PART 1 - GENERAL

1.1 RELATED DOCUMENTS:

• Drawings and general provisions of Contract, including General and Supplementary Conditions and other Division-1 Specification sections, apply to this section

1.2 WORK INCLUDED:

• Objectives: To obtain acceptable Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) for the completed project and minimize the environmental impacts of the construction and operation, the Contractor during the construction phase of this project shall implement the following procedures singly or in combination
  • Select products that minimize consumption of non-renewable resources, consume reduced amounts of energy and minimize amounts of pollution to produce, and employ recycled and/or recyclable materials. Obtain Contracting Officer's Representative's approval of all materials listed in Part 2 prior to placing the order with the manufacturer of the material
  • Maintain a materials log book and verification that materials used have been reviewed for environmental considerations as outlined in this section
  • Control sources of potential IAQ pollutants by controlled selection of materials and processes used in project construction in order to attain acceptable IAQ as defined in this section
• Products and processes that achieve the above objectives to the extent currently possible and practical have been selected and shown in the Contract Documents. The Contractor is responsible to maintain and support these objectives in developing means and methods for performing the work of this Contract and in proposing product substitutions and/or changes to specified processes

1.3 RELATED WORK:

• Baseline testing for Indoor Air Quality and duct cleaning as specified in Division 15 "Testing, Adjusting and Balancing" section, other Division 1 sections: "Environmental Requirements", "Sequence of Finishes Installation", and "Product Emission Testing for Indoor Air Quality", and "Waste Materials Management and Recycling"

1.4 SUBMITTALS:

• Submit the following in accordance with Conditions of the Contract and Division 1 specification sections
  • Materials Log: Maintain a notebook with sectional dividers for each material specification listed in Part 2 of this Section. Each divider shall be labeled with the specification section number and shall record the VOC content as specified in Table 2.1, the recycled content as specified in Table 2.2, and other environmental specifications of the material such as identified in Part 2 below. The section will also include the Manufacturer's Safety Data Sheet (MSDS), product label and/or manufacturer's data verifying conformance with the environmental specifications, and shall identify in general terms where the product is to be used in the building. This notebook shall be maintained weekly as materials are ordered, shall be accessible to the Contracting Officer's Representative at all times, and submitted in bound form as part of the project requirements specified in Division 1 "Project Closeout Section"

1.5 QUALITY ASSURANCE:

• General: Perform the work of this Section as a supplement and in accordance with applicable requirements of Division 1 "Contractor Quality Control Program"
• As part of the Coordination and Mutual Understanding Meeting specified in Division 1 "Contractor Quality Control Program", and prior to the start of construction, discuss the IAQ and environmental impact compliances required by this Contract. The purpose of this agenda item is to develop a mutual understanding of the IAQ and environmental impact program requirements, and coordination of the Contractor's management of the program with the Contracting officer and the Construction Quality Manager

PART 2 - PRODUCTS

2.1 MATERIALS:

• General: The following special IAQ and environmental impact requirements apply to materials specified in their respective technical specification sections of this Project Manual. See Tables 2.1 and 2.2 for definitions of low VOC content and recycled content
• Division 02 - Sitework
  • Site Clearing: Topsoil shall be provided by the Contractor from on-site material which has been stockpiled for re-use. Off-site borrow should only be used when on-site sources are exhausted
  • Aggregate Base Course: Aggregate base course for on-site paved areas shall maximize use of recycled ABC
  • Asphaltic Concrete Paving: Asphalt paving shall maximize use of recycled asphalt paving
  • Portland Cement Concrete Paving: Per Federal Acquisition Regulations (FAR) requirements, there will be a minimum of 20% fly ash content in cement
  • Site Potable Water Lines and Underground Chilled Water (CHW) Piping System: No solder will be used with lead content
  • Landscaping
    • All wood fiber or cellulose hydromulch shall be 100% recovered content
    • All herbicides must be EPA approved and applied per manufacturer's instructions. All herbicide use must be approved by the Contracting Officer's Representative
• Division 03 - Concrete
  • Cast-in-Place Concrete
    • Per FAR, cement must include 20% fly ash
    • Reinforcing steel shall maximize recycled scrap steel content
    • Form release agents shall be low VOC content
    • Liquid membrane-forming curing and sealing compound shall be low VOC content
  • Structural Precast Concrete
    • Cement for all precast with standard finish shall include 20% fly ash content
    • Form release agent shall be low VOC content
    • Reinforcing bars shall maximize recycled steel content
  • Architectural Precast Concrete
    • Form release agent shall be low VOC content
    • Reinforcing bars shall maximize recycled steel content
• Division 04 - Masonry
  • Concrete Unit Masonry
    • Concrete Unit Masonry shall maximize the use of recycled materials
    • Reinforcing bars shall maximize the use of recycled steel
• Division 05 - Metals
  • Structural Steel: Framing steel shall maximize the use of recycled steel
  • Ornamental Handrails and Railings: Wood cap originates from a sustainably managed forest certified by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) or other independent forest management certification agency
• Division 06 - Wood and Plastics: Wood products
  • Each specified solid and veneer wood species must originate from a sustainably managed forest certified by a Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) accredited certification group such as Smartwood or Scientific Certification Systems (SCS)
  • Fiberboard used as blocking, millwork, casework substrate, underlay and door cores must be urea-formaldehyde free, and not exceed ANSI A208.1-1993 emission standard of 0.20 ppm of formaldehyde
  • Structural fiberboard (OSB, MDF, and particleboard) shall maximize post-consumer waste material
  • Plastic laminates will be installed with water-based, formaldehyde free, low VOC (volatile organic compound) adhesives
  • Millwork and casework adhesives will be water-based, formaldehyde free, low VOC adhesives
  • Transparent wood finish systems shall utilize only waterborne acrylic sealers and finish coats
  • Use of chromated copper arsenate (CCA) as a wood treating material is not permitted; use of ammonium copper quat (ACQ) is acceptable
• Division 06 - Wood and Plastics
  • Cast Resin Countertops: Silicone sealants shall be water-based low VOC silicone sealant
• Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection
  • Garage Deck Sealer: Silane sealer will be low VOC
  • Building Insulation
    • Insulation materials manufactured using chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) shall not be used. (CFCs have been completely phased out of U. S. manufactured insulation products.)
    • Extruded polystyrene insulation shall not be manufactured with chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) blowing agent and shall maximize recycled content
    • Fiberglass batt insulation, fiberglass board insulation, and mineral wool insulation shall maximize use of recycled material 
    • Mineral wool fire safing insulation shall maximize recycled material 
  • Single-Ply Membrane Roofing: Rigid insulation manufactured with chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) blowing agents shall not be used
  • Joint Sealants
    • Interior sealants shall not contain: mercury, butyl rubber, neoprene, SBR (styrene butadiene rubber), or nitrile
    • Sealants formulated with aromatic solvents (organic solvent with a benzene ring in its molecular structure) fibrous talc or asbestos, formaldehyde, halogenated solvents, mercury, lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, or their components shall not be used
    • Silicone sealants shall be low VOC content
    • Polyurethane sealants containing mercury shall not be used
    • Compressible foam joint fillers, polyester polyurethane foam impregnated with neoprene rubber or acrylic ester styrene copolymer used in this facility shall not be manufactured with CFC blowing agents 
• Division 08 - Doors and Windows
  • Flush Wood Doors: Fiberboard used as door cores shall meet the requirements of ANSI A208.1-1993 for particleboard, including the requirement to meet a threshold of less than 0.30 ppm of formaldehyde using test method ASTM 1333
  • Glass and Glazing
    • Sealants and glazing compounds formulated with aromatic solvents (organic solvent with a benzene ring in its molecular structure), fibrous talc or asbestos, formaldehyde, halogenated solvents, mercury, lead, cadmium, hexavalent chromium, or their components will not be used
    • Sealants and glazing compounds shall be low VOC content
• Division 09 - Finishes
  • Portland Cement Plaster
    • Plaster including additives such as epoxy or other resins shall be low VOC content
    • Steel lath shall maximize recycled steel
  • Gypsum Drywall
    • Gypsum board must contain recycled or synthetic gypsum. Facing paper shall be manufactured from recycled newsprint including post-consumer waste
    • Glass fiber sound attenuation blanket insulation shall maximize recycled material
    • Joint compound shall be low VOC content
    • Multi-layer gypsum board applications shall be screw attached and not laminated with adhesives
    • Provide for thorough cleaning and removal of all silica/gypsum dust upon completion of gypsum drywall installations, including, but not necessarily limited to, all components in plenum spaces, including tops of pipes and sills, and insides and outsides of ducts (as required in Division 15)
    • Only paper joint tape (no fiberglass tape) will be used
    • Mineral fiber sound attenuation blankets shall maximize recovered material
    • Steel studs, runners, and channels for framing shall maximize recycled steel content
  • Terrazzo: Sealers shall be low VOC content
  • Acoustic Panel Ceilings
    • Ceiling panels shall maximize use of recycled material, and be finished with water-based low VOC paint
    • Suspension systems shall maximize recycled material
  • Resilient Tile Flooring
    • Rubber floor tiles shall maximize recycled materials
    • Adhesives shall be low VOC content
       
  • Sheet Vinyl Floor Covering: Sheet vinyl floor covering shall be installed with water-based, low VOC adhesives per manufacturer's instructions
  • Carpet/Carpet Tile
    • Carpet shall be one that is accepted in an operating recycling program which extracts component materials for reuse and/or reclaims inherent energy, and does not contribute significantly to land fillI
    • If an adhesive is required for installation, use low VOC carpet manufacturer recommended adhesive and install per manufacturer's recommended frame or perimeter adhesive pattern method. (Full field glue-down is not acceptable except for carpet with an integral dry film adhesive back.)
    • If a seam sealer is required for installation, use carpet manufacturer recommended low VOC seam sealer or recommend heat welded seaming

  • Paint and Polychromatic Finish Coating

    • Do not use water based paints formulated with aromatic hydrocarbons (organic solvent with a benzene ring in its molecular structure), formaldehyde, halogenated solvents, mercury or mercury compounds, or tinted with pigments of lead, cadmium, chromium VI and their oxides. Water based paints shall be low VOC and shall have a flash point of 61 degrees C or greater

    • Where it is necessary to use solvent-based paints, they shall be formulated for low VOC emissions and shall not be formulated with formaldehyde, halogenated solvents, mercury or mercury compounds, or tinted with pigments of lead, cadmium, chromium VI and their oxides, nor formulated with more than 10% aromatic hydrocarbons by weight

    • The following shall be low VOC and not be formulated with aromatic hydrocarbons (organic solvent with a benzene ring in its molecular structure) formaldehyde, halogenated solvents, mercury or mercury compounds, or tinted with pigments of lead, cadmium, chromium VI and their oxides

      High performance water based acrylic coatings
      Pigmented acrylic sealers
      Catalyzed epoxy coatings
      High performance silicone grafted epoxy coatings

• Division 11 - Equipment
  • Walk-in-Environmental Rooms
    • Verify CFC compliance with EPA regulations and the Clean Air Act
    • Verify that the job site mechanic has received accredited training conforming to EPA and the Clean Air Act of July 1, 1992, in regard to venting of EPA regulated refrigerant gases
• Division 12 - Furnishings
  • Laboratory Casework: Silicone sealant shall be water-based silicone sealant with low VOC content
• Division 15 - Mechanical
  • Basic Mechanical Materials and Methods: Use low VOC joint sealers
  • Basic Piping Materials and Methods: Use solder that does not contain lead
  • Underground Utilities - Basic Piping Materials and Methods: Use solder that does not contain lead
  • Pipes and Pipe Fittings: Use solder that does not contain lead
  • Mechanical Insulation: Mechanical sound insulation materials within the duct shall include a impervious, non-porous coating that prevents dust from accumulating in the insulating materials
  • Plumbing Fixtures: Plumbing fixtures must meet water conservation requirements of the Energy Policy Act
  • Metal Ductwork: Use low VOC joint and seam sealants

Table 2.1 Definition of Low VOC Content Levels

Table 2.2 Required Minimum Recycled Content of Materials

Notes for Table 2.2:

• 60% represents the average recycled content for the U. S. steel industry. Use of U. S. manufactured steel will meet this requirement
• As per EPA Comprehensive Guideline for Procurement of Products Containing Recovered Materials (60 FR 21370, effective May 1, 1996)
• As per North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) recommendation

PART 3 - EXECUTION

3.1 GENERAL:

• Submit to the Contracting Officer's Representative for review and approval product data such as MSDS and environmental impact data prior to ordering project materials
• Prepare and maintain a Materials Log, providing information on content of materials, where specific materials are to be used, MSDS, and environmental specifications of the material. Maintain the log book weekly as materials are ordered

3.2 FIELD QUALITY CONTROL:

• The Government reserves the right to take samples and perform, at random, tests of approved materials delivered to the job site to verify compliance of actual materials with specifications