FF&E

Yes, any composite wood and agrifibre products used in the manufacturing of FF&E for the interior of the building are to be reported under this credit.

I would appreciate some clarification on this, too.

LEED-NC & -CS explicitly exclude FF&E from the IEQc4.4 NAUF requirement. LEED-CI & Schools address furniture separately in an extra IEQc4.5 credit. An ancient LEEDv2.0 CIR issued in 2003 (LI# 6077) ruled that, even if a project includes furniture in MR calculations, it need not address FF&E in IEQc4.4. Unless this ruling conflicts with more recent credit language or interpretations, it should still be valid. However, casework that is constructed for the project and permanently installed by the general construction contractor is considered as a part of the building rather than the FF&E for the project, and should be included IEQc4.4. See LI# 10294 for the distinction: http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=10294

Jon's reference is correct. I have worked on more than 100 LEED projects and some architects try hiding built-in furniture in CSI Divison 12. One of these architects has over 100 LEED APs, and several LEED Fellows on staff. They insisted that Div 12 was exempt, and that laboratory casework was required to be in Div 12 even if it was bolted to the floor, and hard-plumbed with sinks, and also gas piping. Therefore, it was exempt from LEED requirements. That architectural firm was of course wrong. So, be aware that a firm having a large number of LEED APs, and some LEED Fellows, is no guarantee that the firm knows what is actually required to do a LEED project the correct way.

Even though IEQc4.4 does not apply to FF&E, it may be prudent to specify NAUF and low-emitting furniture, as contaminants in these items could adversely affect IAQ for IEQc3 and post-occupancy. Also, as Hernando points out, the distinction between permanently installed fixtures and moveable FF&E can be murky. Building Scope versus FF&E Scope can vary from project to project. Procurement strategies can also change, so items originally tagged as “Building” may ultimately be purchased as FF&E (and vice versa). Schedules sometimes force the move-in of FF&E before flush-out. Therefore, John-David’s tactic of requiring NAUF for FF&E may be the wisest, even if doing so is not required by IEQc4.4. Finally, CSI never intended MasterFormat sections to distinguish between Base Building and FF&E. As noted in LI# 10294, Division 12 includes numerous items that may qualify as “permanent” & “unmovable” (built-in casework & countertops, permanent entry systems installed for IEQc5, fixed-seating, etc.). Some clearly nonpermanent items are in Sections 03-10. Owners and project teams should agree upon Base Building and FF&E scopes during Design and CD phases and base LEED Credit requirements upon project-specific expectations, not upon Spec Section numbers.