ASL announces a new addition to its asthma & allergy friendly® standards portfolio: the Robotic Vacuum Cleaner Standard ASP:03-09/101.

The dishwasher, the washing machine the tumble dryer…just some of the automated appliances that have changed our lives. No longer are we required to spend large swathes of our precious time washing and drying dishes and clothes. Vacuuming, however, is still one job that most of us must fit into our busy lives. But could that be changing? Or should we stick with the traditional vacuum cleaner?

We are announcing the development of a new certification standard for robotic vacuum cleaners

Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards, gives expert advice on tracking home health and why it makes perfect sense

ASL has announced their partnership with GBAC, the Global Biorisk Advisory Council™, a division of ISSA, on a unique educational program.

The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program, jointly operated by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) & the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), was thrilled to participate in the ISSA Show 2021 in Las Vegas.

The Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) and Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) has announced that Renegade’s SWEAT-X Free and Clear is the first laundry detergent to earn the asthma & allergy friendly® certification.

Healthier indoor air for everyone is a necessity if we want to prevent against disease and we believe CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® products are the best choices available to help control and improve indoor air quality.

Many people can be allergic to dust mites, pet dander, and other allergens that can build up in bedding, clothes, and other washable items at home. Taking care of these items by washing them regularly is a fundamental part of maintaining a healthy home environment.

In this webinar, Dr John McKeon will be joined by Roxane Spears ,Vice President Sustainability North America, Tarkett, Dhruv Raina Product Stewardship Director, Tarkett , to explore the impact building materials and indoor air quality (IAQ) can have on human health.

The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program, which is jointly run by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America was thrilled to join forces with the Cleaning Products US 2021 Conference that took place September 29 – 30, 2021 as both a key sponsor and participant.

In this NBC News article, digital editorial intern for Select, Zoe Malin seeks expert advice from ASL CEO, Dr. John McKeon, on indoor air quality and air cleaners.

Dr. Emer Duffy, Science Lead at ASL has been invited to contribute to Healthy Spaces – A Podcast Series from Trane Technologies

Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards, was delighted to present the plenary session of the EEBA 2021 High Performance Home Summit . The session was entitled ‘Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: How the pursuit of healthy buildings, that are good for people, planet, and profits, is the way forward for purpose-driven professionals’.

Dr. John McKeon , CEO of Allergy Standards, and the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program team were delighted to present at the 2021 Global Health & Wellness Summit, part of the Greenbuild International Conference & Expo.

Dr. John McKeon , CEO of Allergy Standards, and the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program team are delighted to be involved in the 2021 Greenbuild International Conference and its Global Health & Wellness Summit. 

We are delighted to announce that the EEBA High Performance Home Summit 2021 is being opened by our CEO Dr. John McKeon. He will be joined by Gord Cooke, Professional Engineer and CEO of Construction Instruction, for a presentation entitled Healthy, Wealthy, and Wise: How the pursuit of healthy buildings, that are good for people, planet, and profits, is the way forward for purpose-driven professionals.

Watch our CEO Dr John McKeon and President & CEO of the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, Kenneth Mendez, on Healthy Indoors Live with Bob Krell for a very interesting dive into the significant role a healthy indoor environment plays in our overall health & well-being.

In this NBC News article, our CEO Dr. John McKeon explains the difference between air filters, air cleaners and air purifiers. He also offers tips on  some good home habits that can be adopted to help improve indoor air quality.

An in-depth study into the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the need for Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) standards

In this article, Allergy Standards CEO Dr. John McKeon gives top tips on how to take care of your indoor environment this summer.

Well+Good Consults Dr. John McKeon About Air Purifiers

In this Well+Good article, John gives valuable advice on the mechanics of window air conditioners.

EEBA Webinar for Launch of Healthier Homes Awareness Program Now Available To View

Building a healthy home may seem complicated or even overwhelming but by breaking down the various aspects of a build, the task can be simplified. Firstly consider the material the building is made from, then how the home is decorated or finished, which also includes the ventilation, and finally what we bring into the building and how we maintain the building.

Dr. Emer Duffy, Science Lead at Allergy Standards Ltd., is the lead author of the recently published, highly relevant paper entitled ‘Colorimetric Sensing of Volatile Organic Compounds Produced from Heated Cooking Oils’ which describes the use of a simple, cost-effective and easy-to-visualise method for the detection of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs).

When NBC News need expert advice they go to Allergy Standard CEO Dr. John McKeon. In this article , John explains the the different technologies  that may be used in air purifiers and how and why noise is created when they are running.

CERTIFIED Pure Safety® High Performance Insulation from Owens Corning has received the 2021 “Green Innovation of the Year Award”

The kitchen is an area of high traffic with many different sources of asthma and allergy triggers. Cooking and cleaning introduce particles and allergens into the air; flooring, paints and insulation can release potentially harmful chemicals; insects, attracted to food, can act as triggers; pollen is brought in on clothing from outside. Furniture, sealants, glues and home office equipment can emit harmful chemicals and furthermore, the kitchen is where a pet is most likely to spend its time

We know that people spend up to 90% of their life indoors and 30% of this time may be in the bedroom. Infants and young children spend even longer than this. Integral to the designing of a well-functioning bedroom are the concepts of comfort, wellness and health but the bedroom can be rife with asthma and allergy triggers with the potential to impact on these concepts and turn a bedroom into a negative space.

The asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program, which is jointly run by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA) is pleased to be participating in both virtual shows, the IBS 2021 Builders Show® and NKBA’s Kitchen & Bath Industry Show® that are taking place February 9 – 12, 2021

Indoor air quality is in the News. What has been a longstanding health issue has hit the spotlight. Due to a number of issues and events occurring over recent times, the air we breathe in our homes and workspaces is becoming visible.

Design thinking and empathic listening may be some of the most valuable tools you will ever use. Simply put, design thinking is a process for creative problem solving. It is a non-linear, iterative process that focuses on the user, challenges any biased assumptions, aims to redefine problems from the users point of view and subsequently arrives at innovative solutions.

Electronic equipment is fundamental to supporting a healthier indoor environment. From air cleaners to vacuum cleaners and air conditioners to dehumidifiers, these pieces of equipment can operate to clean, remove allergens and contribute to a comfortable indoor air environment. The certification of consumer products is an informative and essential way to communicate a range of functions and compliance characteristics.

The skin is the largest organ in the body and is the one that is most exposed to external factors. As a consumer it can be very difficult to know whether a textile has had a particular finish, and even more so to know what chemicals were used to deliver this finish. In order to provide consumers with a signpost for textiles that may be more suitable for them and the environment, a number of certification programs have been established

Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards, is recognised for delivering informative, cutting edge talks, lectures and workshops on developing international standards, Indoor Air Quality, third body certification and innovation so is particularly honoured to be presenting a talk hosted by Tarkett entitled ‘Breathe Clean Air Program: Advanced Training for Building Professionals’

Allergy Standards Ltd is delighted to be exhibiting at Greenbuild Conference and Expo 2020- the world’s largest conference and expo dedicated to sustainability in the building industry

Last week in Ireland, a brand of hand sanitizer was recalled as it does not comply with regulations governing the content and efficacy of such products. Some of the product contains methanol rather than ethanol. Prolonged use of such sanitizer may cause dermatitis, eye irritation, upper respiratory system irritation and headaches

LG announced the rollout of its innovative LG WashTower featuring its CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® washing machine

Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) is pleased to announce their participation in Tarkett’s Learn.Give.Breathe Event taking place virtually on October 7th where Allergy Standards Limited CEO, Dr. John McKeon will serve as a keynote speaker conveying powerful insights about the heightened importance of Indoor Air Quality, triggers of Indoor Air Pollution, and how to create a healthy home environment through building materials, best practices, and beyond. Not only is Tarkett a CERTIFIED flooring partner of the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program but their company mission is also fully aligned with the Program, as their goal is to create healthier homes through offering flooring materials that allow individuals to make better purchasing decisions to improve their Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

Allergy Standards Ltd develops new standard for Merino Wool

Volatile organic compounds or VOCs are molecules containing carbon which are predominantly in the gaseous state at room temperature.This article will present the possible sources of indoor VOCs, how VOCs impact on people with asthma and allergy and discuss the ability of air cleaners to reduce VOCs in the indoor environment.

We are announcing the development of a new certification standard for bedding containing Merino Wool.

Consumers need a recognisable, trustworthy mark to help them identify the truly beneficial products. This is where asthma & allergy friendly® comes in: a certification that focuses solely on a product’s impact on human health.

The COVID-19 and Asthma Toolkit for Schools is a comprehensive document covering all things related to asthma, from asthma management and prevention to its relation to COVID-19. By using this toolkit, schools will not only be creating a more asthma friendly environment but also will be helping to reduce the spread of COVID-19. The resource is a supplement to the current district, state and federal reopening guidelines and isn’t intended to replace those guidelines

Air conditioners can play a significant role in good indoor air quality. Greater asthma morbidity – specifically a larger number of hospitalizations, wheezing episodes and night symptoms due to asthma – have been associated with the presence of moisture, mildew and cockroach allergen in homes. Air conditioners provide a dual function of controlling temperature and relative humidity in home environments, as well as potential removal of allergens.

This summer we are likely to spend more time in our homes than ever and with temperatures rising, it’s time to tackle any issues with our air conditioning. Living in a space that is too hot and sticky can be difficult. Tempers fray, sleep suffers, babies and small children get cranky. But its not just our mood that is impacted. Our health is effected too. Here’s some help if you are considering a portable air conditioner.

Dr. John Ryan, Chief Strategy Officer at Allergy Standards in Archetech magazine discusses the value of third party certification and the responsibility on those in the building and design industry to prioritise health and wellbeing

Being CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® gives a product an edge over its competitors in many ways. What is it exactly that makes an asthma & allergy friendly® textile stand out? Here are some useful questions and answers to make that advantage clear.

It is a common statistic when talking about the quality of indoor air, that we spend approximately 90% of our time indoors. The origin of that statistic was a study by the US Environmental Protection Agency back in 19891. The importance of this is the nature of the contained environment of the home; in the move towards greater environmental sustainability, homes have become more energy efficient and more tightly sealed. While this provides a better environmental impact, it also means that the air in the home does not become renewed through passage of fresh air.