Structural polyester foams with insulation properties prove useful in residential, institutional and commercial buildings as they control moisture and improve thermal performance. Credit awards and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) certification are based on the performance of the project, appropriately designed construction assemblies and building systems, and the overall project design. ArmaFORM PET foam constitutes a part of many of these assemblies that are considered in evaluating compliance with the LEED Rating System within a given credit and category.
Green Construction
Green building or sustainable building refers to a process and structure that is resource-efficient and environmentally responsible throughout the entire life cycle of a building (i.e. from building location to design, construction, maintenance, renovation, and demolition).
In order to provide third-party verification of sustainable buildings, a range of national and international green building directives have been introduced globally. Among these directives, the American LEED certification is known universally as the mark of quality for achievements in design, construction, operations, maintenance, and renovation solutions.
The entire lifecycle of a building is considered by focusing on several important criteria such as site location, energy performance, innovation and design, indoor quality, materials and resources, and water use.
LEED Certification
In order to get LEED certification for any residential and commercial buildings, a project must first meet with all LEED prerequisites and should also achieve a minimum of 40 points on a 110-point LEED rating system scale. The number of points (Figure 1) accrued determines the project’s level of LEED certification:
- 40 = minimum for certification
- 50 = silver certificate
- 60 = gold certificate
- 80 = platinum certificate
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Figure 1. The number of points determines the level of LEED certification.
The following diagrams show the different LEED categories:
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Sustainable sites credits encourage strategies that minimize the impact on ecosystems and water resources. |
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Water efficiency credits promote smarter use water, inside and out. |
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Energy & atmosphere credits promote better building energy performance. |
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Materials & resources credits encourage using sustainable building materials and reducing waste. |
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Indoor environmental quality credits promote better indoor air quality and access to daylight and views. |
Besides the 100 points represented by the above categories, an additional 4 bonus points can be earned for improvements in LEED-selected categories determined to impact Regional Priorities; 6 bonus points can also be achieved for credits in Innovation in Design.
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Innovation in design or innovation in operations credits address sustainable building expertise as well as design measures not covered under the five LEED credit categories. Six bonus points are available in this category. |
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Regional priority credits address regional environmental priorities for buildings in different geographic regions. Four bonus points are available in this category. |
ArmaFORM PET and its Contribution to LEED Certification
The table given below demonstrates the contribution of ArmaFORM PET to the LEED rating system. The ArmaFORM PET is a component out of many assemblies within a building project.
| LEED Credit Category |
Points |
Intent |
Contribution from ArmaFORM PET |
| Energy & Atmosphere (17 possible points) |
| Prerequisite 2 Minimum Energy Performance Required |
|
Establish the minimum level of energy efficiency for the proposed building and systems. |
ArmaFORM PET foams provide thermal insulation properties that help to reduce energy demand in building and improve thermal comfort of building occupants. |
| Credit 1 Optimize Energy Performance |
1–10 points; 2 points mandatory for new construction |
Achieve increasing levels of energy performance above the baseline in the prerequisite standard to reduce environmental and economic impacts associated with excessive energy use. |
Excellent insulation properties of ArmaFORM PET will maximize energy performance of buildings. Products are manufactured in a variety of densities and thicknesses to meet the environmental design criteria to deliver a wide range of R-value specifications. When used with a whole building concept, can help achieve the 10 possible points. |
| Materials and Resources (13 points possible) |
| Credit 2.1 Construction Waste Management: divert 50% from disposal |
1 point |
Divert construction, demolition and landclearing debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators. Redirect recyclable recovered resources back to the manufacturing process. Redirect reusable materials to appropriate sites. |
ArmaFORM PET contributes a lower amount of waste materials by weight, and can help projects to reach the 50% to 75% target for diverting waste from the landfill. PET foams are completely recyclable and reusable and clean leftover parts/scrap materials can be reused. |
| Credit 2.2 Construction Waste Management: divert 75% from disposal |
1 point in addition to credit 2.1 |
| Credit 4.1 Recycled Content: 10% (post-consumer + 1/2 pre-consumer) |
1 point |
Increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials. |
ArmaFORM PET GR contains 100% of recycled polymers, up to 90% of post-consumer materials and required amount of pre-consumer recycled materials (diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process). |
| Credit 4.2 Recycled Content: 20% (post-consumer + 1/2 pre-consumer) |
1 point in addition to credit 4.1 |
| Credit 5.1 Regional Materials: 10% extracted, processed & manufactured regionally |
1 point |
Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation. |
Result of evaluation depends on the location of final installation place. Please contact our Technical Service to check the final distance and related number of credited LEED points. |
| Credit 5.2 Regional Materials: 20% extracted, processed & manufactured regionally |
1 point in addition to credit 5.1 |
| Indoor Environmental Quality (15 possible points) |
| Credit 3.1 Construction IAQ Management Plan: during construction |
1 point |
Reduce indoor air quality problems resulting from the construction/ renovation process in order to sustain the comfort and well-being of construction workers and building occupants. |
ArmaFORM PET foams contain low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and do not contribute to air pollution in the range defined in requirements. |
| Credit 3.2 Construction IAQ Management Plan: before occupancy |
1 point |
| Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort: design |
1 point |
Provide a comfortable thermal environment that supports the productivity and well-being of building occupants. |
The use of ArmaFORM PET foam support the desired quality and occupant satisfaction with building performance thanks to insulation properties and good ageing properties (thermal conductivity not affected by moisture or aging of foam). |
| Credit 7.2 Thermal Comfort: verification |
1 point |
Provide for the assessment of building thermal comfort over time. |
| Innovation and Design Process (5 possible points) |
| Credit 1.1 Innovation in Design |
1-4 points |
To provide design teams and projects the opportunity to be awarded points for exceptional performance above the requirements set by the LEED for New Construction Green Building Rating System and/or innovative performance in Green Building categories not specifically addressed by the LEED for New Construction Green Building Rating System. |
ArmaFORM PET is a lightweight material, reducing transportation energy and structural load on the building and opening the freedom for new design concepts that can help projects win 1-4 points in design criterion. Thanks to its installation flexibility (thermoformability, easiness in shaping) together with superior performance characteristics (mechanical and insulation properties, thermal and chemical stability and compatibility with other sub-components) it allows easy installation and guarantees to perform to the stated specifications for the life of the structure. |
| Credits for School - Indoor Environmental Quality |
| Credit 4.6 Low Emitting Materials: ceiling and wall systems |
4 points for credits 4.1-4.6 |
To reduce the quantity of indoor air contaminants being harmful to occupants. |
ArmaFORM PET foams contain low levels of VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and do not contribute to air pollution in the range defined in requirements. |
| Credit 7.1 Thermal Comfort: design |
1 point |
Provide a comfortable thermal environment that supports the productivity and well-being of building occupants. |
The use of ArmaFORM PET foam support the desired quality and occupant satisfaction with building performance thanks to insulation properties and good ageing properties (thermal conductivity not affected by moisture or aging of foam). |
| Credit 7.2 Thermal Comfort: verification |
1 point |
Provide for the assessment of building thermal comfort over time. |
| Credit 10 Mold Prevention |
1 point |
To reduce the potential presence of mold in schools through preventive design and construction measures. |
ArmaFORM PET has good mold and rot resistance, does not contribute to the mold growth. |
Conclusion
From the above details, it is evident that ArmaFORM PET significantly contributes to LEED certification. It is a component of many assemblies that are considered in evaluating compliance with the LEED Rating System within a given credit and category.
This information has been sourced, reviewed and adapted from materials provided by Armacell Benelux.
For more information on this source, please visit Armacell Benelux.