SpecLink: New Section Synopses

Section 01 6116 (01616) - Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Content Restrictions:

This section is new for Fall 2008.  SpecLink has included VOC restrictions for some time, in Section 016000 Product Requirements, but they have all been moved to this separate section to give them more visibility, with additional requirements for more product categories.  Some criteria may be cross-referenced to other sections, such as 099000 for painting and 096800 for carpet.

Although these criteria can be applied to any project, the VOC criteria specified are those cited by the LEED Green Building Rating Systems (NC, CS, CI, and Schools) and the California Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). The LEED for Schools and CHPS criteria are virtually identical and are the most stringent known, in several ways.  To get approved for LEED for Schools or CHPS, building product manufacturers must provide satisfactory “evidence” that their product meets the criteria.  The evidence involves having the product tested by a third party testing agency, using a different test method, to the VOC limits specified by CHPS, and either submitting the satisfactory test reports to CHPS or providing one of the alternative certifications that have been approved by CHPS.  So far, only a limited number of products have been taken through this whole process.  Fortunately, LEED for Schools accepts the same evidence as CHPS.

Another way that the VOC criteria are more stringent is the number of different categories of products that the rating systems recommend should comply.  The other LEED rating systems call for low emitting paints and coatings, adhesives, carpeting, and composite wood without added urea-formaldehyde.  LEED for Schools and CHPS give credits for gypsum board, acoustical ceilings and panels, insulation in walls and ceilings, all floorings, all wall coverings, classroom desks, tables, and seating.  LEED for Schools gives up to 4 credits in six categories—all of the products in a given category must comply in order to receive the credit.  CHPS gives 8 half-points in 11 categories—again, all the products in the category must comply.
Hyperlinks in the master notes in the section lead to the rating system documents, the test methods, and the certification agencies’ on-line databases of tested products.

Section 01 6116.01 Accessory Material VOC Content Certification Form

This section is a form for documenting that no high-VOC accessory materials have been used, whether or not specified.  Section 01 6116 (01616) specifies restrictions on VOC content for many materials used in building interiors.   Unfortunately, because installers are allowed and directed to choose accessory materials suitable for the applicable installation, there is a possibility that such accessory materials might contain VOC content in excess of that permitted, especially where such materials have not been explicitly specified.  No matter how well the specification may cover the necessary criteria, installers may utilize these products anyway. This form is intended to obtain the certification of each installer that it has not used any of those products on the project—the Contractor is required to have this form submitted by every installer of products on the project.  This form fulfills the same function as the form 01 3616.07  LEED Prohibited Content Installer Certification —it has been genericized to apply to non-LEED projects as well.