We are delighted to announce that our asthma & allergy friendly® Certification has been approved by the US Green Buildings Council (USGBC) LEED® Building Rating System, making it a qualified third-party certification for the LEED v4.1 low-emitting materials credit. LEED is a widely used green building rating system run by the USGBC, and provides a framework for healthy, efficient, carbon and cost-saving green buildings.
Resilient and textile flooring, paint, and insulation products that are CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® are now compliant with LEED Low-Emitting Materials credit requirements.
The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program takes a whole-of-home approach to healthier indoor air, and its suite of over 50 certification standards assess products as diverse as electrical appliances, bedding, cleaning products, and building materials. The standards address a wide range of triggers of asthma and allergy in the indoor environment.
For building materials, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are an important factor in ensuring a healthier indoor environment. The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program sets strict criteria in terms of VOC emissions for paint, insulation, and flooring, and in terms of VOC content for paint. It is these criteria that have been approved by USGBC for LEED low-emitting materials credits.
“Transforming our buildings and spaces requires partnerships with organizations that are committed to creating products that support the LEED rating system,” said Peter Templeton, president and CEO, USGBC. “Allergy Standards Ltd. understands the value of LEED and using products that promote the health and wellness of building occupants.”
ASL’s certification standards also go beyond VOCs to look at the broader impact of these product types on the indoor environment. Testing assesses parameters such as allergen removal from flooring, dust release from insulation, and performance testing for paint. In addition, a detailed review of the constituent materials of each product is undertaken, to ensure that potentially hazardous chemicals are either not present, or present at suitably low levels.
ASL’s certification clients all over the world can now have their products included in LEED-certified building and renovation projects.
Dr. John McKeon, CEO of ASL, said, “. Through the work we have conducted at our indoor air innovation and research institute (the iAIR Institute), it is clear that there is a great alignment between the UN human right to breathe clean air, and the LEED approach to healthy and green buildings. It is imperative that manufacturer claims around healthier indoor environments are supported by good science. This recognition by USGBC reinforces our commitment to promoting healthier indoor environments through certification, education, and science.”
Joining the US Green Building Council (USGBC) is further confirmation of Allergy Standards’ (ASL) commitment to a sustainable and prosperous future through the development of greener communities worldwide.
CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products in the following categories qualify towards the LEED low-emitting materials credit: Paint, Flooring and Insulation
ASL’s membership of the USGBC LEED program
The USGBC is the world’s leading educator on green buildings and related certification projects such as the LEED program. They provide exclusive training to members focusing on these areas. The LEED program is the most widely used green building rating system in the world providing a framework to create healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings. As a member of the USGBC, ASL now has access to the exclusive training courses, resources and expertise available through the LEED program and the USGBC. These resources will enable the ASL team to offer the best possible service to our clients and partners. We look forward to engaging with the program and the wider USGBC community.
Related Links