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  1. Air
  2. Construction pollution management

Construction pollution management

Features>Air>07. Construction pollution management

07. Construction pollution management

Proper design and selection of materials are important factors in creating healthy indoor air quality, yet this strategy can be compromised if equal care is not taken during construction to clear the space of dust, chemical vapors and other debris. Pollutants inadvertently introduced into the space will increase the likelihood of failing indoor air quality standards.

This feature, based on industry best practices, prescribes steps that minimize the introduction of air pollutants during construction and to remove pollutant build-up before occupancy.

Part 1: Pesticide Use

The following conditions are met for all pesticides and herbicides used on outdoor plants:

a. Pesticide and herbicide use is minimized by creating a use plan based on Chapter 3 of the San Francisco Environment Code Integrated Pest Management (IPM) program.
b. Only pesticides with a hazard tier ranking of 3 (least hazardous) as per The City of San Francisco Department of the Environment's (SFE) Reduced-Risk Pesticide List are used. Refer to Table A2 in Appendix C for more details.
Part 2: Filter Replacement

To prevent pollutants from entering the air supply post-occupancy, if the ventilation system is operating during construction, the following requirement is met:

a.1 All filters are replaced prior to occupancy.
Part 3: VOC Adsorption Management

To prevent building materials from absorbing and later releasing VOCs emitted by other (source) materials during construction, the following requirements are met:

a. A secure area is designated to store and protect adsorptive materials, including but not limited to carpets, acoustical ceiling panels, fabric wall coverings, insulation, upholstery and furnishings.
b. Adsorptive materials remain in original packaging (or otherwise sealed in polyethylene sheeting) and stored in designated secure area until they are installed.
c. Wet materials, including but not limited to adhesives, wood preservatives and finishes, sealants, glazing compounds, paints and joint fillers are installed and allowed to fully cure, prior to installation of adsorptive materials.
d. Hard finishes requiring adhesive installation are installed and allowed to dry for a minimum of 24 hours, prior to installation of absorptive materials.
Part 4: Construction Equipment

To reduce particulate matter emissions from both on-road and non-road diesel fueled vehicles and construction equipment, the following requirements are met:

a.85 All non-road diesel engine vehicles comply with the U.S. EPA’s Tier 4 PM emissions standards or local equivalent when applicable. Engines may be retrofitted with verified technology (required to be U.S. EPA or California Air Resources Board approved) at the time the equipment is first placed on the jobsite.
b.85 All on-road diesel engine vehicles meet the requirements set forth in the US EPA model year 2007 on-road standards for PM, or local equivalent when applicable. Engines may be retrofitted with verified technology (required to be US EPA or California Air Resources Board approved) at the time the equipment is first placed on the job site.
c.85 All equipment, vehicles and loading/unloading are located away from air intakes and operable openings of adjacent buildings when available.
Part 5: Dust Containment and Removal

The following procedures are followed during building construction:

a.1 All active areas of work are isolated from other spaces by sealed doorways or windows or through the use of temporary barriers.
b.1 Walk-off mats are used at entryways to reduce the transfer of dirt and pollutants.
c.1 Saws and other tools use dust guards or collectors to capture generated dust.
d. Vacuum cleaners with HEPA-grade filters and brooms with sweeping compounds or wetting agents are used on a daily basis to keep the job site clean.

Applicability Matrix

Core & Shell Tenant Improvement New Construction
Part 1: Pesticide Use P - P
Part 2: Filter Replacement P P P
Part 3: VOC Adsorption Management P P P
Part 4: Construction Equipment P - P
Part 5: Dust Containment and Removal P P P
Commercial Kitchen Schools Multifamily Residential Restaurant Retail
Part 1: Pesticide Use - P P P P
Part 2: Filter Replacement P P P P P
Part 3: VOC Adsorption Management P P P P P
Part 4: Construction Equipment P P P P P
Part 5: Dust Containment and Removal P P P P P

Verification Methods Matrix

Letters of Assurance Annotated Documents On-Site Checks
PART 1 (Protocol)
Pesticide Use 		Operations Schedule
PART 2 (Protocol)
Filter Replacement 		Contractor
PART 3 (Protocol)
VOC Adsorption Management 		Contractor
PART 4 (Protocol)
Construction Equipment 		Contractor
PART 5 (Protocol)
Dust Containment and Removal 		Contractor

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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, 541-552, 567, 605, 623, 645-53, 658-61, 682-3, 685-6, 723-4.
7.1.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires adherence to certain SMACNA guidelines, including sealing all ductwork, registers, diffusers, and returns when stored on site or not in service.
7.2.a

USGBC's LEED v4 BD+C EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires the the replacement of all filtration media with new filters before occupancy.
7.3.a

USGBC's LEED v4 BD+C EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires that absorptive materials stored on-site and installed are protected from moisture damage.
7.3.b

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires adherence to certain SMACNA guidelines, including allowing installed wet materials to fully cure prior to installation of absorptive materials.
7.4.a

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires adherence to certain SMACNA guidelines, including sealing doorways and windows, or tenting off areas as needed using temporary barriers, such as plastic separations.
7.4.b

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires adherence to certain SMACNA guidelines, including the provision of walk-off mats at entryways to reduce introduced dirt and pollutants.
7.4.c

USGBC's LEED v4 EQ Credit: Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan requires adherence to certain SMACNA guidelines, including the use of dust guards and collectors on saws and other tools.
Features>Air>07. Construction pollution management