Simpson Strong-Tie strongly supports sustainable building practices, such as those established by the U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, NAHB Green, and local green building codes. As we learn more about the impact of our actions on the environment, the building industry must continue to adopt practices that reduce the environmental footprint of our built environment. To learn more about the ways Simpson Strong-Tie is working to minimize our impact on the environment, read Simpson Strong-Tie: Commitment to the Environment.

Since many of our customers are involved in green building, we are frequently asked how our products contribute to green building and in particular, how our products can earn credits under LEED® for New Construction and LEED® for Homes Rating Systems. The following Q&A helps clarify how to use Simpson Strong-Tie products to earn LEED credits and addresses common misconceptions about LEED. In addition, we've included information about using our products in conjunction with other products and with specific construction techniques and building designs to facilitate earning credits.

LEED for New Construction

Can Simpson Strong-Tie products contribute to credits under LEED for New Construction?

Yes, Simpson Strong-Tie products can contribute to credits MR 4.1 and MR 4.2. These credits require a minimum percentage of the value of the building materials to be recycled.

Simpson Strong-Tie structural connectors and mechanical anchors are made from a percentage of recycled steel; however, because we purchase steel from suppliers all over the world, it's difficult to determine with certainty the exact amount of recycled content in these products.

LEED allows a blanket assumption of 25% post-consumer recycled content for any steel product.

Several adhesive products are manufactured with recycled material:

Simpson Strong-Tie Adhesive Product	Recycled Material Content
EDOT Anchoring Adhesive	35.5%
ET-HP (formerly ET) Anchoring Adhesive	16.0%
SET High Strength Anchoring Adhesive	4.5%
CIP Crack Injection Paste-Over	21.0%

Can I use Simpson Strong-Tie connectors and anchors with fly ash concrete to earn credit under LEED for New Construction MR 4.1 or 4.2?

Yes. Simpson Strong-Tie connectors are rated on the basis of the compressive strength of the concrete. Our mechanical anchors also qualify. As for adhesive anchors, the industry is still in the process of evaluating their performance in fly ash concrete.

If there is a Simpson Strong-Tie factory within 500 miles of my jobsite, can I earn credit for Simpson Strong-Tie connectors and anchors under MR 5.1 or 5.2?

LEED for New Construction offers credit under MR 5.1 and MR 5.2 for products "extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured" within 500 miles of the building site. Although many of our products are made at each manufacturing site, we can't guarantee today that a particular product was manufactured at a particular plant. In addition, Simpson Strong-Tie can't guarantee that the steel coils from which the connectors and mechanical anchors are manufactured were extracted, harvested, or recovered within 500 miles of the construction site. So therefore, our products are not eligible for this credit.

Is Simpson Strong-Tie LEED certified?

No. Companies cannot be LEED certified. However, companies can make products that earn LEED credits or make products that when used in particular ways earn LEED credits. Simpson Strong-Tie products can be used to earn credit in several LEED categories.

What is your LEED certification number?

This refers to the LEED credit number. Simpson Strong-Tie products can earn or contribute to credits in categories MR 4.1, 4.2 and EQ 4.1.

How do Simpson Strong-Tie adhesive products comply with LEED Credit EQ4.1?

The federal government relies upon state and local air quality management districts to provide direction for adhesives and sealants. Two air quality management districts, South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) and Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), have led the way in VOC regulations. Many air quality management districts across the country are adopting the regulations set by SCAQMD and BAAQMD.

New construction using only adhesives and sealants meeting the requirements of SCAQMD Rule 1168 are eligible for a LEED credit of one point under Indoor Environmental Quality, Credit 4.1 for "Low Emitting Materials: Adhesives and Sealants."

The use of Simpson Strong-Tie adhesives complies with the criteria. The table below summarizes VOC levels for our adhesives and the VOC limits for the two main categories: multipurpose construction adhesives and architectural sealants.

Multipurpose Construction Adhesive	VOC* Limit/Level
SCAQMD Rule 1168	70
BAAQMD Rule 51	200
AT High Strength Anchoring Adhesive	15
EDOT Anchoring Adhesive	15
ET-HP™ (formerly ET) Anchoring Adhesive	35
E-TRANS Epoxy-Tie® Anchoring Adhesive	40
SET High Strength Anchoring Adhesive	65
SET-XP® Structural Anchoring Adhesive	65
VGC Vinylester Glass Capsule Anchoring Adhesive	15

Architectural Sealant	VOC* Limit/Level
SCAQMD Rule 1168	250
BAAQMD Rule 51	250
CIP Crack Injection Paste-Over	<1
Crack-Pac® Injection Epoxy	10
Crack-Pac® Flex-H2O™	3
ETI-LV Low Viscosity Injection Epoxy	85
ETI-GV Gel Viscosity Injection Epoxy	80
ETR Epoxy Paste	10

* VOC is expressed in grams of VOC per liter.

LEED for Homes

What specific Simpson Strong-Tie products can I use to earn LEED for Homes credits?

Simpson Strong-Tie products can be used to earn various LEED credits, as summarized in Table I below. Our connectors can be used in framing details, which are awarded credits under MR 1.4. A wide variety of framing details that are not called out specifically by LEED can improve building energy efficiency under EA 1.2 and 2.2. There are some construction materials that earn credits, such as fly ash in concrete, that may be specified without affecting the performance of Simpson Strong-Tie connectors. Finally, our connectors may be used to eliminate typical framing cutoffs, contributing to credit MR 3.2.

TABLE I

What is Advanced Framing?

Advanced Framing, also known as Optimum Value Engineering (OVE), helps minimize material costs and the use of natural resources by reducing material usage and improving energy performance in wood-frame construction. It does this by eliminating non-structural wood from the frame of a house and replacing it with insulation. Wood provides a “thermal bridge” or a path for conductive heat loss through the building frame. Simpson Strong-Tie structural connectors can be used to reduce thermal bridging while maintaining structural performance.

Advanced Framing has been around for 30 years. Why hasn't it caught on if it reduces costs?

Advanced Framing requires additional training of framing crews and a small increase in planning the building frame. With low material and energy costs, there hasn't been sufficient motivation to try something new. With increasing knowledge of our impact on natural resources, however, Advanced Framing is worth another look, since it can reduce material usage and can improve energy efficiency. It's the perfect time to adopt these techniques across the industry as part of good stewardship of the environment - and to save on construction costs.

Are there other advantages to using Advanced Framing?

Advanced Framing provides a smoother surface on which to hang drywall by reducing contact points with framing that can shrink, bow, or twist. Advanced Framing is well suited to floating corners, which has been found to reduce nail pops. Finally, reducing the amount of framing material used decreases material and shipping costs.

How do I get my local inspector to approve Advanced Framing techniques in my jurisdiction?

Advanced Framing details are part of the building code, although many inspectors may not be aware or familiar with the techniques. For more information about Advanced Framing techniques and details, see the U.S. Department of Energy's Advanced House Framing Techniques information page, Advanced Wall Framing Fact Sheet and Optimum Value Engineering Best Practices.

Does Advanced Framing cost more?

Although earning credits under some LEED categories can increase the cost of building, using Simpson Strong-Tie products for Advanced Framing can actually reduce the cost of construction. The key is providing proper training to framing crews.

In performance modeling a home for credits EA 1.1 and 1.2, I see opportunities to reduce thermal bridging of the building frame beyond what is required for MR 1.4, Framing Efficiencies. Do I get credit for those reductions and does Simpson Strong-Tie make connectors to support those additional framing practices?

“Framing Factor” is the term applied to the percentage of wall area in a wood frame structure that consists of solid members that bridge the gap between the interior and exterior. Reducing the framing factor increases the thermal efficiency of the building envelope, reducing energy consumption. The average home has a framing factor of about 25%. This can be reduced significantly through Advanced Framing and related practices, earning additional credits under EA 1.1 and EA 1.2. Simpson Strong-Tie connectors can be used to implement these framing practices, as described in Table I.

Is Simpson Strong-Tie LEED certified?

Companies cannot be LEED certified, however, companies can make products that earn LEED credits or make products that when used in particular ways earn LEED credits. See Table I.

What is your LEED certification number?

This refers to the LEED credit number. Simpson Strong-Tie products can earn or contribute to credits under LEED for Homes EA 1.2, EA 2.2, MR 1.4, MR 2.2 and MR 3.2.

Do I have to change what I do to make the homes I build LEED certified?

Possibly. LEED is a transformative system that seeks to push the industry beyond normal practices to a higher level of performance and environmental care. Some applications of Simpson Strong-Tie connectors may already earn credits under LEED, particularly if your standard practices are oriented toward energy conservation and efficient use of materials.

Can I use Simpson Strong-Tie connectors with fly ash concrete to earn credit under LEED for New Construction MR 4.1 or 4.2?

Yes. Simpson Strong-Tie connectors are rated on the basis of the compressive strength of the concrete.

Does the recycled steel content of your connectors earn credit toward the LEED for Homes MR 2.2 category?

No. LEED for Homes delineates specific building components and assemblies that can contribute to credit MR 2.2. Connectors, such as those made by Simpson Strong-Tie, are not on that list.

Simpson Strong-Tie has factories all over the country - within 500 miles of most homes. LEED for Homes gives credit for products manufactured within 500 miles of the construction site. Can I get credit under LEED's Environmentally Preferred Products (MR Credit 2.2) if I am building within 500 miles of a Simpson Strong-Tie manufacturing plant?

The goal of MR Credit 2.2 is to encourage the use of environmentally preferred products (EPP). A product is environmentally preferred if one of the following criterion are met:

1. Products meet the EPP specifications in Table 24 (see LEED for Homes Rating System, page 80, Table 24). The product must make up 90% of the component listed in Table 24 unless otherwise noted; and/or:
2. Products have low emissions, per specifications in Table 24; and/or:
3. Products were extracted, processed, and manufactured within 500 miles of the home.

Simpson Strong-Tie products do not qualify under criterion (a) or (b) since connectors are not a product listed in Table 24 of LEED for Homes.

Products that fall under criterion (c) are anything used in the building. Although Simpson Strong-Tie connectors may be manufactured within 500 miles of a home, Simpson Strong-Tie can't guarantee the raw materials were extracted and processed within 500 miles of the home under construction.

In summary, using Simpson Strong-Tie connectors cannot earn credit under MR 2.2 in LEED for Homes.

I can earn credits by using a particular type of paint, so why can't I earn credits for using Simpson Strong-Tie products?

LEED credits are awarded in different ways for different building components. While a particular paint may earn credit for meeting emission specifications, other products must be used in a particular way in order to receive credits. Simpson Strong-Tie products fall under the latter category. When our products are used to facilitate Advanced Framing, for example, credits are awarded. However, when those same connectors are applied in other parts of the frame of a home, credits are not awarded.

Additional Resources

Download Simpson Strong-Tie: Commitment to the Environment

Simpson Strong-Tie: Commitment to the Environment Flier(PDF)

U.S. Green Building Council's LEED for Homes

NAHB National Green Building Program™

ICC Green Building

U.S. Department of Energy - Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy

EcoHome Magazine: The Long Haul by Katy Tomasulo

EcoHome Magazine: Frugal Framing by Ted Cushman

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