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Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council to promote a mission of "producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out."
The LEED program rates commercial projects on a wide range of criteria including indoor air quality and the use of recycled materials, local resources, renewable energy sources and enery-saving systems. Through LEED standards, the USGBC seeks to improve the environmental and economic performance of commercial buildings using established and/or advanced industry principles, practices, material and standards. In the last year, LEED-certified building projects have increased 330 percent nationwide.
Indoor environmental quality
EQ Credit 4.2 Low-Emitting Materials: Paints & Coatings
Intent: Reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and well-being of installers and occupants.
Requirements: Paints and coatings used on the interior of the building (defined as inside of the weatherproofing system and applied on-site) shall comply with the following criteria:
- Clear wood finishes: varnish 350 g/l; lacquer 550 g/l
- Sealers: sanding sealers 275 g/l
- Stains: 250 g/l
Potential technologies & strategies
Be sure to specify low-VOC paints and coatings in the construction document. Ensure that VOC limits are clearly stated in each section of the specifications where paints and coatings are addressed. Track the VOC content of all interior paints and coatings during construction.
What does this mean for the cabinet/millwork shop?
According to EQ 4.2, shop applied coatings will not help the building receive the point that is intended for this requirement; however, many architects are requesting that the cabinet/millwork shop still comply.
Water-based coatings and low VOC varnishes, precatalyzed lacquers and lacquers provide the cabinet/millwork shop with many alternatives. However, the costs of these coatings, due to the solvent and solid requirements for these low VOC coatings, is normally higher.
Stains offerings are more limited and, at times, are not as user-friendly as the normal stains we are used too. Many low VOC stains on the market contain acetone or very expensive Oxsol solvents.
LEED is not a fad that will pass with time; we will see more and more focus on environmental friendly products. When a LEED project comes your way, you don't need to shy away from it. Your local coating supplier should be able to steer you in the right direction, and you should not be required to comply with the documentation and tracking portion of the requirement since you are applying your coatings in a shop environment.
LEED's EQ 4.2 is an environmental issue that can be dealt with in our cabinet/millwork shops with few finishing adjustments.
The USGBC recently made a new ruling on how finishing affects LEED points. Please look for updated information on what this means for you in the next issue of Finishing.
Ed. note: Tim Woolery, vice president of marketing and product development for Gemini Coatings, can be reached at timw@gemini-coatings.com or direct phone at (405)345-2032.
author: By Tim Woolery