Eurofins Product Testing - LEED® by USGBC and selection of products
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LEED®, the US originated rating system for sustainable buildings,
is requested by more and more building planners in the USA and in Europe and at the Gulf.
Copies and modified versions of that rating system can be found in the Gulf region, in Italy, in Australia, and in some Asian regions. Slightly different approaches are in use in Europe, see also here.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non profit organization that developed and administers the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.
Motivation for having LEED® certification of a building is to achieve higher value of a building in balance, or better sales or better rental price with sustainability as additional argument, or to promote public perception of the company operating a LEED® certified building, or to promote environment and health. Procedure is to collect points by fulfilling "credits" for proper consideration of environmental aspects (e.g. saving of energy and of resources, recyclability, indoor air quality and more).
Use of low emitting materials is helping to achieve such points with respect to indoor air quality. Motivation of product manufacturers to show that their product can support collecting LEED® points ("LEED® compliance") is that they can sell their products to those who want to achieve LEED® certification of their building. But USGBC does not foresee any type of "LEED® compliance" attestation of a product. An overview of these requirements for purchasers and commissioners is available for download in English, in German and soon also in French.
Eurofins Product Testing A/S has become member of U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) for better ability to serve industry clients, both with consulting and with testing for showing such compliance with LEED® specifications.
In Italy there was founded Green Building Council Italia, using the US specifications.
Please see our presentation on LEED® - a new challenge for low VOC emission materials, as presentation slides and as paper, held at CERTECH conference on Emissions from Materials in October 2009.
Consulting
Building owners and planners
Eurofins can make contact with LEED® Professionals that help building owners and planners through LEED® certification process.
Product Manufacturers
Eurofins can help manufacturers to deliver appropriate documentation for showing LEED® compliance of their products.
The basic procedure is:
- Manufacturer supplies documentation on LEED® relevant product properties to its client.
- Building planner presents all documentation (including material documentation) to Green Building Certification Institute GBCI or to an approved certification body.
- There final acceptance is given and respective point is awarded within process of certification of the building project.
It is important to understand that no product can be LEED® approved, but the manufacturer can produce documentation showing that the product can help achieving LEED® points. If a product carries the logo of USGBC then this indicates nothing more than that the manufacturer is member of U.S. Green Building Council.
The indoor air quality related product specifications are summarized here. An overview over the whole system is giving in Wikipedia and here. Access to most recent LEED® specifications can be found here:
Testing
Eurofins Product Testing A/S offers testing for showing compliance of a product with LEED® specifications. The qualification as test lab has been demonstrated for the USA by the fact that Eurofins Product Testing A/S is approved by SCS for BIFMA, FloorScore and "Section 1350" VOC emission testing.
It is important to understand that no testing laboratory can be LEED® approved. If a laboratory (such as Eurofins) shows the logo of USGBC then this indicates nothing more than that the laboratory is member of U.S. Green Building Council.
Using synergies
If a manufacturer needs VOC emission testing for markets on both sides of the Atlantic, then Eurofins can help saving money by combining all required testing into one test setup. This service is unique in whole world. No single other testing laboratory is approved for VOC emission chamber testing both for US purposes and for European labels such as Blue Angel, EMICODE and M1, combining this with a world-wide valid ISO 17025 accreditation.
Further Information
Please see our flyer on LEED® issues in English or in French, or contact our national organisations or our specialists for using Eurofins expertise that may help to establish sustainable and green buildings.
Order forms and testing request forms for VOC testing are available for free download here.
Your direct contacts:
Direct contact to Eurofins Product Testing A/S, the world market leader for VOC emissions chamber testing:
Sales: Reinhard Oppl, email ReinhardOppl@eurofins.com
Certification: Dr. Roland Augustin, email ccs@eurofins.com
Note: "U.S. Green Building Council", "USGBC", "LEED" and related logos are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and used by permission.