Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.1

Inquiry

Low Emitting Furniture The Institute of Eco Tourism is committed to walking the walk of green sustainability. The scope of work on this project has included several items that go beyond the LEED 2.1 requirements for certification. One of these items, that is beyond the LEED requirements, that was included in our scope of work, is office furnishings. In a previous CIR dated 1/21/2003 it states that office furnishings include in the scope of work are eligible for an innovation credit based upon LEED-CI IEQ credit 4.5 Low-Emitting Materials - Furniture. The materials we used in our office furnishings, are listed below. KEY: Material; VOC Content; Added Formaledehyde; MSDS; 2.1 Credit Compliance EcoWheat Wheat Board; None; NONE; Mfg MSDS; MR.6 UV cured Acrylic Urethane finish; NONE; NONE; Mfg MSDS; IEQ 4.1 Polygal Fluted Polycarbonate; NONE; NONE; Mfg MSDS; MR4.1 Extruded Aluminum; NONE; NONE; Mfg MSDS; MR4.1 In LEED 2.1 Materials & Resources and Indoor Air Quality requirements are approved based upon Manufacturers MSDS sheets. LEED-CI IEQ, credit 4.5 Low-Emitting Materials ? Furniture, are approved based upon Greenguard certification or emissions testing. LEED 2.1 IEQ requires manufactures MSDS cut sheets for compliance. The LEED-CI IEQ credit 4.5 holds office furnishings to a higher standard than LEED 2.1 buildings. We were very excited to find furnishings that met our requirements for material content and IEQ, but unfortunately they are not yet Greenguard certified. I understand that Greenguard certification and emissions testing (as called out in LEED-CI IEQ credit 4.5 Low-Emitting Materials ? Furniture) are cost prohibitive, time consuming and may extend the time to market for ground breaking companies who are providing state of the ?green? art furnishings. The materials we specified and utilized for the office furnishings, independently, would meet the requirements for LEED 2.1, IEQ 4.1 thru 4.4, and MR4.1, however they have not yet been Greenguard Certified as assemblies and they have not had emissions testing as required by LEED-CI IEQ credit 4.5 Low-Emitting Materials - Furniture. The Institute of EcoTourism has gone beyond the standard LEED requirements and would like to be rewarded for their innovation efforts in office furnishings. I am proposing the following Innovation Credit. INTENT: Reduce the use of materials and finishes in furniture assemblies that may release indoor air contaminants that are odorous or potentially irritating and might be deleterious to installer and occupant health, comfort and well being. Utilize resource efficient materials wherever possible in office furnishings. REQUIREMENT: Use office furnishings whose components meet the LEED 2.1, IEQ 4.1 thru 4.4 requirements. TECHNOLOGIES/STRATEGIES: Specify Low-VOC material in construction Documents. Ensure that VOC limits are clearly stated in each section where office furnishings are used. SUBMITTALS: Provide manufacturer cut sheets for all materials used in the manufacturing of the office furnishings to include, but not limited to: adhesives & sealants, paints and coatings, carpet, composite wood and agrifiber products.