Gym Floor Paints

Shelly – You appear to be looking at a recent version of SCAQMD Rule 1113 that shows new VOC limits starting in January 2014. However, LEED-BD+C 2009 cites the VOC limits that SCAQMD-1113 used in January 2004 (see http://www.usgbc.org/resources/south-coast-air-quality-management-distri... ).

For layout lines and markings on athletic flooring, LI#5211 (http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=%22athletic+flooring%22 ) allows paints that meet the VOC limit that SCAQMD-1113-2004 prescribed for “Graphic Arts Coatings,” even though this category does not appear on the VOC limit chart that USGBC issued in October 2013: http://www.usgbc.org/resources/ieqc42-table-1-applicable-voc-limits.

On the other hand, if SCAQMD has lowered the VOC limit for this type of paint, products that comply with the new limit should now be on the market. To ensure the best IAQ and to avoid spoiling pre-occupancy IAQ tests, you may wish to specify the lowest-VOC products available, even though LEED-2009 does not require you to do so.

Correction:

The response above is relevant for LEED-NC and LEED-CS, but may not be for LEED for Schools. LEED for Schools does not require compliance with SCAQMD-1113.

LEED for Schools requires the following for IEQc4.2: “All paints and coatings used on the interior of the building (i.e., inside of the weatherproofing system and applied on-site) must meet the testing and product requirements of the California Department of Health Services Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda.” (see https://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/IAQ/Documents/standard_practice_testing... .)

Therefore, the striping paint’s initial VOC content is not the measuring stick for this Credit. The CDHS standard measures the actual VOC emissions after application.

However, the LEEDuser “Bird’s Eye View” tab above does mention an alternative compliance path that may allow LEED for Schools projects to follow the LEED-NC compliance path. I am not sure whether this alternative still applies.

LI#5211 prescribed the 500g/L VOC limit for the game line paint, but I doubt that you can use the same limit for game line primer. For primers, USGBC sets the VOC limit at 200g/L: http://www.usgbc.org/leed-interpretations?keys=100001805