Section 01350 Parameters & Thresholds

Products listed in the Compliant Materials Table have been chamber tested to meet the indoor air quality guidelines outlined in Specification Section 01350. Building materials are screened for use in a typical classroom based on compliance with emission levels of all chemicals of concern identified by the California Environmental Protection Agency Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA). As of August 2003, the OEHHA list identifies 79 chemicals, it is updated on an unannounced basis.

Measurements for a Typical Classroom

Measured emission levels through chamber testing are used to model chemical concentrations in a typical classroom with a ventilation rate of 0.9 air changes per hour. The typical classroom in California has a floor area of 960 square feet with 8.5' ceilings. The standard dimensions of classrooms, which are 30'x32'x8.5' for permanent classrooms and 40'x24'x8.5' for portable classrooms, are equivalent. It was assumed that the flooring material modeled for use in a classroom would cover the entire floor surface area. Additionally, the acoustical ceilings and paints were modeled to cover the entire ceiling area and net wall surface area respectively.

Acceptable Emission Levels

OEHHA has identified chronic reference exposure levels (CREL) for each chemical to establish acceptable indoor concentration for these substances. OEHHA states on their web site that, "Chronic RELs are designed to protect the individuals who live or work in the vicinity of emissions of these substances. A chronic REL is an airborne level that would pose no significant health risk to individuals indefinitely exposed to that level. RELs are based solely on health considerations, and are developed from the best available data in the scientific literature." Since more than one product may contribute any one of these chemicals into a space, compliance with Section 01350 requires the modeled concentration for each chemical (with the exception of formaldehyde) be no greater than half the CREL indicated on the OEHHA web site.

Overview of Compliant Low-Emitting Materials
Compliant Materials Table
Manufacturers: List a Product