My retail project is having cafe tables made by the owners millwork company that would have metal legs and a wood top. If the wood met the requirements of the composite wood VOC (CARB ACTM - ULEF or NAF) as well as the coatings and sealants met the VOC thresholds required, would it still have to be tested for the BIFMA furniture test method? Would these tables be classified as 'case goods' or Furniture?

Post a reply

Nadav Malin

CEO

Green Commons, LLC

LEEDuser Expert

586 thumbs up

Fri, 02/16/2018 - 20:32

Sorry for the slow response here. I was kind of stumped so I check with others, and came away still unresolved. It seems an unreasonable expectation for custom furniture to get emissions testing and pursue BIFMA.
If the materials comply with other requirements as described, it should be acceptable.

Having said that, the reference guide says that “All furniture” must comply. GBCI has been more rigid with interpretations as of late and so it's hard to say how they would rule on this. It seems that you may need to check in with GBCI to get a ruling. If you do, let us know what they say!

Cindy Davis

Manager, Sustainable Development

Unico Properties LLC

LEEDuser Basic Member

0 thumbs up

Fri, 02/16/2018 - 22:52

Thanks Nadav, Unfortunately the definition USGBC uses for 'furniture' remains to be focused on an 'office' environment. It does not consider the unique differences for a retail or grocery scenario where the 'casework' (they use the term 'case goods') is custom made, not bought. Our team is taking the component approach where all wood meets CARB ACTM - NAF; and all wet-applied products meet both the low-voc thresholds per the SCAQMD Rules AND the General Emissions Testing (CDPH v1.1-2010) for all wet-applied products. Some of the tables will be powder-coated steel. All casework is being fabricated off-site. Not at the store premises. It would be helpful to have a real definition of 'casework' compared to 'furnture'. It is unlikely any retail client could afford the cost of the BIFMA emission testing for every piece of casework at $1200 or more and the time involved to coordinate such testing.

Add new comment

To post a comment, you need to register for a LEEDuser Basic membership (free) or login to your existing profile.

You are currently logged in under an enterprise account

FAQs about EQc2 :

Wood Tables made for a retail Project

You rely on LEEDuser. Can we rely on you?

Add new comment