Third-party product certifications continue to play an important role in sustainable building by verifying manufacturers’ claims and certifying those that meet rigorous performance and environmental standards. To help meet the growing interest in healthier homes and products that contribute to good indoor air quality (IAQ), Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) recently expanded the scope of its most rigorous IAQ certification program, Indoor Advantage Gold, to address interior products designed and manufactured for residential use. Previously, the certification program addressed only products for offices, health care facilities, and schools.SCS is an independent developer of internationally recognized standards and certification programs for environmental, sustainability, food quality, and food purity claims, including Forest Stewardship Council certifications, Environmentally Preferable Product certification, and Recycled Content certification, among others.
IAQ continues to evolve as a key element of sustainable building practices, particularly in the residential market. Over the past several years, products that contribute to healthier indoor environments through low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other harmful substances have flooded the market, from paints and adhesives to insulation, carpeting, windows, doors, and more. SCS Indoor Advantage Gold, which is based on the emissions testing method for California Specification 01350, now sets stringent standards for individual VOC emissions from paints, wallcoverings, flooring, insulation, windows, and doors designed for homes. The California Specification 01350 emissions testing method was recently revised and updated to make the testing protocols easier to understand and to address single-family residential applications.
Because health risks vary from VOC to VOC, Indoor Advantage Gold emphasizes individual VOC concentrations rather than total concentrations. According to SCS, this also encourages manufacturers to drill down to the individual VOC level to reduce emissions from their products and manufacturing processes, allowing them to establish stricter specifications for the raw materials they purchase.
For more information about SCS Indoor Advantage Gold certification and about certified products, visit www.scscertified.com/gbc/indooradvgold.php.
