Rating System

LEED BD+C: New Construction

Rating System Version

v2 - LEED 2.0

Inquiry

We are using a Green Seal certified paint for interior application, and we want to use color. When we received the MSDS, its technical data showed that the VOC level for the base paint (white) easily met Green Seal testing limits. However, a little note at the bottom of the sheet stated that "colorants contain minimal amounts of VOCs. When tinted, those colors will contain a small amount of VOCs which will not affect the odor of the paint." The MSDS also stated that the white base paint "may be tinted with up to 2.0 fl. oz. of colorants per gallon". We called both the paint company and Green Seal to find out if the colorants would remain below the limits set by Green Seal. The paint company would not provide us with the VOC data for colorants, and Green Seal states they only test the base paint (which is white), not the colorants! Therefore, since our base paint is Green Seal certified and it meets the credit requirements as stated,and Green Seal does not test colorants, can we still get the credit if colorants are added to the base paint?