OTHER SERVICES
LEED Testing Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design
The U.S. Green Building Council developed LEED certification that sets standards for environmentally sustainable design, construction, and operation of buildings. LEED certification is based on a point system assigned to the categories of site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, material selection, indoor environmental quality, innovation in design, and regional priority.
Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) component of LEED involves air quality testing for Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, particulates, carbon monoxide, and 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-phenylcyclohexene analysis is only required if carpets and fabrics with styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) latex are installed). Air quality testing is especially important in new buildings and after renovations in order to ensure that there are no harmful emissions from construction materials and furnishings.
CASSEN Testing Laboratories routinely conducts air quality analysis for LEED certification that is necessary to ensure acceptable levels of VOC’s. CASSEN Testing Laboratories has consistently been a leader in analytical accuracy and data quality based on the Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency (WASP) program for formaldehyde in the United Kingdom. The recent round of WASP proficiency results is shown here and indicates the high accuracy and excellent data quality of CASSEN’s performance.
| Analysis | LEED Maximum Level Allowed | CASSEN Detection Limit | Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| TVOC | 500 µg/m3 | 1 µg/m3 | EPA TO-17 Active/Passive (Thermal Desorption Tubes) |
| 20 µg/m3 | OSHA-7/NIOSH 1501 Active (Charcoal Tubes) | ||
| 50 µg/m3 | OSHA-7/NIOSH 1501 Passive (Thermal Desorption Tubes) | ||
| Formaldehyde | 27 ppb | 4.9 ppb | NIOSH 2016 |
| 4-Phenylcyclohexene | 6.5 µg/m3 | 1 µg/m3 | EPA TO-17 |
| Particulates | 50 µg/m3 | 0.03 mg/ sample | NIOSH 0500/NIOSH 0600 |
| Carbon Monoxide | 9 ppm | 0.5 ppm* | EPA 3C |
Benefits of LEED Certification
- Reduced building operation costs
- Conservation of energy and water
- Better environment for building occupants
- Recognition for environmental sustainability
CASSEN Service Benefits
- Consultation provided by scientists with expertise in developing sound analytical plans and solving complex air quality problems
- Sampling kit includes sampling media, containers, instructions, field data sheet and other relevant information
- Rapid turnaround time with options for rush analysis
- Accreditation by the American Industrial Hygiene Association Laboratory Accreditation Programs, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC)
- Quality assurance program in conformance with ISO 17025 Quality Standard to ensure data quality and sample integrity
- Consistently high ranking in analytical accuracy and data quality by Workplace Analysis Scheme for Proficiency (WASP) program for formaldehyde