (including water) for US State Purposes (low solids coating) The Low solids is throwing me, which one should I use?

Patricia—A sealant is a product like caulk that, according to the SCAQMD-1168 definition, “is any material with adhesive properties that is formulated primarily to fill, seal, or waterproof gaps or joints between two surfaces.” Does this description fit your product? Note that a “sealant” is different from a “sealer,” which is type of coating, which, according to SCAQMD, “is applied to a surface in order to beautify, protect, or provide a barrier to such surface.” If the manufacturer calls it a “low-solids coating,” the product is probably applied to a surface as a film. This makes it a coating, which is governed by IEQc4.2. SCAQMD-1113 defines “low-solids coating” as a coating “containing one pound or less of solids per gallon of material.”

The Product Data says it is a "heavy duty tile sealer" - so I should probably be reporting it in the "paints and coatings" credit instead in which case it appears it would be right at the 120 g/l limit. Thanks for the clarification!