Note: This pilot credit was closed for new registrations as of March 1, 2012.

USGBC is planning a three step approach toward chemicals of concern. This pilot credit is intended to be the first measure. The Safer Chemistry pilot credit acknowledges and supports contemporary and accepted knowledge about specific chemicals of concern that should be avoided. 

The second measure will address USGBC’s larger mission of advancing product transparency and alternatives assessment across the spectrum of industrial chemicals to support systemic redesign of building products for progressively better human and ecological health.

The third measure will focus on process transparency within building product manufacturing. It is of increasing concern to USGBC that customers and manufacturers better understand and reduce the overall life-cycle related impacts associated with green building product manufacturing.

In this three step approach USGBC shows regard for leading-edge knowledge and precautionary reason, offers guidance to help formulators and designers innovate products that drive better building performance and helps manufacturers identify their greatest opportunities for improvement across the life-cycle of impacts that matter most to the USGBC mission.

The end result should be a world of green building materials to select that have optimized their supply chains and their contents to a measurable degree which will in turn significantly mitigate our sector's overall burden on the planet.

Use this list of chemicals

The list of the chemicals in the credit language is abbreviated. Each of the chemicals listed represents multiple chemicals and very closely related chemicals so when project teams are actually applying this credit, they need this complete list.

Questions for Projects

• Were you able to determine targeted chemical content for all of the products selected? If not what were the challenges in obtaining desired data?
• How did you decide which human health parameters would be important for your team to assess in comparing products?
• Was the comprehensive evaluation of chemical ingredients, combinations and alternatives assessment useful to your product selection?  How did you use it?  Would you consider using it for more products beyond the scope of this credit?
• Were target chemical-free alternatives available? If not, did you choose not to evaluate them for this credit? What were those materials/products?

Credit Submittals

General

1. Register for Pilot Credit(s) here.
2. Register a username at LEEDuser.com, and participate in online forum
3. Submit the feedback survey using the link on the USGBC.org credit page; supply PDF of your survey/confirmation of completion with credit documentation

Credit Specific

In order to maximize the usefulness of feedback associated with this pilot credit, USGBC asks that project teams provide an analysis of alternatives to products containing targeted chemicals as well as an analysis of the industry norm products that the team would have chosen had this pilot credit not been pursued. Teams must evaluate potential human health tradeoffs resulting from replacing materials and products to comply with this credit. It is the intention that the materials chosen for evaluation be limited to CSI MasterFormat 2004 Edition Divisions 03–10 and 12.  This analysis is critical for the continued evolution of this pilot credit.   

1. List all of the interior finishes that are included in the project team’s scope of work
2. Select six interior finish products for evaluation. A product is considered a whole assembly as purchased by the project team, e.g. a chair, desk or window as opposed to an entire furniture system. Suggested building product selections are those that have high exposure to building occupants through finish surfaces or are the finish materials with the largest quantity in the project, by area. Provide a narrative of why these materials were chosen for evaluation.
3. Identify products, equivalent to those identified in step 2, that are considered either industry norm or are in your firm’s standard specification AND contain at least one targeted chemical listed in the credit requirements. If the industry norm does not contain any targeted chemicals, provide documentation demonstrating as much and skip to step 5.
4. Perform a comprehensive evaluation of the similar products identified in steps 2 and 3 with an overall focus on human health effects, such as VOC emissions or product toxic content using consistent metrics. Evaluations could be based on indemnified manufacturer’s product data, third party comparison of products, or credentialed toxicologist’s report.
5. Evaluate whether or not the products identified in step 2 also meet the requirements for EQ Credit 4, as applicable, in the rating system you are pursuing.