This question concerns allowable contactor activities before, during, and after the required two week flushout period. Your response of 10/17/2001 on this credit seems to imply the following sequence of events: 1. Complete punch list 2. Perform flushout 3. Install furniture The implied reason for this is that the furniture will become a "sink" for indoor pollutants, if installed before the flushout. In our project, the contractor\'s work includes furniture installation. Furthermore, they expect to do touch up painting after move-in, since the movers are likely to cause some damage to building finishes. Following the logic of the 10/17/01 decision, this would be prohibited, as the touch up painting would have to be performed before the flushout, but the furniture move-in, which created the need for touch up, could not be allowed until after flushout. On the other hand, it could be argued that the furniture should be moved in before flushout, to give the furniture an opportunity to "off gas". Is the time of furniture move-in critical, relative to the flushout period? If so, when should it occur? Can any activities, such as touch up painting, be performed after the flushout?
The sequence of final construction activities will naturally vary between contractors and depend on the contractor\'s scope of work. It is most critical that the flush-out be conducted AFTER substantial completion of construction (including major IEQ-relevant punch list items) and prior to occupancy. As stated in the EQc3.2 ruling dated 10/17/2001, it is recommended that the flush-out occur prior to furniture installation (with the exception of non-porous items). Touch-up painting resulting from furniture move-in should not be a significant source of indoor air contamination in comparison to the VOC and particulate emissions from the building materials and construction process and need not be completed prior to flush-out. Applicable internationally.UPDATE 10/1/12: Now applicable to 2009 versions of the rating system and not applicable to older versions.