To VI Eco-Standards Council:

This is a reminder for our April 6 monthly conference call scheduled for 10:30 am to 12:00 pm EDT – (please note the call in coordinates: 1-888-204-5987, code 7932039#). Here is the tentative agenda that we will follow to organize the discussion. Topic leaders are suggested, but everyone should be encouraged to voice how the standard impacts your market or business, or offer ways that greater advocacy or effort in each area can help you.

  • Introductions, antitrust statement
  • Green building:
    • USGBC LEED v.4 and Pilot Credits, (Group) – hazard & exposure pilot needs participants; (group)
    • GBI Update
      • i. GBI/ANSI Standard is moving along on the latest comments. Vote on removing single attributes from the standard all together failed; next update will attempt to include the further utilization of an LCA approach for product selections / specifications. Points for single attributes have been significantly reduced with more points awarded for transparency and LCA approaches – including the NSF/ANSI standards (J. Rohde)
      • ii. GBI positioning Green Globes as LEED equivalent to Montgomery County as they evaluate the inclusion of IgCC as the single source for criteria/compliance in the next round of building code updates.
      • iii. GBI rapid growth, and GBI materiality analysis (C. Barcan)
    • ASHRAE SSPC 189.1 & .3 Working Group update and other ASHRAE 189 topics; (J. Rohde, group);
      • Presentation on ASHRAE 189.1 & ASHRAE 189.3 in relation to the IgCC, LEED, Green Globes, and FGI Guidelines was delivered at the American Society of Healthcare Engineers Planning, Design, and Construction Conference held in Orlando from March 12th – 15th. Interest in the combination of 189.1 / 189.3 as content for IgCC and in having FGI licensing code reference the IgCC as the path for alignment with the building codes and licensing codes (J. Rohde);
    • GSA GBAC Health & Wellness Committee Update;
      • i. Jane Rohde is co-chair with Chris Garvin (from Terrapin) – Focus on IEQ items: IAQ, thermal comfort, acoustics, lighting, etc. Weekly calls began on April 5 covered FitWell and WELL Building Standard as references, but new requests to address “hazardous materials” brought to the committee. “Transparency” and “Life Cycle Assessment” evidence based approach to material selections is being emphasized as counter to “Red List” approach.
    • FGI all hands meeting to finalize comments and book approvals is being held the last week in April, 2017 in St. Louis.
    • Other green building topics:
      • i. ACC Continuing Education Program with Architects (J. Armstrong);
      • ii. Design Connections – Healthcare Conference Feb 13- 15 – VI follow up with CFFA to discuss vinyl upholstery with end-user designers and environmental services providers.
      • iii. ACC update (from David Mann Sr. Director of Building and Construction in the Plastics Division)
        • 1. ACC BCMIT is working in support of legislation for open competition in infrastructure in six states (MI, IN, AR, OH, NC, SC). Open competition legislation is designed to eliminate pre-bid material restrictions in drinking water, storm water, and waste water projects using state funds.
        • 2. BCMIT continues to engage in building code advocacy. There is a concerted effort this year by home builders to introduce local control legislation giving local governments building code adoption authority that supersedes that of the state. Recent efforts to weaken energy codes in WV, IA, MD, WA appear to be stalling out as energy efficiency and code advocates have rallied.
        • 3. All trade associations should remain plugged in with folks like RECA (Responsible Energy Codes Alliance -http://www.reca-codes.org/) and the Energy Efficient Codes Coalition to make sure they support the adoption and enforcement of the building codes.
    • States updates (J. Serrano);
  • Vinyl Institute Communications
      • i. Counterpoint update – Atlanta bridge collapse misinformation about burning PVC; Washington Examiner editorial disparaging proposed legislation that supports open competition in the bidding of water infrastructure projects; Healthy Building Network misinformation in use of asbestos in chlor-alkali; (S Wade)
      • ii. Vinyl in Design, version 2.0 in the works; (T. Murphy)
      • iii. Congressional Fly-in, Washington D. C., May 18, 2017; link: http://www.vinylinfo.org/congressional-fly hotel rate block expires April 14.
      • iv. VI Annual Meeting , Sawgrass Marriott, Ponte Vedra Beach, FL, November 8-10, 2017;
      • v. PVC 2017 Conference, April 25-27, 2017 Brighton, England: https://www.iom3online.org/iom/frontend/reg/thome.csp?pageID=254015&eventID=533&eventID=533&CSPCHD=000004000000TGHj3uGS7vMZoZlVwKjDYy$V1hOnG2Y_CgaOzx
  • Vinyl Business and Sustainability Council update (C. Barcan);
  • Trump Transition Regulatory Improvement Activities and COC Update (Mary Martin, U.S. Chamber of Commerce);
  • Ingredient Disclosure, Alternatives Assessment, Environmentally Preferred Purchasing, Chemicals Regulations
    • GSA proposal to adopt EPA EPP in Federal Acquisition Requirements (R. Krock);
    • VI comments on proposed EPA LCSA proposals (R. Krock): a.) First 10 Chemicals; b.) Prioritization Process, c.) Risk Evaluations;
    • VI comments to DOC on regulatory burden for chlor-vinyl manufacture and compliance with lead renovation and repair rule;
    • NRDC Food Additive Petition against phthalates in food contact applications (K. Ott);
    • Toxics in Packaging Clearinghouse – VI reply comments (R. Krock);
    • ASTM Material Ingredient Report;
  • Electrical, Electronics: (R. Krock)
    • IEEE 1680.1 (computers); Ballot period now open until April 27, 2017 on draft standard. Use of GreenScreen for hazard assessment is issue for halogens;
    • IEC TC 111 – Low Halogen Materials used in Electronic and Electrical Products (R. Krock);
    • NSF 426– IEEE 1680.4 Standards for Servers Joint Working Group ballot results and comments resolution;
  • Other topics
    • Recycling:
      • i. VI Tarnell Survey Update – phone interviews complete;
      • ii. ACC sponsored post-consumer recycling survey by Moore Recycling to be circulated in VNS, Feb 2017; Start the survey here: http://plasticsmarkets.org/page/EMD16.html
      • iii. Recycling specifications – ISRI initiative
      • iv. EPA SMM Webcast on electronics, April 27, 2017 https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/5666656811498865922
    • Next call – May 2, 2017 – new time for this call only to start at 10:00 am;

Thank you for your participation.

Regards,

Rich