Short answer: In LEED v5, a Health Product Declaration (HPD) earns a product a Level 1 (1x) or Level 2 (2x)score in the Human Health criteria area of MR Credit 4: Building Product Selection and Procurement.
- Level 1 requires an HPD that is published, “Pre-Checked for LEED,” and complete to 1,000 ppm.
- Level 2 requires an HPD that is third-party verified to 100 ppm and shows the end-use product contains no GreenScreen LT-1 hazards, or no GHS Category 1 hazards.
- No HPD currently reaches Level 3.
- An HPD never earns LEED points by itself. It raises a product’s multi-attribute score, and points are awarded when a whole product category clears a threshold.
HPD Level 1 vs Level 2 at a glance
| Level 1 | Level 2 | |
| Multiplier (Human Health score) | 1x | 2x |
| HPD requirement | Published HPD, “Pre-Checked for LEED” | Third-party verified HPD, pre-checked for LEED v4.1 Material Ingredients Option 2 |
| Inventory threshold | 1,000 ppm (0.1%) | 100 ppm (0.01%) |
| Hazard disclosure | Full disclosure of known hazards per the HPD Open Standard | Verification of either no GreenScreen LT-1 hazards or no GHS Category 1 hazards in the end-use product |
| Third-party verification | Not required | Required, and it must include verification of the content inventory |
| Where it must be published | HPD Public Repository | HPD Public Repository |
| Must appear on the document | Product name(s), type(s), and description; unique ID; inventory threshold; validity period | Everything required for Level 1, plus an indication of third-party verification covering the content inventory |
| Equivalent documents at the same level | Declare v2.0 (any label), C2C Bronze or Material Health Certificate Bronze, Global Green Tag PhD, BIFMA LEVEL 2024 Tier 3 | Declare third-party verified Red List Free or Red List Approved, C2C Silver or MHC Silver, Green Seal GS-11, BIFMA LEVEL 2024 Tier 4 |
Sources: USGBC, “Criteria Areas & Achievement Levels in LEED v5,” v1.3 (February 24, 2026). The table above says Global Green Tag PhD qualifies at Level 1, which follows the guidance text. The guidance’s own summary table lists it at 2, so confirm which applies before relying on it.
Where HPDs fit in the LEED v5 credit
LEED v5 replaces the separate v4/v4.1 credits for EPDs, Material Ingredients, and Sourcing of Raw Materials with one credit: MR Credit 4: Building Product Selection and Procurement. It is worth 1–5 points for New Construction and Core and Shell.
Products are evaluated across five criteria areas: human health, climate health, ecosystem health, social health and equity, and circular economy. HPDs contribute only to Human Health.
The same guidance also applies to two related Project Priority credits:
- MRpc181, Multi-Attribute Structure, Enclosure, Hardscape, and Other Building Materials
- MRpc185, Multi-Attribute Mechanical, Electrical, and Plumbing Products
How an HPD score turns into LEED points
This is the part most manufacturers and many project teams get wrong. The math has three steps.
Step 1: Each product gets a multi-attribute score (MAS)
- Scores from different criteria areas add together, up to a maximum of 5.
- Within a single criteria area, only the highest score counts.
- So a Level 2 HPD plus a Declare label still scores just 2 for Human Health.
- A Level 2 HPD plus a product-specific Type III EPD (Climate Health, Level 1) scores 3.
Step 2: Each product’s value is multiplied by its MAS
Value can be measured as cost, area, volume, or units. The category’s adjusted value is:
Product category adjusted value = 100 × Σ(product value × MAS) ÷ total value of all products in the category
Step 3: Count the categories that clear the threshold
Any product category whose adjusted value exceeds 100% earns 1 point, up to 5 points total. The eligible categories are:
- Paints and coatings
- Adhesives and sealants
- Flooring
- Walls
- Ceilings
- Insulation
- Furniture
- Composite wood
- Plumbing fixtures
Why there is no Level 3 HPD (yet)
Level 3 in Human Health requires the highest level of hazardous-chemical avoidance, including full screening and classification of unknown ingredients, with third-party verification.
As of guidance v1.3, the only documentation that qualifies is Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold or higher, or a C2C Material Health Certificate at Gold or higher. USGBC notes that additional criteria for every level are under development and may be added through the LEED v5 addenda process. HPD-based pathways could change, so check the current version of the guidance.
Common reasons an HPD doesn’t count
- Inventory threshold too high. An HPD disclosed to 1,000 ppm cannot count for Level 2, regardless of verification.
- Not third-party verified, or the verification doesn’t cover the content inventory. Either one caps the product at Level 1.
- Hazard screening that doesn’t clear LT-1 or GHS Category 1. Verification alone isn’t enough for Level 2. The end-use product must also avoid these hazards.
- Missing document elements. A unique ID, the covered product names, and the validity period must all be visible on the document.
- Expired HPD. The validity period is a required element, so an HPD that lapses before submission is a liability. Plan renewals around project timelines.
- Misunderstanding the “end-use product” basis. Scoring is based on the product as delivered to the site, not on raw inputs.
Should manufacturers upgrade from Level 1 to Level 2?
For most interior and enclosure products, yes, if the formulation can support it. A Level 2 HPD doubles the product’s Human Health contribution. It is also the most direct way to help a category exceed 100% without depending on other product documents.
Moving to Level 2 requires three things:
- Pushing supplier disclosure down to 100 ppm, which usually means NDAs with tier-2 and tier-3 suppliers.
- Confirming the product contains no LT-1 or GHS Category 1 hazards.
- Completing HPDC third-party verification.
If a product contains an LT-1 substance that can’t be reformulated out, pairing a Level 1 HPD with a product-specific EPD delivers the same MAS of 2. That is often the faster route.
Frequently asked questions
How many LEED v5 points is an HPD worth?
None directly. An HPD gives a product a Human Health score of 1 or 2, which feeds the product’s multi-attribute score. Points (1–5) are earned by product categories whose adjusted value exceeds 100%.
Can I stack an HPD and a Declare label for a higher score?
No. Both are Human Health documents, and only the highest score in a criteria area counts.
What’s the fastest way to reach a multi-attribute score of 5 with an HPD?
A Level 2 HPD (2) plus an EPD showing more than a 20% GWP reduction, which scores 2 in Climate Health and 1 in Ecosystem Health, reaches 5.
Is LEED v5 required now?
New commercial BD+C, ID+C, and O+M registrations must use LEED v5 as of July 1, 2026.
Sources: USGBC, “LEED v5 Additional Guidance – Criteria Areas & Achievement Levels in LEED v5,” v1.3, February 24, 2026. USGBC, LEED v5 Reference Guide for Building Design and Construction, July 2026 edition, MRc4 (pp. 143–145).
Need to move a product from Level 1 to Level 2? Elixir Environmental manages HPD development, supplier data collection under NDA, and HPDC third-party verification. Contact us.