Centek Laboratories, LLC out of Syracuse, NY provides a vast array of indoor air quality (IAQ) testing and analysis services. In green building projects, air quality testing is typically utilized to comply with the requirements of the USGBC’s LEED Indoor Environmental Quality Credit 3.2: Construction IAQ Management Plan: Before Occupancy. The second compliance option for this credit (Air Testing) requires baseline IAQ testing, after construction ends and prior to occupancy, using testing protocols consistent with the EPA Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air and as additional detailed in the LEED Reference Guide for Green Building Design and Construction.

Centek makes it easy by sending the testing equipment (1L summa canisters, preset regulators, and handheld monitors) directly to the engineer, contractor or owner – though they do have professionals who can manage sampling if requested. The samples are collected at the jobsite and mailed back to Centek, who analyzes for Total VOC’s, 4-PCH, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and PM10 particulate. By effectively outsourcing the sample collection, Centek’s process is time saving and cost effective (Centek gives their word that their standard turn around time is 5 days.)

Base rate pricing per set is $285 (including Total VOC’s, 4-PCH, Carbon Monoxide, formaldehyde), though for some projects 4-PCH can be excluded, which reduces the price to approximately $250/sampling location. And Centek offers discount pricing (depending on project size and client status). Testing for particulates only (PM 10’s) is available for $100/per day $300/per week.

In addition to LEED BD+C IEQc3.2, Centek can also help document and maintain IAQ in existing buildings through creation of an IAQ management program (relevant to LEED for Existing Buildings IEQc1.1 in addition to best practice environmental health and safety).

And though their website says "capable of a sampling event in a little as 4 seconds" that is the minimum sampling event. Centek has a variety of canister sizes that can sample anywhere from 4 seconds to 24 hours (meeting LEED requirements). The canisters include preset regulators which act as flow regulators. For LEED projects they use 1L silonite coated canisters with regulators set for the 4 hour sampling event unless otherwise requested by the client.

So Centek testing equipment is definitely a valid option for projects that include IAQ testing, though like some other options it does require addition of a component, the PM1000 Dustrac for particulate testing. Though this seems pretty typical because personally at this time I’m not aware of a single-source testing protocol that meets all the requirements of the LEED credit.

 

Use of Centek Labs IAQ Testing and Analysis services may contribute to the following credits:

LEED BD+C
IEQc3.2 - Construction Indoor Air Quality Management Plan - Before Occupancy

LEED EBOM:
IEQc1.1 - IAQ Best Management Practices: IAQ Management Program

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