Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute issues position on LEED credits for reinforcing steel

SCHAUMBURG, ILL. — In response to the increasing implementation of sustainability rating systems, the Concrete Reinforcing Steel Institute’s (CRSI) Board of Directors approved a position on LEED credits for reinforcing steel at a meeting at the 86th Annual Conference in Naples, Fla.

There has been considerable debate among the architectural and engineering communities regarding submittal information required for the U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC) LEED certification relating to Materials and Resources credits MR4 (Recycled Content) and MR5 (Regional Materials). It is the position of the CRSI that the following information and guidance be used when evaluating the contributions of reinforcing steel in credits MR4 and MR5.

MR4 — Recycled Content
The vast majority of domestically produced, conventionally available reinforcing steel (i.e. ASTM A615 and A706) has recycled material content typically greater than 97 percent. Specialty reinforcing steel products, such as ASTM A1035 low-carbon, chromium steel and ASTM A955 stainless steel, have a recycled content typically greater than 75 percent.

MR5 — Regional Materials
Regional materials are those that are both harvested and manufactured within 500 miles of the project site. This then requires clarification of the location of these sites. The steel billet producer is the harvester of scrap and therefore, considered the point of harvest. The point of manufacturer as determined by the USGBC is the point of final assembly. Thus, for reinforcing steel, as the fabricator modifies the product into shape and size for final use, the manufacturer is the fabricator.

For more information about CRSI’s position on LEED credits for reinforcing steel, contact Darren Szrom, vice president of marketing and communications, at (847) 517-1200 or dszrom@crsi.org.