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FSC, LEED, & Sustainability

9Wood is committed to holistic building design and construction processes. We are an FSC certified Chain-of-Custody manufacturer. The following brief summary explains how suspended wood ceilings can fit into a green building project.

US Green Building Council Logo

1.0 LEED™

We find that most environmentally friendly suspended wood ceilings begin with developing a LEED™ specification (see sample 2.0 Guide Spec below). LEED™ (Leadership on Energy and Environmental Design) provides a definitive standard for what constitutes a "green building". Created by the U.S. Green Building Council, the LEED Green Building Rating System™ evaluates a building's environmental performance from a "whole building" perspective over its entire life cycle. A choice of 69 credits is available to the design team. They serve as voluntary, market-driven building criteria, each representing effective practices and emerging concepts in energy and environmental design.

In the words of the US Green Building Council:
"LEED was created to:

  • define 'green building' by establishing a common standard of measurement
  • promote integrated, whole-building design practices
  • recognize environmental leadership in the building industry
  • stimulate green competition
  • raise consumer awareness of green building benefits
  • transform the building market"

LEED Rating System

1.1 CREDITS

Four levels of LEED™ certification are available: Platinum (52-69 credits). Gold, (39-51 credits), Silver (33-38 credits), and Certified (26-32 credits). To qualify under one of these four designations, buildings must satisfy all of the LEED prerequisites, such as Asbestos, Smoking Ban, etc. then go on to earn a certain number of credits.

The 69 credits are grouped into 6 areas:

  1. Sustainable Sites (SS)
  2. Water Efficiency (WE)
  3. Energy & Atmosphere (EA)
  4. Materials & Resources (MR)
  5. Indoor Environmental Quality (EQ)
  6. Innovation & Design Processes (ID)

1.2 CREDIT OPPORTUNITIES USING SUSPENDED WOOD CEILINGS

Opportunities for suspended wood ceilings to earn credits are as follows:

  • MR Credit 3.1/3.2: Materials Reuse: 5% / 10%
       (Opportunity for 1-2 pts.)
  • MR Credit 4.1/4.2: Recycled Content: 10% / 20% (post-consumer + 1/2 pre-consumer)
       (Opportunity for 1-2 pts.)
  • MR Credit 5.1/5.2: Regional Materials: 10% / 20% Extracted, Processed and Manufactured Regionally
       (Opportunity for 1-2 pts.)
  • MR Credit 6: Rapidly Renewable Materials
       (Opportunity for 1 pt.)
  • MR Credit 7: Certified Wood
       (Opportunity for 1 pt.)
  • EQ Credit 4.4: Low-Emitting Materials: Composite Wood and Agrifiber Products
       (Opportunity for 1 pt.)
Forest Stewardship Council

1.2.0 MR-7: FOREST STEWARDSHIP COUNCIL
FSC lumber is a high profile, popular way to earn a LEED™ point. The Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) is an independent, not for profit, nongovernmental organization based in Bonn, Germany. FSC provides standard setting, trademark assurance and accreditation services for companies and organizations interested in responsible forestry across the globe.

Emerging from dialogue at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit, the Forest Stewardship Council was founded in 1993. FSC brought together three seemingly antagonistic groups: environmentalists, industrialists and social activists. Its mission and governance reflects the balance between these original constituents in that FSC seeks to promote environmentally appropriate, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world's forests. Each is given equal weight. FSC forest management standards are based on 10 Principles and Criteria of responsible forest management. The operative phrase is "well-managed forests," which include principles addressing sustainable harvesting and bio-diversity, among others.

In the words of the Forest Stewardship Council:
"Since 1993 FSC has distinguished itself through its:

  • Independence and credibility
  • Recognition as the global standard
  • Participation by all stakeholders
  • Extensive Chain of Custody participants
  • Relationships with major retailers/wholesalers
  • Third party certification"

1.2.1 FSC CHAIN-OF-CUSTODY MANUFACTURER
9Wood, Inc is a Chain of Custody Manufacturer. This means we have been inspected, an operational plan for processing FSC wood products has been put in place and approved, and that we have demonstrated a commitment and understanding of FSC principles. For our customers it means we form part of a pedigree chain of suppliers, starting at the actual certified forest plot, and continuing through the supply chain to the end user. A paper trail insuring the use of guaranteed uncontaminated FSC wood accompanies each link in the chain.

See our certificate

See our FSC declaration

2.0 SPECIFYING SUSPENDED WOOD CEILINGS WITH LEED™ CREDITS

2.1 SAMPLE GUIDE SPEC SECTION
Below is an example of a suspended wood ceiling specification. Specifically, a subsection for FSC LEED credit generating projects. Elements can be modified to reference other types of credits, such as use of MR-4: Recycled materials, MR-5 Regional Supplier, EQ 4 Low VOC finishes, etc. (This sub-section is placed in Section I-General):

BEGIN SUB-SECTION

1.X ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY ASSURANCE

  1. FSC Wood Ceiling Panels: Wood Ceiling Panels shall originate from forests that are certified well-managed by an agency accredited by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC-202.342.0413).
    1. FSC-accredited certifying agencies include the following:
      1. Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), Forest Conservation Program, 510.832.1415.
      2. Smart Wood Program administered by the Rainforest Alliance, 802.434.5491.
      3. For a complete list of internationally accredited agencies, visit www.fsc.org.
    2. "Well-managed" shall mean forests that are being cared for using management and logging plans that ensure sustainable harvesting where timber growth equals or exceeds harvesting rates in both quantity and quality over the long term. Other criteria include protecting rivers and streams from degradation, minimizing damage to the forest when harvesting, promoting biodiversity, operating in concert with the lawful interest of local communities, and maximizing both the yield and value of the forest products.
  2. Proof of Pedigree: FSC-certified status of all wood products shall be documented at beginning and end of project. Products not complying with this requirement shall be rejected. Acceptable documentation includes:
    1. At Submittal Stage:
      1. Chain-of-Custody Certificates: A copy of supplier's proof of current Chain of Custody certification status (basis of this specification: 9Wood, Inc. #SCS-COC-00-667).
    2. At Project Completion:
      1. Certificates: Chain-of-Custody Certification and any one time Chain-of-Custody agreements utilized to produce this project.
      2. Quantity Formulas: Worksheet calculating the board footage and/or square footage of raw wood materials required for project. Worksheet shall clearly call out the percent FSC wood materials in final products (Note: projects with less than 70% FSC wood products shall not receive FSC certification or LEED credits).
      3. Invoices: Copies of Supplier’s Invoices verifying that raw FSC wood products purchased for project match the required quantities.
      4. Inventory Control Records: Or copies of invoices and internal Work Orders verifying the raw FSC wood products were taken out of inventory
  3. Compliance: Project close-out not including Quantity Worksheet, Invoices, and Chain of Custody certificates shall not be acceptable or qualify for LEEDs credits.
  4. Quarantine Procedures: Proper quarantine procedures per the authorized Chain of Custody Plan shall be followed at all times and that auditing procedures as mandated by the certifier shall be maintained.

3.0 CURRENT ISSUES IN SPECIFYING LEED™ CREDITED SUSPENDED WOOD CEILINGS

3.1 COST VARIABLES WITH LEED STRATEGIES

A study conducted by the GSA revealed that, not surprisingly, there are wide variations in the cost impact of pursuing a LEED construction project.

3.1.1. Low Cost/High Cost: There are many "no cost" and "low cost" LEED credits and others that are expensive---yet both earn 1 credit (e.g., low-VOC finishes, local manufactured materials on the low end versus renewable energy systems on the high end).

3.1.2. Design Strategies: Different design strategies can often be used to earn the same individual LEED credits.

3.1.3. Cost Impacts: FSC and formaldehyde-free wood products typically add a premium of between 5%-25% to the final installed price.

3.2 PICKING THE RIGHT SPECIES

One of the major causes of price swings in FSC wood products is the species selection. Some FSC species are currently almost at par with non-FSC lumber. Examples would be White Fir, Red Oak, or Pine. For other species, to obtain an FSC variety requires a significant premium (up to 25%). These include White Maple, Beech, Cherry, and White Oak.

Other species simply are not readily available, though more are becoming so all the time, such as Clear Cedar.

3.3 LOW USE OF 2nd TIER RAIN FOREST SPECIES

One very viable means to help relieve pressure on the earth's rain forests is the specification and use of 2nd Tier tropical species. These are species that are beautiful, usually rich colored, that are not household names. (e.g., Billy Webb, Mechiche, Louro Gamella, etc. in contrast to the well known Mahoganies, Teaks, or Ebonies). This lumber is available, usually at half the price of their more well-known cousins.

4.0 RESOURCES & LINKS

Charley Coury at 9Wood, Inc. e-mail: Contact Charley Coury

US Green Council at http://www.usgbc.org/

FSC at http://www.fscus.org/

9Wood's FSC Certification: PDF Certificate (500kb)