GFRC and LEED

Developing and Building Sustainably with Stromberg GFRC (Glass Fiber Reinforced Concrete)

At Stromberg we are committed to helping you build green, sustainable projects. Stromberg GFRC has been specified and used on several LEED® Certified Projects. Products alone do not provide LEED® points, but the following information will help you determine how Stromberg GFRC can contribute toward the performance of the building.

Possible LEED Credits with Stromberg GFRC:

USBC LEED

For projects seeking USGBC LEED Certification Stromberg GFRC may contribute up to 27 points toward LEED certification. For a complete list, send us an email. A few are listed here: (depending upon application and project location) :

ID2.1 Durability and Planning Credit
ID2.4 Third Party Durability Inspection, SSc5 Pest Control Alternative,
MR 4.1 and 4.2 Recycled Content
ID 2.2 Indoor Moisture Control
MR 5.1 and 5.2 Regional Materials

NAHB Green Building

For projects seeking "NAHB Voluntary Model Green Home Building Guidelines" Stromberg GFRC offers:

2.7.1 Products that contain fewer resources than traditional products
2.2.8 Termite resistant materials
2.1.5 No additional finish resources to complete onsite application
2.8.1 locally available materials

Advantages of Stromberg GFRC for Green Building

Low toxicity raw materials: Cement, sand, glass fibers and water
Durable, long lasting materials reduce replacement, maintenance and repair
Can be supplied prefinished to eliminate VOC's during painting
Non-combustible Stromberg GFRC meets ASTM E136
Can meet hurricane resistance of Miami Dade Large Missile Impact and Small Missile Impact
Lightweight panels use 80% less material than precast
Lightweight panel reduces fuel and costs of transportation

Environmental Impact

The main ingredients of Stromberg GFRC are based on the plentiful and naturally occurring minerals used in the manufacture of cement, aggregates and glass fibers. These natural materials are not normally regarded as pollutants. GFRC itself is a stable mineral based material, and is inert.

The light weight of Stromberg GFRC provides several environmental benefits. A study by the Government of the United Kingdom's DETR/Concrete Industry Alliance 'Partners in Technology' project compared GFRC and precast concrete products that perform the same function. The results show that GFRC has a much lower environmental impact by a factor of 60%, when compared to traditional precast concrete.

The main environmental benefits of Stromberg GFRC when compared to traditional precast concrete are:

Reduced cement and energy usage
Reduced transport costs
Durability for a long life

What is LEED?

LEED stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. The LEED Green Building Rating System was developed by the U.S. Green Building Council. LEED is a national voluntary program to define and measure what defines a "green" building. There are a variety of LEED categories, including LEED for new construction and major renovations (LEED-NC), existing buildings (LEED-EB), commercial interiors (LEED-CI), core and shell development (LEED-CS), and homes (LEED-H).. Currently under development are rating systems for neighborhood development (LEED-ND), multiple buildings (LEED-MB), Schools, and Retail. The US Green Building Council (USGBC) is also currently developing application guides for Healthcare facilities, and Laboratories.

The goals of the LEED certification process are environmental performance, the improvement of occupant well being, and economic returns of facilities. Buildings are LEED certified if they achieve all of the prerequisites and at least 26 points out of a possible total of 69. LEED certification levels are:

Certified -------------------------- 26 - 32 points
Silver ----------------------------- 33 - 38 points
Gold ------------------------------- 39 - 51 points
Platinum -------------------------- 52 - 69 points

These levels are awarded for total points on the project. Five environmental categories make up the LEED-NC rating system.

Each of the LEED categories has multiple parts or credits to recognize sustainable building practices. A sixth LEED category recognizes innovative design.

LEED categories are:

Sustainable Sites-----------------------------(14 pts)
Water Efficiency ------------------------------ (5 pts)
Energy and Atmosphere --------------------(17 pts)
Materials and Resources--------------------(13 pts)
Indoor Environmental Quality--------------(15 pts)
Innovation and Design Process------------- (5 pts)

Stromberg GFRC Contributions

Within each of the categories are several credits that can be used to achieve points toward certification. Stromberg GFRC can play a role in achieving credits in the Energy and Atmosphere, Materials and Resources, Indoor Air Quality, and Innovation and Design Process categories.

Total possible points that Stromberg GFRC can help contribute toward LEED certification by category are as follows:

Energy and Atmosphere ----------- up to 10 pts
Materials and Resources----------- up to 9 pts
Indoor Air Quality------------------- up to 5 pts
Innovation in Design --------------- up to 3 pts

Stromberg GFRC can contribute up to 27 points toward LEED certification. Very few materials offer so many desirable qualities that contribute to durable, sustainable buildings. For a list of specific ways Stromberg GFRC can help you meet your goals, contact us. Please contact us to explore specific ways we can help you use Stromberg GFRC on your projects to save energy, improve the environment, and provide healthy, comfortable and attractive spaces. For further information on LEED or the US Green Building Council (USGBC) and LEED certification, visit the (USGBC) web site at: www.usgbc.org