GUIDE TO COMPLETING THE DECLARE PRODUCT DECLARATION FORM
It is the responsibility of the manufacturer to complete the Declare product declaration form for each product fully and accurately. Detailed
information about the full chemical make-up and formulation of a building material is required. Manufacturers may need to engage internal
manufacturing and materials science experts, and possibly second tier suppliers.
Incomplete declaration forms will be returned to the manufacturer and the product will not be listed in the Declare database until it is complete
and returned.
DECLARATION FORM TERMS AND DEFINITIONS
Appropriate Sourcing (including Zone distances and monitored products): Material Selection decision-making philosophy that
contributes to the expansion of a regional economy rooted in sustainable practices, products and services by prioritizing place-based
solutions. Imperative 14 of the Living Building Challenge. Manufacturers must determine the Zone Designation for each product they
list in the Declare database.
The list of 2010 MasterFormat divisions/sections in the reference table below provides further clarification for the types of
materials and products that are associated with each Zone designation. This is not meant to be exclusive or narrowly assigned to
the literal Division/Section for specification. For example, a precast concrete utility vault would be associated with Zone 1
(Division 03) instead of not tracked (Division 33).
Life Expectancy: The average estimated number of years that a product under normal wear and tear conditions can be used as intended
before failure.
Recyclable: A product, or portion thereof, that can be separated and its components processed into a new saleable good.
Reusable (aka Salvageable): A product or assembly of a particular service that is capable of being re-used without significant remanufacturing or alteration after it has been retired from its initial consumer-based installation or function.
Take back program: A mechanism both implemented and overseen by a manufacturer to assume physical responsibility of a product,
product component, and/or packaging at the end of their useful lives with the intent to recycle the items received into new saleable
goods.
Product Contents: To participate in Declare manufacturers must disclose all intentionally added ingredients plus residuals up to
100ppm. This includes the chemical name of the ingredient, CAS Number and the percentage range by weight. Proprietary ingredient
names (e.g. ChemClean 223) are not acceptable. The source location for 75% of the product by weight or volume must be disclosed. All
information must be completely filled out or the form will be returned.
Ingredient: A constituent part of a product. It includes all trace elements, whether directly added or otherwise present - even if
‘naturally occurring’ within a material component. Please note, naturally occurring ingredients will not be listed on the Label and will
not be used to determine if a product is either Declare Red List Compliant or Declare Red List Free.
Proprietary Ingredients and Second-Tier Supplied Ingredients: Declare encourages manufacturers to disclose all the ingredients in their
products, including second-tier supplied and proprietary ingredients. To reflect current market limitations, there is a temporary
exception that allows manufacturers to keep less than 1% of the product by weight and volume proprietary as long as nothing in that
percentage is on the LBC Red list or qualifies under an existing exception. Products that have less than 1% proprietary ingredients will
be determined to be Red List Compliant. Only products with a fully disclosed ingredients list will be determined to be Living Building
Challenge Red List Free.
CAS #: CAS numbers are unique numerical identifiers assigned by the Chemical Abstracts Service to nearly every chemical compound,
or organic element. They offer a reliable, common international language to identify specific substances across disciplines. CAS #’s must
be provided for each listed ingredient. For more information see: http://www.cas.org/content/chemical-substances/faqs
Complex Products with Multiple Components: There is a small component exception to the Declare ingredients full disclosure
requirements for complex products made from more than ten constituent parts. A small component is discrete and contained in its form
as introduced into the products assembly, and must be less than 10% of a product by both weight and volume. When a
material/chemical cannot be differentiated from other parts of the product after it is introduced into the assembly, it is not considered a
small component.
Red List: A collection of ‘worst-in-class’ building materials, chemicals, and elements known to pose serious risks to human health and
the greater ecosystem. We believe these materials should be phased out of production due to health/toxicity concerns. Manufacturers
must carefully analyze each ingredient to determine if they are on the Red List. The Red List Chemical Guide on the Declare website
that identifies each CAS # associated with a Red List ingredient can assist manufacturers in completing this portion of the
questionnaire.
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Asbestos
Cadmium
Chlorinated Polyethylene and Chlorosulfonated Polyethlene
Chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs)
Chloroprene (Neoprene)
Formaldehyde (added)
Halogenated Flame Retardants
Hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs)
Lead (added)
Mercury
Petrochemical Fertilizers and Pesticides
Phthalates
Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC)
Wood treatments containing Creosote, Arsenic or Pentachlorophenol
Products will be analyzed against the Living Building Challenge Red List to do determine their Declaration Status. The Living Building
Challenge also does have temporary exceptions for numerous Red List items due to current limitations in the materials economy. All
exceptions as of the publishing data of this document as well as more information about the health and environmental impact of Red
List ingredients are listed in the Manufacturers Guide. Each product will be reviewed against the Red List and all existing exceptions
and its status will be noted on the Label and in the Declare Database.
THREE DECLARATION STATUS DESIGNATIONS
Declared: Declared products have voluntarily self-disclosed all ingredients in order to promote transparency in the materials
marketplace. Declared products contain Red List ingredients that do not qualify for an established exception and thus cannot be used on
Living Building Challenge projects. Manufacturers will still be recognized for their commitment to transparency.
Living Building Challenge Compliant: Compliant products meet the requirements of the Red-List Imperative of the Living Building
Challenge due to an established temporary exception.
Living Building Challenge Red List Free: Red List Free products have disclosed all ingredients and none of these ingredients are on the
Living Building Challenge Red List.
DECLARE PRODUCT QUESTIONNAIRE
About the Manufacturer
Name of Manufacturer:
Company Website:
Contact Information
Representative Name:
Email:
Telephone:
About the Product:
Name of Product or Product Line:
Product Description:
Product website (if applicable):
MasterFormat 2010 Classification:
Location of final manufacturing facility
City:
State/Province:
Country:
Appropriate Sourcing Zone designation (check one):
6 - Renewable Technologies
5 - Assemblies that actively contribute to building performance or adaptable reuse
3 - Light or low-density materials
2 - Medium weight and density materials
1 - Heavy or high-density materials
Not Applicable
Life Expectancy (yrs):
End-of-life options (check all that apply):
Take back program. If checked, provide location:
Salvageable/reusable in its entirety.
Recyclable.
If checked, include percentage by volume:
Landfill. If checked, include percentage by volume:
Classified as hazardous waste. If in-part, list associated component(s):
Product contents listed in order of quantity used by mass.
Include all intentionally added ingredients plus residuals to 100 ppm.
Toned area indicates optional form field. Add additional rows as needed.
Red
List
Component
Ingredient Name
CAS#
%
Source Location
City
State/Province
Country