An alternative documentation process is available for woodworkers who supply custom wood products to LEED projects, including fabricators of millwork, casework and furniture. Custom architectural woodworkers face unique challenges in producing FSC-certified products due to short turnaround times and the variety and specificity of the materials they often use.

Depending on architectural specifications, seasonal harvesting, manufacturer lead times and other factors, these shops may not be able to access 100 percent of the raw materials required for a given building project as “eligible inputs” under FSC rules within the time constraints of the project.

In such cases, under FSC rules, a woodwork package cannot be invoiced as FSC certified even if the majority of the raw materials used are FSC certified.

In recognizing these unique challenges for architectural woodworkers in providing FSC-certified wood contributions to LEED projects, USGBC has provided an alternative documentation process for woodworkers who are able to source FSC-certified raw materials but are unable to meet FSC invoicing requirements. In choosing to work with this alternative documentation process, woodworkers must provide a document, separate from the project invoice, detailing FSC-certified wood materials used as well as the total cost of wood materials. Woodworkers do not need to submit itemized material cost calculations to LEED project teams, but they must maintain their calculation records for review by their FSC certification body. This alternative pathway requires woodworkers to be FSC CoC certified and install the custom products (millwork, casework, furniture) on the project site. The full details of this alternate pathway can be found in the LEED v4 Reference Guide as well as in the addenda to the LEED 2009 Reference Guide, dated October 1, 2013.

In summary, while the credit language for FSC-certified wood in LEED v4 and LEED 2009 is very different, the overall documentation and calculation strategy has been harmonized. The USGBC has recognized the importance of remaining consistent in the FSC calculations for both LEED v4 and LEED 2009, especially given the long period during which both standards will coexist.