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/Feature 04

VOC reduction

Intent: 

To minimize the effect of VOCs in building materials on indoor air quality.

Post Date: 03 Apr, 2018
Status: Approved

TÜV Rheinland LGA testing standard 2011 has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 04, Part 5. Note that this equivalency may only be used for workstation cabinetry for projects in Europe.
Post Date: 03 Apr, 2018
Status: Approved

CertiPUR has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 04, Part 5. Note this only applies to projects in Europe, specific to polyurthane foam used in bedding and upholstered furniture. This Equivalency does not cover any other furniture or furnishing components except for the polyurethane foam. All other non-foam components of installed furniture must be separately tested and held to the limits specified in ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 section 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, or other relevant, equivalent standard.
Post Date: 26 Mar, 2018
Status: Not Approved

RAL-GZ-430 has not been accepted as an equivalent for the ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard sections 7.6.1 and 7.6.2, of Feature 04, Part 5.
Note that RAL-GZ-430 does not identify a comparable requirement for TVOC and 4-Phenylcyclohexene emissions for workstations and seating. Additionally, for cupboard furniture and upholstered furniture, the formaldehyde emissions threshold indicated in RAL-GZ-430 is significantly higher than that mandated by CDPH.
Post Date: 23 Mar, 2018
Status: Approved

CertiPUR/EUROPUR has been accepted as an alternative to the requirements of Feature 04, Part 5, specific to polyurethane foam used in bedding and upholstered furniture. This Equivalency does not cover any other furniture and furnishing components except for the polyurethane foam.
Post Date: 20 Mar, 2018
Status: Approved

Blue Angel (Blauer Engel) is approved as an acceptable equivalent to the requirements of Feature 04, Part 5. However, please note that projects must still adhere to the formaldehyde requirements specified in ANSI/BIFMA e3-2011 Furniture Sustainability Standard.
Post Date: 05 Feb, 2018
Status: Approved

TÜV Rheinland Green Product Mark Furniture criteria, 2PfG E1992, has been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 4 Part 5.
Post Date: 05 Feb, 2018
Status: Not Approved

The GB 18580-2001 Indoor Decorating and Refurbishing Materials - Limit of Formaldehyde Emission of Wood-based Panels and Finishing Products has not been accepted as an alternative for the requirements of Feature 4 Part 3, 4 and 5. Note the proposed testing method standard does not include methods for testing VOCs other than formaldehyde.
Post Date: 05 Jan, 2018
Status: Not Approved

REACH Standard No 1907/2006 has not been accepted as an equivalency to the requirements set in Feature 04 Part 4. Note that the Equivalency Proposal outlines a strategy for the elimination of hazardous substances through the use of REACH lists, but not an equivalency to requirements set in CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010.
Post Date: 21 Dec, 2017
Status: Approved

US EPA Method 24 has been accepted as an alternative to the requirements of Feature 04 VOC Reduction, Part 2. Please note that the products must have VOC content below the allowable limits established in SCAQMD as outlined in Part 2a. This equivalency may be used only in India.
Post Date: 02 Nov, 2017
Status: Approved

GEV-EMICODE EC1 and EC1Plus is approved as an acceptable equivalent to the requirements of Feature 4 VOC Reduction Part 1, 2, 3 and 4. Note, projects must adhere to the minimum formaldehyde requirement specified in the CDPH Standard Method v1.1-2010 for VOC emissions.