For v4.1 Option 2 Air Testing Path 1 (Particulate Matter and Organic Gases) direct calibrated instrument sampling duration

Hi James,  

1. Most of LEED standard method are using EPA or ISO or ASTM. To meet this credit, you need to find laboratory that can test according to LEED standard method.
2. In our opinion, the test result from the instrument is better to be enclosed within or together with the IAQ report to justify where is the value come from and you also have to show what standard method that is used for the test to show the compliance to the LEED method requirement.

  Thanks and regards.

James, As a laboratory that is ISO17025 Certified and has been doing the LEED 3.2, V4 and 4.1 criteria for the IAQ testing, it is a question we get all the time since 4.1 came out. When V4 and 4.1 was issued it was stated that the time for sampling is left to the professional which leaves a wide-open area. As a laboratory you must sample as long as it takes to meet the required detection limit which could be as little as 2 hours, under our scope of work, or as long as 6-10 hours when using other types of media. Only the laboratory can tell you how long that period should be. As far as handhelds are concerned there really isn't anything written on how long it should be however a good rule of thumb would be is you need to have a decent representative sample. Therefore, standing there for 5-10 minutes would not be a good idea. If you are sampling other parameters such as TVOC, formaldehyde, particulates the time you are sampling those with the other media, your handhelds should be kept there for the same amount of time. One of the biggest issues that we have heard is that you need to make sure that the handheld can reach the minimum detection limit so if you’re doing particulates it needs to go down to 0.000001ug which is very difficult. Also, the cost for rentals could be extremely high so using a laboratory maybe less expensive. I'd be more than happy to talk further to you about this, feel free to give me a call at 315-431-9730...Russ