Forum discussion

NC-v4.1 EQc2:Low-Emitting Materials

Emissions Testing - Previous CDPH v1.1-2010 vs. CDPH v1.2-2017

The low-emitting materials credit was simplified in LEED v4.1, yet the CDPH emissions testing (California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017) standard is new. Does anyone know if the previous California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010 will still qualify for LEED v4.1? Do products have to meet v1.1-2017 to 

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Wed, 09/11/2019 - 07:57

I've heard that GBCI will take 2010, but I wanted official confirmation on this same issue, so I've asked GBCI directly.  I'll pass along what I find out.

Wed, 09/25/2019 - 16:02

Any update on this item? I have the same question as I consider whether to substitute the v4.1 EQc2 for a v4 project. 

Wed, 09/25/2019 - 16:12

I submitted a question to GBCI and they responded with:  Thank you for your inquiry regarding compliance requirements for LEED v4.1 EQ credit Low Emitting Materials. Our understanding is that CDPH v1.1 will be accepted for the v4.1 credit but that there will likely be restrictions. USGBC is still working on the specifics, but the LEED Team expects the restrictions to be around when the product was purchased (or possibly manufactured or specified) and when the product was tested per CDPH. The CDPH testing is typically performed every 1 to 3 years, so they expect most products to be retested and compliant with CDPH v1.2-2017 by the beginning of next year at the latest.New projects using the LEED v4.1 credit should be specifying products compliant with CDPH v1.2-2017. Most of the primary product databases have already updated the majority of their products to this newer version. Allowing products tested to CDPHv1.1-2010 makes sense for LEED v4 projects that have already been working on specifying products and may have already even purchased products compliant with CDPH v1.1-2010. We don't want to prevent those projects from taking advantage of the improvements in LEED v4.1 simply because the standard was updated. That said, if the product search was done early on in the project way before purchasing, a best practice would be to re-do that product search to confirm the exact criteria for the product at time of purchase. This is because it is common for manufacturers to change products/ manufacturing practices so a project would want to have the right information for the item they receive.

Wed, 10/02/2019 - 10:16

I recently submitted for this v4.1 credit substitution on a v4 project and found that all of my tested products were in fact compliant with CDPH v1.2-2017.

Tue, 10/15/2019 - 22:34

A new LEED Interpretation # 10495 was just released yesterday which states that LEED v4 projects using the Low-emitting materials credit from LEED v4.1 via credit substitution may alternatively use the following low-emitting criteria in lieu of the LEED v4.1 requirement:
  • For VOC emissions evaluation Option 1: test in accordance with CDPH v1.1-2010 and comply with the VOC limits in Table 4-1 of CDPH v1.1-2010
  • For VOC emissions evaluation Option 2: test in accordance with German AgBB Testing and Evaluation Scheme (2010) and comply with the LCI values in German AgBB Testing and Evaluation Scheme (2010)
  • For VOC content evaluation: SCAQMD Rule 1113, effective June 3, 2011; SCAQMD Rule 1168, July 1 2005
  • For furniture emissions evaluation: Product has been tested in accordance with ANSI/BIFMA Standard Method M7.1–2011 and complies with ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 or ANSI/BIFMA e3-2012, Sections 7.6.1 (for half credit, by cost) OR 7.6.2 (for full credit, by cost).
​Great news!

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