Wall Components

Technically, yes, all components must be compliant - although, I would not bother to list the drywall tape as it is inherently inert. but if you are asked for the info in a review (which I highly doubt) a MSDS/SDS should be available ( USG has for their products for example)

Has anyone been audited in regards to the Drywall Tape TVOC?

Under credit requirements, walls are listed as only requiring emissions testing, not TVOC. The wall paint of course would require both. 

Hello, I have been grappling with this as well. So for walls and ceilings - if they are tested to UL Greenguard Gold for example - but do not have the TVOC ranges, how should this be documented in the Low-Emitting calculator?

For walls and ceilings on an NC project the Ref guide lists emissions requirements, not TVOC. Of course any associated paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants need to meet both. See Table 1 here: https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/credit/NC-v4/EQc2#tab-credit-language  

I may be wrong but doesn't general emissions equal CDPH v1.1 testing which is TVOC?  TVOC is a quantity representation of the CDPH test? That being said a good way to make sure products meet  general emissions, is to select products that have CDPH v1.1 or 1.2 certs.

There might be some misunderstanding. CDPH is one option to show compliance with LEED Genereal Emissions requirements. CDPH does not include a TVOC limit. It has limits only for 35 individual VOC substances. LEED requires disclosure of the TVOC range on top of that (and CDPH describes how to test it). The test lab should have that data in their test report, to make it useable for LEED purposes. This was about VOC emissions. There are limits for VOC content in the product for wall paints and others on top of VOC emissions, but they do not call this TVOC. It is just called VOC content.
 

The Greenguard Gold certificate will typically list the TVOC tested range; this must be entered into the LEED LEM calculator. There is no limit, but the data is required nonetheless.

I have never provided drywall tape, but I have provided drywall compounds in the past.  I have never been asked about drywall tape, nor audited.

Sara, I have had this issue, too. When I have asked the UL/SCS or other testing organizations for the testing results, most say that I will have to ask the manufacturer, as the manufacturer owns the test information and they cannot provide it to me. Needless to say, I usually don't get anywhere with these requests. It is frustrating.

Most all of the time when I've requested test info from Mfgrs' that do provide that. And in one case VOC testing was not done and the mfgr wanted us to use their product & thus they paid for their own product to be tested for the needed test data for LEED. 

Do the metal studs in the exterior and interior walls also have to be compliant? Wouldn't the studs be inherently non-emitting? In Table 5 (Building products and systems) in the RG under the exceptions column, 'bare concrete or metal structural elements' have been listed as Testing not required. So can we consider the metal studs and any metal accessories as compliant without any further documentation?

Hi Kavita, I agree with your assessment. The reference guide defines "powder-coated metals, plated or anodized metals" as inherently non-emitting and exempt from VOC emissions testing, provided the metals have no "integral organic-based surface coatings, binders, or sealants." Metal fasteners certainly fall into this category. Good luck with documentation!

Great. Thanks Adam!

Hi folks - felt like my issue best fit as a continuation of the above.  Having some discussions come up within the team regarding gypsum sheathing.  On the project, the sheathing is inside the moisture barrier which of course leads me to believe that it needs to meet emissions testing / CDPH for the "ceilings, walls, thermal & acoustic insulation" category in V4.  I also see that sheathing is shown inside the barrier in the wall diagrams in the ref guide.  However, the more I read the guide the more I'm beginning to doubt that.  The examples given for Walls in Table 5 note "exposed" elements and the "wall component" examples are all interior-facing (a gyp wall with acoustic panels adhered to it for example).  In LEED v4.1 they've changed to "wall panels" which looks to focus mostly on finish-wall surfaces which makes me think perhaps v4 means to exclude an internal wall component like gypsum sheathing.  This also being pushed by submittals - I'm getting a lot of Greenguard Gold for interior gypsum but they're proposing a gypsum sheathing that is only Greenguard (not Gold - hence I don't believe it complies with CDPH).  Any help?      

I also have the same question as posed by Tom above re: sheathing and v4.1. Any insight would be appreciated!

We typically exclude any exterior sheathing from the walls category. The only time we include it is if it is used on the interior for shaftliner applications, etc. Haven't had it commented on yet, for what its worht.