This is a legacy version of the WELL Building Standard. Please check the latest version here.
  1. Air
  2. VOC reduction

VOC reduction

Features>Air>04. VOC reduction

04. VOC reduction

Indoor air quality is often degraded by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that off-gas from paints, finishes and other coatings. Levels of VOCs can be 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. These gases, at high concentrations, are known to cause irritation, nausea and loss of coordination.

This feature requires that building finishes be carefully selected to allow spaces to meet the WELL Air Quality Standards feature. While not specifically addressed in this feature, note that objects or furniture made with harmful materials, may cause buildup of VOCs if brought indoors after building completion.

Part 1: Interior Paints and Coatings

The VOC content of all paints and coatings must meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:

a) California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010.
b) Suggested Control Measure (SCM) for Architectural Coatings or South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, effective June 3, 2011.
Part 2: Interior Adhesives and Sealants

The VOC content of all adhesives and sealants must meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:

a) California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010.
b) South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1168, June 2005.
Part 3: Flooring

The VOC content of flooring must meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:

a) California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010.
Part 4: Insulation

The VOC content of thermal and acoustic insulation installed in ceilings and walls must meet all limits set by the following:

a) California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010.
Part 5: Furniture and Furnishings

The VOC content of all furniture and furnishings must meet all limits set by the following, as applicable:

a) ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard sections 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, tested in accordance with ANSI/BIFMA Standard Method M7.1-2011.
Endocrine
Cardiovascular
Integumentary
Nervous
Respiratory
Immune

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell New Construction WELL Interiors
Part 1: Interior Paints and Coatings P P P
Part 2: Interior Adhesives and Sealants P P P
Part 3: Flooring P P P
Part 4: Insulation P P P
Part 5: Furniture and Furnishings - P P
Commercial Kitchen Education Multifamily Residential Retail
Part 1: Interior Paints and Coatings P P P P
Part 2: Interior Adhesives and Sealants P P P P
Part 3: Flooring P P P P
Part 4: Insulation P P P P
Part 5: Furniture and Furnishings - P P P

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Design)
Interior Paints and Coatings 		Architect
PART 2 (Design)
Interior Adhesives and Sealants 		Architect
PART 3 (Design)
Flooring 		Architect
PART 4 (Design)
Insulation 		Architect
PART 5 (Design)
Furniture and Furnishings 		Architect

1

U.S. Green Building Council. LEED v4: Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction. Washington D.C.: U.S. Green Building Council; 2013: 37, 43-44, 542-43, 545, 541-552, 567, 605, 623, 645-53, 658-61, 682, 685-6, 723-4.
4.1.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials requires all paints and coatings wet-applied on site to meet the applicable VOC limits of the CDPH and the additional VOC content requirements.
4.1.b

Adherence to SCM for Architectural Coatings or SCAQMD Rule 1113 satisfies the requirements of EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials for VOC content for wet-applied products.
4.2.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials requires all sealants and adhesives wet-applied on site to meet the applicable VOC limits of the CDPH and the additional VOC content requirements.
4.2.b

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials requires that all adhesives and sealants wet-applied on site must meet the applicable VOC limits of the SCAQMD Rule 1168.
4.3.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials requires flooring on site meet the applicable VOC limits of the CDPH when tested in accordance with Standard Method v1.1-2010.
4.4.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials requires insulation to not exceed limits set by California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-2010.
4.5.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Low-Emitting Materials requires furniture and furnishings to comply with ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard sections 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, and be tested in accordance with ANSI/BIFMA Standard Method M7.1-2011.
Features>Air>04. VOC reduction