SPECIAL REPORT
LEEDuser overview
Post your questions on this credit in the forum, and click on the credit language tab to review to the LEED requirements.
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
To reduce occupants’ exposure to airborne chemical contaminants through product selection.
In the interior of the home, use products that have been tested and found compliant with the California Department of Public Health Standard Method V1.1–2010, using CA Section 01350, Appendix B, New Single-Family Residence Scenario, for emissions testing guidance. At least 90% of a component must meet the requirements to earn credit.
For site-applied interior paints and coatings, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For flooring, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For insulation, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For site-applied adhesives and sealants, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For composite wood products be constructed from materials documented to have low formaldehyde emissions that meet the California Air Resources Board requirements for ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) resins or no-added formaldehyde based resins. Salvaged and reused architectural millwork more than one year old at the time of occupancy is considered compliant provided any site-applied paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants meet the requirements. Wood structural panels conforming to DOC PS-1 or PS-2 and manufactured with moisture-resistant adhesive for "Exposure 1" or "Exterior" application as indicated on the panel by the trademark of an approved testing and grading agency are exempt. (1 point) .
See all forum discussions about this credit »What does it cost?
On each BD+C v4 credit, LEEDuser offers the wisdom of a team of architects, engineers, cost estimators, and LEED experts with hundreds of LEED projects between then. They analyzed the sustainable design strategies associated with each LEED credit, but also to assign actual costs to those strategies.
Our tab contains overall cost guidance, notes on what “soft costs” to expect, and a strategy-by-strategy breakdown of what to consider and what it might cost, in percentage premiums, actual costs, or both.
This information is also available in a full PDF download in The Cost of LEED v4 report.
Learn more about The Cost of LEED v4 »Already a premium member? Log in now
Checklists
LEEDuser’s checklists walk you through the key action steps you need to earn a credit, including how to avoid common pitfalls and save money.
Already a premium member? Log in now
Documentation toolkit
LEEDuser’s Documentation Toolkit is loaded with calculators to help assess credit compliance, tracking spreadsheets for materials, sample templates to help guide your narratives and LEED Online submissions, and examples of actual submissions from certified LEED projects for you to check your work against. To get your plaque, start with the right toolkit.
Already a premium member? Log in now
Addenda
In step 3, revise the first bullet so it reads: Collect documentation confirming that all products have been tested and certified by an approved third party. (see Further Explanation, Testing Programs).
In Further Explanation, Testing Programs, delete Table 1.
This LEED Interpretation has been closed to align with v4.1 credit substitution guidelines
We are using credit substitution to pursue the LEED v4.1 Low-emitting materials credit for our LEED v4 project. Is it acceptable to follow the LEED v4.1 credit requirements as written but meet the earlier versions of the referenced standards, as allowed in the LEED v4 credit?
Yes, 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).
**Closed on 7/25/2023 to align with v4.1 credit substitution guidelines**
Credit language
© Copyright U.S. Green Building Council, Inc. All rights reserved.
To reduce occupants’ exposure to airborne chemical contaminants through product selection.
In the interior of the home, use products that have been tested and found compliant with the California Department of Public Health Standard Method V1.1–2010, using CA Section 01350, Appendix B, New Single-Family Residence Scenario, for emissions testing guidance. At least 90% of a component must meet the requirements to earn credit.
For site-applied interior paints and coatings, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For flooring, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For insulation, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For site-applied adhesives and sealants, meet the requirements of CA Section 01350 (0.5 point).
For composite wood products be constructed from materials documented to have low formaldehyde emissions that meet the California Air Resources Board requirements for ultra-low-emitting formaldehyde (ULEF) resins or no-added formaldehyde based resins. Salvaged and reused architectural millwork more than one year old at the time of occupancy is considered compliant provided any site-applied paints, coatings, adhesives, and sealants meet the requirements. Wood structural panels conforming to DOC PS-1 or PS-2 and manufactured with moisture-resistant adhesive for "Exposure 1" or "Exterior" application as indicated on the panel by the trademark of an approved testing and grading agency are exempt. (1 point) .
See all forum discussions about this credit »Addenda
In step 3, revise the first bullet so it reads: Collect documentation confirming that all products have been tested and certified by an approved third party. (see Further Explanation, Testing Programs).
In Further Explanation, Testing Programs, delete Table 1.
This LEED Interpretation has been closed to align with v4.1 credit substitution guidelines
We are using credit substitution to pursue the LEED v4.1 Low-emitting materials credit for our LEED v4 project. Is it acceptable to follow the LEED v4.1 credit requirements as written but meet the earlier versions of the referenced standards, as allowed in the LEED v4 credit?
Yes, 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).
**Closed on 7/25/2023 to align with v4.1 credit substitution guidelines**