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Composite Wood


Description

Interior doors are often made of a composite wood core covered with a laminate or wood veneer. Doors made with engineered wood are cheaper than solid wood doors, but may pose indoor air quality problems from emissions in the binders or adhesives. Greener engineered wood alternatives include formaldehyde-free door cores, those that are made of recycled content or made from agricultural waste, such as wheat straw. Additionally, veneers may be made of sustainably grown and harvested wood. These greener alternatives must be explicitly specified, as they are not standard materials.


Tips

O+M Tips

  • Use cleaning chemicals and solutions that are Green Seal certified
  • Dust with micro fiber cloth regularly

End of Life Tips

  • If in good condition, doors can be donated to organizations like Habitat for Humanity that will reuse them.
  • To recycle old doors visit Earth911.com to determine the capacity of local facilities.

For alignment with LEED Standards

  • Regional Materials: For credit achievement calculation, products sourced (extracted, manufactured, purchased) within 100 miles (160 km) of the project site are valued at 200% of their base contributing cost.
    • BD+C and ID+C MR: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization – Sourcing of Raw Materials and Material Ingredients
    • O+M MR: Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation
  • Certified Wood: Wood-based products and materials that are certified in accordance with the Forest Stewardship Council's principles and criteria contribute to a credit.
    • BD+C and ID+C MR: Building Product Disclosure and Optimization - Sourcing of Raw Materials
    • O+M MR: Purchasing - Ongoing
  • Resins: Composite wood and agrifiber products must be documented to have low formaldehyde emissions that meet the California Air Resources Board ATCM for formaldehyde requirements or contain no added formaldehyde resins.
    • BD+C and ID+C EQ: Low-Emitting Materials
    • O+M MR: Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation
  • Finishes: Must meet the volatile organic compound (VOC) requirements of South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113.
    • BD+C and ID+C EQ: Low-Emitting Materials
    • O+M MR: Purchasing - Facility Maintenance and Renovation