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Webinars on VOC regulations and labels
Following the success of our webinars on French VOC regulation, there will be webinars on several VOC related issues in late spring 2012, in three languages.
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Eurofins Product Testing - LEED® for Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products

Please also click below for more general information LEED membership logo gray

LEED for composite wood

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 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.

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 Odours and Emissions from Materials in October 2009.

Indoor Environmental Quality specifications by LEED®, EQ credit 4.4

There are requirements on formaldehyde emitted from composite wood and agrifiber products in the LEED® 2009 specifications for

Composite wood and agrifiber products are defined as: Particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), plywood, wheatboard, strawboard, panel substrates and door cores.

These products must contain no added urea-formaldehyde resins when used on the interior of the building. The same applies to laminate adhesives used to fabricate on-site and shop-applied composite wood and agrifiber assemblies.Testing is not required.

Materials considered fixtures, furniture, and equipment (FF&E) are not included. The same applies to products covered by LEED® EQ Credit 4.5 dealing with system furniture and seating.

There are VOC emission requirements for composite wood and agrifiber products in the LEED® 2009 specifications for

All products must meet the testing and product requirements of the California Department of Public Health Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda - also called Section 01350 specification. This is shown by emission chamber testing in an independent laboratory, such as Eurofins Product Testing A/S.

Other points may be achieved for recyclable and for recycled content.

LEED 2012 now open for public comment

LEED 2012 with important changes and additions now is open for 2nd public comment between August 01 and September 14, 2011. You can see details on major proposed changes and commenting procedure on our special page and in our blogs.

Using synergies

If a manufacturer needs VOC 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 of paints and coatings 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. VOC content tests may also be needed for European "Decopaint" Directive, but different testing protocols are required in Europe.

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.

Further contacts regarding LEED:

There is a European database with products showing compliance with LEED or DGNB criteria. This database is not comprehensive but can show you a selection of relevant products.

Your direct contacts:

Direct contact to Eurofins Product Testing A/S, the world market leader for VOC emissions chamber testing:

Eurofins Product Testing A/S
Smedeskovvej 38
8464 Galten
Denmark

Phone: +45 7022 4276

US office:

2200 Rittenhouse St., Suite 150
Des Moines, IA  50321
Phone +1-515-362-5937

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.