New versions of AgBB - acceptable for showing compliance?

Project location: Germany

February 2, 2016

Reinhard Oppl

Independent consultant on VOC issues
formerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S

LEEDuser Basic Member

329 thumbs up

Project location: Germany

February 2, 2016

Hello, the credit allows non-US projects to accept products as low-emitting if these are compliant with AgBB (2010), even though the low formaldehyde requirement on top of AgBB compliance unfortunately is not mentioned here, which gives continuous confusion and non-intended greenwashing in the market. Nevertheless ...

Now not only AgBB 2012, even AgBB 2015 version has appeared. The new versions include more VOCs, and some of the limits have been lowered. Nobody in Europe is testing products after the old AgBB 2010 any longer.

Would US GBC / GBCI accept AgBB 2015 based test reports as well, or will manufacturers always need to ask for another test, just to follow the out-dated old version?

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Sara Johansson

LEED® AP O+M
Skanska Sverige AB

LEEDuser Basic Member

2 thumbs up

September 12, 2017 - 6:20 am

Hello Reinhard, have you received any more information on this issue? / Sara

Reinhard Oppl

Independent consultant on VOC issues
formerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S

LEEDuser Basic Member

329 thumbs up

September 12, 2017 - 3:05 pm

Hello Sara,
Newer versions of both CDPH and of AgBB are acceptable, as you can see from the comments of Larissa Oaks (US GBC) in this discussion thread:
https://leeduser.buildinggreen.com/forum/cdph-v12-2017.
Obviously US GBC staff and EQ TAG consider issuing an addendum or other clarification that newer versions of both CDPH and of AgBB are acceptable. But I did not yet see such a publication yet.
Bästa hälsningar,
Reinhard

Debra a. Lombard

Construction Administrator/ LEED AP
Bywater Woodworks, Inc.

LEEDuser Basic Member

47 thumbs up

September 13, 2017 - 2:02 pm

Does anyone know if the USGBC will accept under LEED NC v2009 the Eurofins M1 Finnish testing compares to the AgBB 2010 test that is allowed by LEED?
We are a GC and our Sub wants to use a product made outside the US that's only been tested & does meet M1 test.
THANKS!!!

Debra a. Lombard

Construction Administrator/ LEED AP
Bywater Woodworks, Inc.

LEEDuser Basic Member

47 thumbs up

September 13, 2017 - 2:11 pm

I should mention (after re-reading the allowable Stds table by USGBC at https://www.usgbc.org/sites/default/files/Low%20Emitting%20Third%20Party...) that my question above is in regards to equivalency & allowable standard for site applied wall/ ceiling coating.

Reinhard Oppl

Independent consultant on VOC issues
formerly with Eurofins Product Testing A/S

LEEDuser Basic Member

329 thumbs up

September 13, 2017 - 2:27 pm

A wall/ceiling coating needs the General emissions evaluation and the VOC content evaluation. The mentioned table states that Finnish M1 shows successful General emissions evaluation, even though this could be questioned from a technical view. But the table is clear enough. But Finnish M1 does not deal with the VOC content evaluation for wet-applied coatings, this needs to be done on top.