Leadership in Energy and Environ mental Design, (LEED), was developed by the U.S. Green building council to promote a a mission of “producing a new generation of buildings that deliver high performance inside and out.”
The LEED’s 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 energy-saving systems. Through LEED standards, the USGBC seeks to improve the environmental and economic performance of commercial buildings using established and/or advance industry principles, practices, material and standards. In the last year, LEED certified building projects have increased 330% nationwide.
The LEED criteria that applies to cabinets and millwork finished on the actual building site falls under the Indoor Environmental Quality section of Version 2.2 of the LEED manual.
Keep in mind - this criteria appliesto on-site finishing only and is not for shop application!
Reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants that are odorous, irritating and/or harmful to the comfort and wee-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:
Specify low-VOC paints and coatings in 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, pre-catalyzed lacquers, and lacquers provide the cabinet/millwork shop with many alternatives. However the costs of these coatings do 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’s is not a fad that will pass with time, we will see more and more focus on environmental friendly products. When a LEED’s project comes your way you don’t need to shy away from it, Wood Finishers Depot can steer you in the right direction and you should not be required to comply with the documentation and tracking portion of the requirement as you are applying your coatings in a shop environment.
LEED’s EQ 4.2 is a environmental issue that can be dealt with in our cabinet /millwork shops with little finishing adjustments.
Written By: Tim Woolery - Vice President, Gemini Industries
Article reprinted with permission. December 2008
This article was published on Wednesday 03 December, 2008.
