Dec 092012
 
5.504.4.6. Resilient flooring systems. For 50 percent of floor area receiving resilient flooring, install resilient flooring complying with the VOC-emission limits defined in the 2009

Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) criteria and listed on its High Performance

Products Database; products compliant with CHPS criteria certified under the Greenguard Children & Schools program; certified under the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) FloorScore program; or meet California Department of Public Health 2010 Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, Version 1.1, February 2010 (also known as Specification 01350.)

 

[DSA-SS] Documentation shall be provided that verifies that finish materials are certified to meet the pollutant emission limits.

 

5.504.4.6.1 Verification of compliance. Documentation shall be provided verifying that resilient flooring materials meet the pollutant emission limits.

 

 

Intent:

The purpose of these measures is to reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOC) of finish materials commonly installed on a project, which will help improve air quality for the building occupants.

 

Change for 2012: Most of the changes proposed for this division resulted from comments received from CARB. They are intended to provide clarity and accuracy for the code user.

 

Sections 5.504.4.4 Carpet systems and 5.504.4.3.1 Carpet cushion. CBSC has updated the referenced standards as suggested by CARB to their current names. The standard for NSF/ANSI 140 “Gold” is also tagged as a minimum standard, not an absolute, for clarity.

 

Section 5.504.4.4.2 Documentation [for composite wood products]. This section is modified in response to comments by CARB to clarify for the code user the qualifying product certifications.

 

Section 5.504.4.6 Resilient flooring systems. CBSC is proposing updating the referenced standards as suggested by CARB to their current names, including a reference to Greenguard-certified products previously cited in a note.

 

Existing Law or Regulation:

The low-VOC provisions are based on the recommendations, guidelines and regulations of the

Air Resources Board cited in each section. Regulations for aerosol adhesives and paints and for composite wood products are found in California Code of Regulations, Title 17 as noted above.

 

Compliance Method:

Specify finish materials that meet the limits of VOC shown in the tables for adhesives and sealants, paints and coatings, and composite wood products (particle board and hardboard

casework). Flooring products (carpet systems and resilient flooring) shall be specified to meet

VOC limit criteria as tested by the listed organizations. Substitutes may be approved by the local enforcing authority if it deems equivalency.

 

Suggestion:

Contractor: Retain product data sheets for onsite verification by the enforcing agency and for the operation and maintenance manual. Sample compliance forms can be found in Part 4 of this

Guide.

 

Enforcement:

Plan Intake: The reviewer and/or plan checker should review the plans and specifications to confirm that the finishes are specified to meet VOC emission limits.

 

On-Site Enforcement: The inspector should review the permit set of plans and product data sheets maintained by the contractor to verify finishes specified on the approved plans and specifications are installed, or at least stored on site with the ability to be verified. The inspector may review data on material containers or specifications provided with products or accept self- certification form.

 

CALGreen Section: 5.714.4.4 Finish material pollutant control.

 

Finish materials shall comply with Sections 5.714.4.4.1 through 5.714.4.4.6

Public Health 2010 Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, Version 1.1, February 2010 (also known as Specification 01350.)

 

 

Intent:

The purpose of these measures is to reduce the volatile organic compounds (VOC) of finish materials commonly installed on an addition and alteration project, which will help improve air quality for the building occupants as for new construction in Division 5.5. During rulemaking and

publication, an error was made in the referenced sections. They should read “Sections

5.714.4.4.1 through 5.714.4.4.6, up to and including resilient flooring systems.

 

Compliance and Enforcement: See § 5.504.4.4 through § 5.504.4.6 of this guide

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