LEED Testing

Green building offers significant benefits on health, economy and environment and is known as a sustainable or high performance building. The U.S. Green Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a program that rates buildings for air quality, sustainability and efficiency to promote healthier and safer buildings for their occupant and communities. The new LEED rating system (Version 4) was unveiled by USGBC un November 2013. Starting in November 2016, new projects are required to registered for LEED V4 rather than LEED 2009. Both offer certification levels in five green design categories including sustainable site development, water efficiency, energy efficiency, materials selection, and indoor environmental quality (IEQ).

The IAQ testing should start after the completion of construction and before occupancy, but under ventilation conditions typical for occupancy. The testing methods are now well‐defined using methods listed in Table 1 for all occupied spaces. Laboratories that conduct the tests for chemical analysis of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds must be accredited under ISO/IEC 17025 for the test methods they use. Retail projects may conduct the testing within 14 days of occupancy. The methods of choices are ASTM standard methods, EPA compendium methods, or ISO methods, as indicated below:

Table 1. Maximum Concentration Levels, by Contaminant and Testing Method

CASSEN Testing Laboratories have provided LEED air quality testing since 2010 and conducted numerous IEQ analyses for large LEED projects with accurate, high quality data and fast turnaround time that complies with the stringent requirements of the above LEED certification. All testing scope and parameters are accredited under ISO17025.

In addition to analysis, CASSEN provides calibrated sampling pumps, supplies and media for a hassle‐free sample collection experience. Free consultation is provided for the planning and completion of the analytical phase of the project. If required, consultation of the materials that cause exceedance of the required contaminant levels can be provided, which will aid in rectifying the air quality problem efficiently. Furthermore, bulk analysis can be conducted in order to assist LEED consultants in achieving credits in section 4.4, for low emitting materials– systems furniture and seating. For all analytical needs, CASSEN is the right choice.

LEED Version 4 VOC List

Compounds required to be monitored in Version 4 and CASSEN’s Method Detection Limits are presented below: