Classifying Products

How about "all other sealers" for 200 g/L? Does that present an issue with this particular product?

I exclude any materials that are incorporated as part of the weather proofing membrane because the instructions from the USGBC are to include all materials inside the weatherproofing membrane.

We've been directed to do the opposite, so we always include the components of the weatherproofing membrane in this credit. I'd be interested in what the consensus is!

Directed by whom? If the language in the RG states: "Paints and coatings used on the interior of the building (i.e. inside the weatherproofing system and applied on site) must comply..." wouldn't it stand to reason that the weatherproofing membrane itself would be excluded?

I guess I would love to hear from the USGBC as a final ruling.

So would I. We have a focus on IAQ in the office, so we err on the side of human health benefit. To me it's simply not clear, as are so many things in the Ref Guide. Until we hear to the contrary, though, we will continue to look for Low VOC materials, products and systems.

Agreed! IAQ is the most important thing.

Lauren and Marian,

One of our peers at Perkins+Will just shared an official message from GBCI on EQ credit 4.1, but the logic may apply here as well:

"This issue has only recently been explicitly taken-up by the IEQ Technical Advisory Group (TAG). Though the decision has not yet been officially published, we anticipate that the next release of rating system and/or reference guide addenda will clarify that the single-ply roofing adhesives and single-ply roof membrane sealants do not have to be considered when evaluating compliance with this credit as they are basically part of the weatherproofing system and they have a relatively small chance of impacting indoor air quality. All other categories of adhesives and sealants listed in the Requirements are still controlled by the VOC limits of this credit if they are applied "inside the weatherproofing system". That said, regardless of the application, it would be more in keeping with the Intent of this credit and LEED, in general, to find the lowest VOC option that meets the performance requirements for this application."

Reading between the lines from you and others, teams have all been handling this issue differently, and only now has the TAG addressed it.