MR Credit 1.1: Building Reuse: Maintain 75% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof (1 Point)
Intent: Extend the life cycle of existing building stock, conserve resources, retain cultural resources, reduce waste and reduce environmental impacts of new buildings as they relate to materials manufacturing and transport.
Requirements: Maintain at least 75% (based on surface area) of existing building structure (including structural floor and roof decking) and envelope (exterior skin and framing, excluding window assemblies and non-structural roofing material). Hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project scope shall be excluded from the calculation of the percentage maintained. If the project includes an addition to an existing building, this credit is not applicable if the square footage of the addition is more than 2 times the square footage of the existing building.
Response: Concrete masonry assemblies are durable, high-longevity structures.
MR Credit 1.2: Building Reuse - Maintain 95% of Existing Walls, Floors & Roof (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 1.1)
Intent: Extend the life cycle of existing building stock, conserve resources, retain cultural resources, reduce waste and reduce environmental impacts of new buildings as they relate to materials manufacturing and transport.
Requirements: Maintain an additional 20% (95% total, based on surface area) of existing building structure (including structural floor and roof decking) and envelope (exterior skin and framing, excluding window assemblies and non-structural roofing material). Hazardous materials that are remediated as a part of the project scope shall be excluded from the calculation of the percentage maintained. If the project includes an addition to an existing building, this credit is not applicable if the square footage of the addition is more than 2 times the square footage of the existing building.
Response: Concrete masonry assemblies are durable, high longevity structures.
MR Credit 1.3: Building Reuse: Maintain 50% of Interior Non-Structural Elements (1 Point)
Intent: Extend the life cycle of existing building stock, conserve resources, retain cultural resources, reduce waste and reduce environmental impacts of new buildings as they relate to materials manufacturing and transport.
Requirements: Use existing interior non-structural elements (interior walls, doors, floor coverings and ceiling systems) in at least 50% (by area) of the completed building (including additions). If the project includes an addition to an existing building, this credit is not applicable if the square footage of the addition is more than 2 times the square footage of the existing building.
Response: Concrete masonry assemblies are durable, high longevity structures that may be left in place.
MR Credit 2.1: Construction Waste Management: Divert 50% From Disposal (1 Point)
Intent: Divert construction, demolition and land-clearing debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators. Redirect recyclable recovered resources back to the manufacturing process. Redirect reusable materials to appropriate sites.
Requirements: Recycle and/or salvage at least 50% of non-hazardous construction and demolition debris. Develop and implement a construction waste management plan that, at a minimum, identifies the materials to be diverted from disposal and whether the materials will be sorted on-site or co-mingled. Excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not contribute to this credit. Calculations can be done by weight or volume, but must be consistent throughout.
Response: Being modular in nature, masonry products are less prone to waste. Designers can maintain the rigor of modular dimensions, reducing cutting of units on site. Masonry units can be crushed and recycled or reused as filler and crushed aggregate, or as landscape material.1
MR Credit 2.2: Construction Waste Management: Divert 75% From Disposal (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 2.1)
Intent: Divert construction and demolition debris from disposal in landfills and incinerators. Redirect recyclable recovered resources back to the manufacturing process. Redirect reusable materials to appropriate sites.
Requirements: Recycle and/or salvage an additional 25% beyond MR Credit 2.1 (75% total) of non-hazardous construction and demolition debris. Excavated soil and land-clearing debris do not contribute to this credit. Calculations can be done by weight or volume, but must be consistent throughout.
Response: Being modular in nature, masonry products are less prone to waste. Designers can maintain the rigor of modular dimensions, reducing cutting of units on site. Masonry units can be crushed and recycled or reused as filler and crushed aggregate, or as landscape material.1
MR Credit 3.1: Materials Reuse: 5% (1 Point)
Intent: Reuse building materials and products in order to reduce demand for virgin materials and to reduce waste, thereby reducing impacts associated with the extraction and processing of virgin resources.
Requirements: Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials such that the sum of these materials constitutes at least 5%, based on cost, of the total value of materials on the project. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components and specialty items such as elevators and equipment shall not be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently installed in the project. Furniture may be included, providing it is included consistently in MR Credits 3–7.
Response: One of the best reasons to use masonry is its durability and potential for reuse and salvage. Dry stacked landscaping blocks and pavers are the easiest to reuse. However, most masonry units can be reused when carefully dismantled.1
MR Credit 3.2: Materials Reuse: 10% (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 3.1)
Intent: Reuse building materials and products in order to reduce demand for virgin materials and to reduce waste, thereby reducing impacts associated with the extraction and processing of virgin resources.
Requirements: Use salvaged, refurbished or reused materials for an additional 5% beyond MR Credit 3.1 (10% total, based on cost). Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components and specialty items such as elevators and equipment shall not be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently installed in the project. Furniture may be included, providing it is included consistently in MR Credits 3–7.
Response: One of the best reasons to use masonry is its durability and potential for reuse and salvage. Dry stacked landscaping blocks and pavers are the easiest to reuse. However, most masonry units can be reused when carefully dismantled.1
MR Credit 4.1: Recycled Content: 10% (post-consumer + 1/2 pre-consumer) (1 Point)
Intent: Increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials.
Requirements: Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes at least 10% (based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. The recycled content value of a material assembly shall be determined by weight. The recycled fraction of the assembly is then multiplied by the cost of assembly to determine the recycled content value. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components and specialty items such as elevators shall not be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently installed in the project. Furniture may be included, providing it is included consistently in MR Credits 3–7. Recycled content shall be defined in accordance with the International Organization of Standards document, ISO 14021—Environmental labels and declarations—Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labeling).
Post-consumer material is defined as waste material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
Pre-consumer material is defined as material diverted from the waste stream during the manufacturing process. Excluded is reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.
Response: Many masonry designs may use flyash and slag as a portion of their cement in grouting. These products reduce the quantity of cement and thus reduce C02 emissions and increase the amount of recycled content. In addition, quantities of recycled aggregate can be used in some products.
MR Credit 4.2: Recycled Content: 20% (post-consumer + 1/2 pre-consumer) (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 4.1)
Intent: Increase demand for building products that incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing the impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials.
Requirements: Use materials with recycled content such that the sum of post-consumer recycled content plus one-half of the pre-consumer content constitutes an additional 10% beyond MR Credit 4.1 (total of 20%, based on cost) of the total value of the materials in the project. The recycled content value of a material assembly shall be determined by weight. The recycled fraction of the assembly is then multiplied by the cost of assembly to determine the recycled content value. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components and specialty items such as elevators shall not be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently installed in the project. Furniture may be included, providing it is included consistently in MR Credits 3–7. Recycled content shall be defined in accordance with the International Organization of Standards document, ISO 14021—Environmental labels and declarations—Self-declared environmental claims (Type II environmental labeling).
Post-consumer material is defined as waste material generated by households or by commercial, industrial and institutional facilities in their role as end-users of the product, which can no longer be used for its intended purpose.
Pre-consumer material is defined as material diverted from the waste stream during the
manufacturing process. Excluded is reutilization of materials such as rework, regrind or scrap
generated in a process and capable of being reclaimed within the same process that generated it.
Response: Many masonry designs may use flyash and slag as a portion of their cement in grouting. These products reduce the quantity of cement and thus reduce C02 emissions and increase the amount of recycled content. In addition, quantities of recycled aggregate can be used in some products.
MR Credit 5.1: Regional Materials: 10% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally (1 Point)
Intent: Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation.
Requirements: Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for a minimum of 10% (based on cost) of the total materials value. If only a fraction of a product or material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value. Mechanical, electrical and plumbing components and specialty items such as elevators and equipment shall not be included in this calculation. Only include materials permanently installed in the project. Furniture may be included, providing it is included consistently in MR Credits 3–7.
Response: Many concrete masonry products are extracted, processed, and manufactured regionally.
MR Credit 5.2: Regional Materials: 20% Extracted, Processed & Manufactured Regionally (1 Point in addition to MR Credit 5.1)
Intent: Increase demand for building materials and products that are extracted and manufactured within the region, thereby supporting the use of indigenous resources and reducing the environmental impacts resulting from transportation.
Requirements: Use building materials or products that have been extracted, harvested or recovered, as well as manufactured, within 500 miles of the project site for an additional 10% beyond MR Credit 5.1 (total of 20%, based on cost) of the total materials value. If only a fraction of the material is extracted/harvested/recovered and manufactured locally, then only that percentage (by weight) shall contribute to the regional value.
Response: Many concrete masonry products are extracted, processed, and manufactured regionally.