Comparison of Indoor Air Quality Certification Programs

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SUMMARY
Target Products

Demonstration ofConformity

Interior Building Products (e.g., wall coverings,ceiling tiles, furniture, casework, insulation)

Interior Building Products (e.g., wall coverings,ceiling tiles, furniture, casework, insulation)

Interior Building Products (e.g., wallcoverings, ceiling tiles, furniture, insulation)• USGBC LEED EQ4.5 (Furniture and Seating)• USGBC LEED EQ4.5 (Furniture and Seating)• USGBC LEED EQ4.1 (Paints and Coatings)• USGBC LEED EQ4.1 (Paints and Coatings)• USGBC LEED EQ4.5 (Furniture andSeating)• USGBC LEED EQ4.2 (Adhesives and Sealants)• USGBC LEED EQ4.2 (Adhesives and Sealants)• BIFMA X7 Low-Emitting Office Furniture andSeating• BIFMA X7 Low-Emitting Office Furniture andSeating• Collaborative for High Performance Schools(CHPS)• California 01350 Special Environmental
Requirements

Targeted Action
LevelsHealth-driven based on Chronic Reference
Exposure Levels (CREL) as set by California Officeof Environmental Health Hazard Assessment

Based on LEED criteria for EQ4.5, EQ4.1, andEQ4.2 (including South Coast Air Quality
Management District)

Transparency ofRequirements

Processes, tests, standards, and criteria are
publicly available

Procedures, tests, standards, and criteria are
publicly available

Cost Control
Mechanism

Cost efficient – component-based program, smallchamber optimization, supply chain inclusion, andmultiple laboratory options

Cost efficient – component-based program, smallchamber optimization, supply chain inclusion, andmultiple laboratory options

Equivalent to LEED criteria for EQ4.5 andincludes industrial workplace ThresholdLimit Values (TLV) set by National Institutefor Occupational Safety and HealthProtocols are not available

Requires full product testing and solesource laboratory

ADMINISTRATION
Third-party Auditor
Approved U.S.
TestingLaboratories

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)

Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)• Air Quality Sciences• Air Quality Sciences• Berkeley Analytical Associates• Berkeley Analytical Associates• Materials Analytical Services• Materials Analytical Services

Delegated to Air Quality Sciences (AQS)• Air Quality Sciences

TRANSPARENCY
Publicly Available
Emission Chamber
Protocols

ASTM D5116 and ASTM D6670
CA/DHS/EHLB/R-174
BIFMA M7.1

ASTM D5116 and ASTM D6670
CA/DHS/EHLB/R-174
BIFMA M7.1

Publicly Available
and Reproducible
Modeling Protocols

Detailed in CA/DHS/EHLB/R-174, SCS-EC102004, and BIFMA M7.1

Detailed in CA/DHS/EHLB/R-174, SCS-EC102004, and BIFMA M7.1

Prepared by Scientific Certification Systems

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ASTM D5116 and ASTM D6670
EPA RTI-ETV

No
November 4, 2005

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PROTECTION OF PUBLIC HEALTH

Volatile Organic
Chemicals (VOC)
ThresholdsAldehydeThresholds

Furniture and Seating:
TVOC: 0.25 – 0.5 mg/m3
4-PCH: 0.00325 – 0.0065 mg/m3
Paints & Coatings:
Flats: 50g/l VOC
Non-Flats: 150 g/l
Adhesives and Sealants:
50-100 g/l VOC adhesives
250 g/l VOC sealants
Individual VOCs: <1/2 CREL*

Furniture and Seating:
TVOC: 0.25 – 0.5 mg/m3
4-PCH: 0.00325 – 0.0065 mg/m3
Paints & Coatings:
Flats: 50g/l VOC
Non-Flats: 150 g/l
Adhesives and Sealants:
50-100 g/l VOC adhesives
250 g/l VOC sealants

All products:
TVOC: 0.25 – 0.5 mg/m34-PCH: 0.00325 – 0.0065 mg/m3*Examples3•
Benzene: 30 µg/m
3•Epichlorohydrin: 1.5 µg/m
3•Napthalene: 4.5 µg/m
3•
Phenol: 100 µg/m
3•
Toluene: 150 µg/m
3•
Trichlorethlene: 300 µg/m
3•Vinyl Acetate: 100 µg/m

*Examples• Individual speciation is not required to meet thecriteria in LEED EQ4.5 , EQ4.1, and EQ4.2.

*Examples3•
Benzene: 160 µg/m
3•Epichlorohydrin: 189 µg/m
3•
Toluene: 250-500 µg/m
3•Napthalene: 250-500 µg/m
3•
Phenol: 250-500 µg/m
3•
Trichlorethlene: 250-500 µg/m
3•Vinyl Acetate: 250-500 µg/m

All products:
3Formaldehyde:13 ppb (16.5 µg/m )3Acetaldehyde: 7.5 ppb (9 µg/m )Furniture and Seating:Formaldehyde: 0.025 – 0.05 ppm
Total Aldehydes: 0.05 – 0.1 ppm

All products:
Formaldehyde: 0.025 – 0.05 ppm
Total Aldehydes: 0.05 – 0.1 ppm

Individual VOCs: <0.1 TLV*OVERSIGHT
Requires That
Manufacturers
Maintain
Documented
Control System toEnsure Ongoing
Compliancerd
Requires 3 Partycertification
independent oftesting laboratory
and manufacturer
Requires Selectionof ‘Worst-Case’
Emitting Products
Requires Annual
RetestingYes; auditor reviews system for thoroughness

Yes; auditor reviews system for thoroughness

NoYes

Yes

No; testing and technical oversightfunctions provided by AQS, the testinglaboratory

Yes. Detailed in CA/DHS/EHLB/R-174 and SCSEC10-2004

Yes. Detailed in CA/DHS/EHLB/R-174 and SCSEC10-2004

Procedures not disclosed

Yes

Yes

Yes

Prepared by Scientific Certification Systems

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November 4, 2005