Eurofins Product Testing - LEED® for non-Textile Flooring Systems
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LEED for non-textile floorings
LEED®, the US originated rating system for sustainable buildings, is requested by more and more building planners in the USA and in Europe and at the Gulf.
Copies of that rating system can be found in the Gulf region, in Italy, in Australia, and in some Asian regions. Slightly different approaches are in use in Europe, see also here.
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a non profit organization that developed and administers the LEED® (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System.
Please see our presentation on LEED - a new challenge for low VOC emission materials, as presentation slides and as paper, held at CERTECH conference on Odours and Emissions from Materials in October 2009.
Indoor Environmental Quality specifications by LEED®, IEQ credit 4.3
There are VOC emission requirements for hard surface flooring in the LEED® 2009 specifications for
- Commercial Interior
- New Construction
- Schools
- Core and Shell
- Existing Buildings (in credit MR3)
There are two ways of showing compliance.
Option 1: All hard surface flooring must be certified as compliant with the FloorScore standard by an independent third party. Flooring products covered by FloorScore include vinyl, linoleum, laminate flooring, wood flooring, ceramic flooring, rubber flooring and wall base. Eurofins Product Testing A/S is an approved testing laboratory for testing within that process.
It will also be accepted if an independent laboratory, such as Eurofins Product Testing A/S, shows compliance with the testing and product requirements of FloorScore - without certification.
Ceramic tiles, and mineral flooring without organic coating, are assumed to comply without testing.
Option 2: All flooring products must meet the testing and product requirements of the California Department of Public Health Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-Scale Environmental Chambers, including 2004 Addenda - also called Section 01350 specification. This is shown by emission chamber testing in an independent laboratory, such as Eurofins Product Testing A/S - without FloorScore certification.
Ceramic tiles and mineral flooring without organic coating is assumed to comply without testing.
Additionally, concrete, wood, bamboo, and cork floor finishes such as sealer, stain and finish must meet the requirements of as specified in LEED credit IEQ 4.2, paints and coatings (SCAQMD rule #1113).
And, all tile setting adhesives and grout must meet criteria as specified in LEED® credit IEQ 4.1, adhesives and sealants (SCAQMD rule #1168).
Other points may be achieved for recyclable and for recycled content.
Using synergies
If a manufacturer needs VOC testing for markets on both sides of the Atlantic, then Eurofins can help saving money by combining all required testing into one test setup. This service is unique in whole world. No single other testing laboratory is approved for VOC emission chamber testing of paints and coatings both for US purposes and for European labels such as Blue Angel, EMICODE and M1, combining this with a world-wide valid ISO 17025 accreditation.
Further Information
Please see our flyer on LEED® issues in English or in French, or contact our national organisations or our specialists for using Eurofins expertise that may help to establish sustainable and green buildings.
Order forms and testing request forms for VOC testing are available for free download here.
Further contacts regarding LEED:
- USGBC Contact page
- USGBC Customer Service page
- LEED FAQ
- LEED Rating systems
- LEED Addenda (updates and clarifications)
- GBC Italia Contact page
Your direct contacts:
Direct contact to Eurofins Product Testing A/S, the world market leader for VOC emissions chamber testing:
- Sales: Reinhard Oppl, email ReinhardOppl@eurofins.com
- Certification: Dr. Roland Augustin, email ccs@eurofins.com
- Testing laboratory: Thomas Neuhaus, email product-emissions@eurofins.com
Phone: +45 7022 4276
2200 Rittenhouse St., Suite 150
Des Moines, IA 50321
Phone: (202) 657-6584
Note: "U.S. Green Building Council", "USGBC", "LEED" and related logos are trademarks owned by the U.S. Green Building Council and used by permission.
