CSI Sustainable Design & Green Building Specifications 2 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: In a LEED project specification, the specifier must require contractors to submit what type of documentation for recycled content materials?
- Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
- Product manufacturer's letters stating post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content percentages (Correct answer)
- ISO 9001 quality management certificates
- UL fire rating certificates
Correct answer: Product manufacturer's letters stating post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content percentages
LEED requires manufacturers to provide letters documenting the percentage of post-consumer and pre-consumer recycled content by weight to earn Materials & Resources credits.
Question 2: What is the primary purpose of a 'Health Product Declaration' (HPD) in construction specifications?
- To certify a product meets seismic performance requirements
- To disclose the chemical ingredients and their associated hazards in building products (Correct answer)
- To verify a product's fire resistance rating
- To confirm a product's acoustic performance
Correct answer: To disclose the chemical ingredients and their associated hazards in building products
A Health Product Declaration (HPD) discloses the full list of ingredients in building products and materials, along with associated health hazards, enabling informed material selection.
Question 3: Under ASHRAE 90.1, which element of a building specification is most directly affected by energy efficiency requirements?
- Structural steel connections
- Building envelope insulation R-values and window U-factors (Correct answer)
- Concrete mix designs
- Roofing membrane lap seam width
Correct answer: Building envelope insulation R-values and window U-factors
ASHRAE 90.1 sets minimum energy efficiency requirements for building envelopes, including insulation R-values, window U-factors, and air barrier performance.
Question 4: When specifying green roofing systems for stormwater management, which CSI Division is most relevant?
- Division 03 - Concrete
- Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection (Correct answer)
- Division 32 - Exterior Improvements
- Division 11 - Equipment
Correct answer: Division 07 - Thermal and Moisture Protection
Green roofing systems, including extensive and intensive vegetative roofs, are specified under Division 07 Thermal and Moisture Protection, specifically Section 07 55 63.
Question 5: What does 'FSC certification' verify when specified for wood products in construction documents?
- Fire suppression capability of wood members
- Structural strength grading of lumber
- Responsible forest management and chain of custody for timber products (Correct answer)
- Moisture content of wood at time of installation
Correct answer: Responsible forest management and chain of custody for timber products
Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certification verifies that wood products come from responsibly managed forests and that the chain of custody has been maintained from forest to product.
Question 6: In sustainable specifications, 'regional materials' credits typically require sourcing materials extracted and manufactured within what radius of the project site?
- 100 miles
- 250 miles
- 500 miles (Correct answer)
- 1,000 miles
Correct answer: 500 miles
LEED defines regional materials as those extracted, harvested, recovered, and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site to reduce transportation impacts.
Question 7: Which specification section typically contains requirements for construction waste management plans on sustainable projects?
- Section 01 74 19 - Construction Waste Management (Correct answer)
- Section 02 41 00 - Demolition
- Section 07 21 00 - Thermal Insulation
- Section 01 33 00 - Submittal Procedures
Correct answer: Section 01 74 19 - Construction Waste Management
Section 01 74 19 Construction Waste Management specifies requirements for diverting construction waste from landfills through recycling, salvage, and reuse programs.
CSI Sustainable Design & Green Building Specifications 2
In a LEED project specification, the specifier must require contractors to submit what type of documentation for recycled content materials?