VOC limit of Aerosol Adhesives

This info link is relevant to aerosol adhesive reporting for v4.1 Schools:  https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/forum/ieq41-aerosol-adhesives-conversion

Hi Laurie, I have the same questions and doubts. In LEED v4 and 4.1, do aerosol adhesives must be evaluated? Did you find an answer or clarification for this matter?

The standards referenced by LEED v4/v4.1 do not specify VOC content limits of spray/aerosols. The reference standards have been written to pertain to wet applied products. I am not aware of any USGBC-published guidance on how to address spray/aerosol products. In similar situations I have found that GBCI will require all products/procedures not addressed by the reference standard must also adhere to the reference standard, so to be safe we also review spray/aerosol products when pursuing the paints/coatings & adhesives/sealants category.  I believe the reference standards have not been written to pertain to sprays/aerosols because their off-gassing is immediate, while wet applied products slowly off gas for the next several weeks/months. 

Thank you Dave.

This is an answer for the same inquiry sent to the GBCI: Thank you for your email regarding EQ credit Low-emitting materials. Yes, in both LEED v4 and v4.1, spray/aerosol paints applied on the building interior during construction would be included in the Low-Emitting Materials Calculator if the project is pursuing the Paints and Coatings product category. Outdoor-applied paints would be excluded from this credit.  Currently, the Low-Emitting Materials credit applies to everything within the waterproofing membrane, which would include aerosols, if used. Since there is no applicable VOC content limit for aerosols in the referenced standards, even though they are wet-applied adhesives/sealants or paints/coatings, it is unclear whether and how to include them in the calculation. The USGBC has not published guidance verifying that aerosols are exempt from the VOC content requirements and/or the VOC emissions evaluation requirements; therefore, we do not believe it is safe to assume the exception from one or both of the requirements. If this affects compliance and the project team would like to seek a formal exception, a Credit Interpretation Ruling (CIR) request may be submitted. Please refer to the Help content on this topic on the USGBC website (http://www.usgbc.org/help/how-do-i-submit-project-credit-interpretation-ruling-cir) for instructions. Please note, that you cannot submit attachments with CIRs at this time. However, you can upload the pertinent document/s to the relevant credit form and note the name and location of the file/s in your CIR inquiry. The inquiry reviewer will then be able to access and review the document there.

I find the response confusing given they are stating there is no applicable VOC content limit for aerosols, I also looked at SCAQMD rule 1168 and rule 1113 both which have exemptions listed in the standards.  Rule 1113 section (f) exemptions state (2) The provisions of this rule shall not apply to: (C) Aerosol coating products. Rule 1168 exemptions (9) The provisions of this rule shall not apply to aerosol adhesives and primers dispensed from aerosol spray cans.   Would this not mean that aerosols don't need to be tracked? Has anyone received any further guidance on this topic? Thank you  

ANY UPDATE ON IF AEROSOLS NEED TO BE TRACKED?  FROM SUZANNE'S POST -IT SEEMS IMPOSSIBLE TO TRACK so maybe we do not have to ?  

I work for a general contractor. On my project we are trying to avoid aerosol cans as much as possible, which is good practise for indoor air quality. However, I am confused about what we need to track for adhesive/coating in aerosol cans for Low Emitting Materials.   One aerosol we do need is 3M Hi-Strength Spray Adhesive 90CA, Low VOC <25%, Clear, for vapor retarder.  Its VOC content is <25%. Our LEED consultant calculated the VOC based on the % and density and got 219 g/L, siting a LEED limit of 250 g/L.  Then we found a current SDS that states the voc content is 424.2 g/L. It does have Greenguard Gold certificate, but it apparently is over the VOC limit?    I read under a post for v2009 that there was a workaround with the official calculator. However, my project has opted for Green Badger, which does not seem to offer "Aerosol" as an option or have visible workaround for this form of product.   And how do you track the volume of an aerosol adhesive?    

Hello Amy Alexander! :D  Consider the product as being an adhesive over worrying about it being an "aersol can." What does the adhesive do? Is it "Special Purpose Contact Adhesive" with limit 250 g/L or something else (perhaps with higher limit)? That should help determine the VOC limit applicable and which drop down to use on Green Badger or LEM Calculator. If the can is 414 grams = 0.414 Liters. If you have GreenGuard Gold but still high VOC content, you will probably have to do VOC Budget (especially if other project adhesives & sealants don't comply which there probably will be). VOC Budget requires total Volume for all adhesives & sealants (purchased or used - stay consistent), and try to stay below 75% threshold. If this category is not looking feasible, you only need to achieve 4 categories to get the three points.