On a LEED project, a submittal has two jobs: prove the product meets the specification, and supply the sustainability documentation the project needs for certification. The second part is often missing, and that is when LEED submittals get returned.
Where LEED requirements show up in the spec
- A Division 01 section for sustainable design requirements, often numbered 01 81 13, that lists the documentation required and how to submit it.
- Part 1 of individual sections, under “Sustainable design submittals” or similar.
- The project’s LEED scorecard, which shows the credits the team is pursuing.
Common LEED documentation by product type
| Documentation | What it is | Typical products |
|---|---|---|
| Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) | A verified report of a product’s environmental impacts over its life cycle. | Concrete, steel, insulation, gypsum board, flooring |
| Health Product Declaration (HPD) or Declare label | A disclosure of a product’s material ingredients and related hazards. | Finishes, flooring, ceilings, wall coverings |
| VOC content data | Volatile organic compound content of wet-applied products, compared with the limits the spec references. | Paints, coatings, adhesives, sealants |
| Emissions test certificate | Third-party testing of emissions from interior products, often to the CDPH Standard Method. | Flooring, ceilings, insulation, composite wood |
| Recycled content and sourcing | Manufacturer letters for recycled content, extraction and manufacturing locations. | Steel, aluminum, gypsum, carpet |
LEED v4/v4.1 and LEED v5
Many active projects are registered under LEED v4 or v4.1, where product documentation supports separate materials credits for EPDs, sourcing of raw materials and material ingredients, plus the low-emitting materials credit. LEED v5 consolidates product documentation into a single Building Product Selection and Procurement credit and adds more emphasis on embodied carbon and product-specific data. Check which version your project is registered under: it changes what documentation is worth the most.
How to put together a LEED submittal
- Find the sustainable design requirements in Division 01 and Part 1 of your section.
- For each product, list the documents required (EPD, HPD, VOC data, emissions certificate, sourcing letter).
- Get product-specific documents from the manufacturer, not general brand claims.
- Highlight the values that prove compliance, such as VOC content in g/L next to the limit.
- Include the LEED form or summary sheet if the project requires one.
Why LEED submittals get returned
- Expired EPDs or documents for a different product than the one submitted.
- VOC data missing for adhesives and sealants applied inside the weatherproofing.
- Emissions claims without a third-party test certificate.
- Sustainability documents submitted separately from the product data, so nobody connects them.
We include the LEED documentation in the same package as the product data, for every section in your scope. See our submittal preparation service.