It shouldn’t cost you anything to earn this credit—it will just take a little work (the same is true for the related credit, IEQc4.2: Low-Emitting Materials—Paints and Coatings). Your first priority should be to specify only adhesives and sealants that comply with the credit’s VOC limits, and enforce those specifications on the jobsite. Research low-VOC adhesives and sealants before construction begins and provide lists of acceptable materials to contractors to help ensure that the right products are used.
Proactive communication on the jobsite
Making sure that VOC limits are observed demands proactive communication between the designer, contractor, and all subcontractors who do work inside the building. Subcontractors have to be educated about the requirements, and their contracts should require that they document their compliance.
If you make a mistake, you can still earn the credit
Unlike some LEED credits where only a certain percentage of the materials have to comply, this credit is all-or-nothing—all adhesive and sealants must comply.
However, if a non-compliant adhesive or sealant gets used by mistake, or if you need to bend the VOC limits to meet the requirements of a warranty or fire code, you can still earn the credit following the “VOC budget process.” You’ll simply have to do some calculations to show that your extra use of VOCs was offset by very low use of VOCs elsewhere. You have to meet the budget for adhesives and sealants separately from paints and coatings (for IEQc4.2), though—you’re not allowed to create a combined VOC budget covering multiple IEQc4 credits.
Multiple benefits
Earning this credit is a key part of a construction indoor-air-quality management plan, and will help you earn another LEED point via IEQc3.2: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan—Before Occupancy, by reducing the amount of VOCs in the air.
Using low-VOC adhesives and sealants is not only beneficial to occupants, but can improve air quality and the health of construction workers who are constantly exposed to construction pollution.
Verify your information
Don’t allow the use of products that merely claim to be “low VOC.” Everyone specifying and purchasing products must actually find the VOC grams per liter (g/L) information, usually on the product’s technical data sheet or material safety data sheet, and compare that number with VOC limits listed for different uses determined by the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule #1168 and Green Seal-36 for aerosol adhesives(see below for more information on the standards for Schools). Product sheets often provide the maximum g/L (like “<100 g/L”) rather than a specific amount. That’s okay as long as the maximum is under the allowable limit.
Only 20% of product cut sheets selected at random need to be uploaded to LEED Online to document this credit although it is best to keep all product cut sheets on file in case the credit is audited.
Schools have a tighter requirement
According to the LEED credit language, schools have to meet the testing and product requirements of a California Department of Health Services Standard on emissions testing. The Standard defines a protocol for a chamber test that determines the rate of offgassing. This standard is much more stringent than the low-emitting standards referenced in other LEED rating systems. Not many products have gone through this testing method, so finding compliant products can be difficult and may include a cost premium.
However, USGBC put out an LEED-NC IEQc4.1 and LEED-NC IEQc4.2 VOC limit compliance paths rather than the California standard. This erratum remains in effect for LEED for Schools 2009.