G|PRO PLUMBING Sample Documents LEED BD+C: New Construction v4

EQ Credit Low-Emitting Materials

LEED v4 includes product categories representing all of the major interior surfaces in a building and all of the layers that make up these surfaces. There are two options for calculating low-emitting compliance.

• The table below shows the thresholds of compliance for the seven categories of

products under Option 1, Product Category Calculations. For projects without furniture, two compliant categories earn one point, four compliant categories earn two points, and five compliant categories earn three points. For projects with furniture, three compliant categories will earn one point for the project, five compliant categories will earn two points, and six compliant categories will earn three points.

Category Threshold Emissions and Content Requirements

Interior paints and coatings applied on site

At least 90%, by volume, for emissions; 100% for VOC

content

• General Emissions Evaluation for paints and coating applied to walls, floors, and ceilings

• VOC content requirements for wet applied products

Interior adhesives and sealants applied on site (including flooring

adhesive)

At least 90%, by volume, for emissions; 100% for VOC

content

• General Emissions Evaluation • VOC content requirements for wet applied

products Flooring 100% General Emissions Evaluation

Composite wood 100% not covered by other categories Composite Wood Evaluation

Ceilings, walls, thermal, and acoustic insulation 100%

• General Emissions Evaluation • Healthcare, Schools only

Additional insulation requirements

Furniture (include in calculations if part of scope of work) At least 90%, by cost Furniture Evaluation

Healthcare and schools projects only: Exterior applied products At least 90%, by volume Exterior Applied Products

• Option 2, the Budget Calculation Method allows compliant percentages across all relevant categories to be summed together with points awarded dependent upon the total percentage of compliant products. Over 50% compliant is awarded one point, 70% for two points, and 90% for three points.

There are two sample documents on the Plumbing Student Resources webpage from USGBC, which are used in reporting low-emitting materials compliance. The first is the Low-Emitting Materials Calculator. It is an excel sheet used to track and document purchases for LEED v4 BD+C and ID+C. A completed calculator is required with submittal of the reporting document below.

• Page one ‘Instructions’ of the calculator includes specific directions on how to use the calculator, and VOC content limits from reference standards.

• Page two ‘Products’ is where all information is entered. Directions differ depending on whether the project is pursuing Option 1 or Option 2.

• Page three ‘Option 1. Product Category Calculations Summary’ and page four ‘Option 2. Budget Calculation Method Summary’ calculate compliance based on the information entered in page three.

The second form needed is a reporting document, which is submitted to LEED for compliance approval. (If using Safari or Google Chrome, use "Save Link As" to open the PDF.) In this document you:

1. First identify the type of construction, and whether or not the project is using IP or SI units.

2. Upload the completed Low-Emitting Materials Calculator 3. Select which compliance calculating option you chose for the project (Option 1 or

Option 2). § Option 1: Select all product categories that were calculated for the

project. Enter the percentage values calculated from the Summary tab of the Low-emitting materials calculator for each selected product category.

§ Option 2: Enter the total percent compliant calculated from the Summary tab of the Low-Emitting Materials Calculator.

§ Manufacturer or testing documentation must be uploaded here for all products included in the Low-Emitting Materials Calculator.

4. Indicate any special circumstances that may have limited the project team’s ability to provide the required submittals in the form.