The new wood: Architectural ceiling and wall panels get a makeover

MR Credit 5, Regional Materials
This credit is based on use of wood harvested within 805 km (500 mi) of a project. While indigenous species contribute to regional architectural traditions—redwood in California or cypress in Louisiana, for example—designers frequently have more exotic tastes. Recent amendments to LEED allow credit calculations for rail shipments up to 2414 km (1500 mi) and sea shipment up to 12,070 km (7500 mi). This increases the palette of wood species that can be applied toward LEED credit. Sustainably harvested hardwoods from South America, for example, are within the allowed distance to North American ports. (See LEED 2009 for New Construction and Major Renovations with Alternative Compliance Paths for Projects Outside the U.S., updated in October 2011.)

MR Credit 6, Rapidly Renewable Materials
Since bamboo reaches maturity after four to six years and regenerates itself from existing roots, it qualifies for this credit. The range of bamboo veneer patterns includes edge grain, flat grain, and reconstituted wood.

It has been proposed that the next edition of LEED, due for release in 2013, revise this credit to consider bio-based materials with a range of environmental characteristics besides rapidity of growth. (See “Dealing with Wood and Biobased Materials in the LEED Rating System,” a white paper by Alex Wilson for USGBC that was amended on March 26, 2006.) For example, coconut and sugar palms are typically cut down after 50 or more years when they cease to be productive. The downed trunks, some as long as 21 m (70 ft), have limited structural use, and most are burned or left to decay in the field. According to a United Nations (UN) report, converting palm wood into higher value byproducts such as architectural veneer is sustainable and provides income for growers, most of whom operate small family farms.

MR Credit 7, Certified Wood
Safeguarding against rapacious forestry practices, such as clear-cutting, has spawned several non-governmental organizations that promulgate regulations and monitor forest product commerce. These include Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification (PEFC), Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI), and Forest Stewardship Council (FSC).

FSC’s requirements are ensconced within LEED. MR Credit 7 states:

Use a minimum of 50 percent (based on cost) of wood-based materials and products that are certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council’s principles and criteria,
for wood building components.

FSC’s principles protect more than just trees; they recognize, for example, compliance with the law, rights of indigenous people, and the welfare of forest workers and communities.

FSC has also established rules for maintaining certified wood’s chain-of-custody (COC) from forest to consumer. Brokers, sawmills, distributors, and manufacturers taking possession of the wood must establish procedures to prevent wood from non-certified forests against inadvertent identification as ‘certified.’ Certified wood must be identified as such on invoices and packing slips from suppliers, and must be labeled and segregated throughout each step in its journey to a jobsite. The integrity of the process is assured by independent auditors, such as Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), that certify a company’s adherence to FSC’s rules.

FSC has several categories of certified wood, including:

• FSC 100%: formerly called ‘FSC Pure,’ this designation is for wood that comes from FSC-certified forests;
• FSC Recycled: this designation is for wood salvaged from demolished structures or other post-consumer sources; and
• FSC Mix (x%): this indicates a certain percentage of the wood comes from FSC-certified sources, and the balance is ‘controlled’ wood (i.e. material not from certified sources, but also not produced without egregious practices such as illegal harvesting).

LEED credit calculations can take advantage of the full value of FSC 100% and FSC Recyled wood, and a percentage of the value of FSC Mix wood. Controlled wood does not contribute to LEED credits. Credit calculations are of crucial importance to projects pursuing LEED certification.

A specification requiring “FSC-certified wood” can be satisfied with FSC Mix 1% wood, but the result may disappoint those expecting to earn LEED credit. Specifiers should be clear about their project’s requirements, specifying either “FSC 100% wood” or a minimum acceptable percentage for FSC Mix wood.

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