subject: Calgreen Building Code Anticipated To Improve Indoor Air Quality In New Homes And Offices [print this page] Theres a new mandatory building code that may be catching some building product manufacturers by surprise. The California Green Building Standards Code, referred to as CALGreen, went into effect in January 2011 but is just now starting to have a significant impact. The code covers residential and non-residential new construction and, with the 2012 update, also renovations of non-residential buildings. The mandatory measures set minimum standards that structures in the state must meet to improve energy efficiency, reduce water consumption, divert construction waste, and improve indoor environmental quality by installing low pollutant emitting finish materials.
The requirements for interior finish materials are very specific. Under the mandatory measures, all carpet and 50% by area of resilient flooring systems must be tested to the VOC emissions standards commonly known as California Section 01350. All architectural paints and coatings must comply with the California Air Resources Board (ARB) Suggested Control Measure, which limits the VOC content of these products by category. Adhesives and sealants must meet the VOC content restrictions of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Wood products such as particleboard, MDF, and hardwood plywood must be compliant with the ARB Airborne Toxic Control Measure for Composite Wood. These products with low VOC emissions and low VOC content are intended to improve indoor air quality so that structures are more likely to meet rigorous indoor air quality standards for chemicals such as formaldehyde.
CALGreen also has approximately 130 provisions that have been placed in an appendix for optional use. Building departments in the various districts throughout California can choose to implement any of these optional measures. The appendix provisions that are aimed at improving the building performance with respect to IAQ standards are the required use of non-added formaldehyde (NAF) or ultra-low emitting formaldehyde composite woods, use of NAF thermal insulation products, and compliance of 80% to 90% by area of resilient flooring products. Building departments soon will be fully trained in the implementation of the code, which is legally binding. Manufacturers of the impacted interior building products, in turn, soon can expect that building design professionals and contractors will be requiring documentation that their products are in compliance with the law.
