Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

CIR- Enamel Paint & Green Seal On many projects there is the need to use high performance paint, such as enamel, in areas where there is high abrasion, such as doorframes and trim work. In all cases, enamel (oil or water based) does not met the Green Seal VOC limit of 150 g/l for a non-flat interior coating. If an alternative product were to be used, it would have to be repainted sooner than enamel, thus giving off more VOCs over time than if enamel had been used in the first place. In speaking with industry manufacturers, they stated that on average oil-based and water-based enamels would last on average 15-20 years. In contrast a lower VOC alternative, such as a satin finish latex paint, may last anywhere from 1-10 years depending on location and wear conditions. In addition, the areas in which enamel are used are typically small, limited to doorframes, trim, and stairwells. In the cases where enamel should be used, should we use the Green Seal standard of 150 g/l, or is there an alternative standard we should use, for example, the Bay Area Air Quality Management District, Regulation 8 Organic Compounds, Rule 3 Architectural Coatings which lists the VOC limit for quick-dry enamel as 250 g/l?