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.

This talk explores current and future healthy home trends with a focus on indoor air quality, whole house filtration and the importance of third party certification. IAQ is a key component in the healthy home and builders will benefit by a deeper understanding of how whole house filtration and other asthma and allergy friendly products can help them keep their business healthy.

World Asthma Day falls on the first Tuesday of May every year and gives us the opportunity to promote recognition, education and celebration of asthma awareness.

The air quality in India has a huge impact on health. Indoor air quality and outdoor air quality play a role in the cause of asthma, COPD and TB

Bloomberg article discusses the future of cars and car cabin air purifiers, citing Mercedes Benz as the first car manufacturers to install CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly® car cabin filters. 

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention now recommends cloth face coverings when in public. These Wicked Sheets face masks are made from fabric that is CERTIFIED by the asthma & allergy friendly Certification Program which means they have been scientifically tested to provide an effective allergen barrier, tested for irritant chemicals and are ‘breathable’ for maximum user comfort.

NBC News describes the differences between air filters, air cleaners and air purifiers and the benefits of having one in your home. The Dyson air purifier recommended in the article is CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly®

LG announced their new washing machine featuring its most advanced TurboWash™ technologies yet and CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly®.

John McKeon, MD, CEO of Allergy Standards, talks to Well+Good about good indoor air quality and its importance as part of a healthy home. Two of the three best air purifiers chosen by the author are CERTIFIED by Allergy Standards.

How Can I Tell the Difference Between the Coronavirus, the Flu, a Cold or Seasonal Allergies?

As more and more countries are infected by coronavirus, we can learn from the experiences of others first affected, both from their successful actions and their failures. We can put measures and processes in place to help us stay safe. By learning from our mistakes we can set guidelines and protocols. One thing this health crisis has highlighted is the need and importance of such safety measures. In particular, standards, trusted labels and third party certification. 

Allergy Standards Limited(ASL) is pleased to announce that their Project Manager, Gildas Guionnet has become a National Participant of the European Committee for Electrical Standardization (CENELEC) and member of the TC 59X/WG 06 Committee for Surface cleaning appliances (Vacuum Cleaners), through the British Standards Institution (BSI).

A recent study published in the Canadian Medical Association Journal has shown an association between use of household cleaning products in the first few months of a child’s life and risk of childhood wheeze and asthma at age 3. Basically the study is saying that the more often we use cleaning products in our homes when our kids are small, the more likely our children will have a wheeze or asthma later

The global textile sector is enormous; in 2018 the value of the US textile sector was $78 billion and employed over 550,000 workers1. In 2017 China produced 79 billion metres of cloth2; that’s enough to go to the moon and back 100 times!

Textiles and clothes are a fundamental part of our everyday life however they also provide an excellent material for micro-organisms to grow on. Measures to prevent microbial growth on textiles and fabrics dates back to Egyptian times when mummy wraps were preserved using herbs and spices3.  Since then bamboo has been used in housing structures and design in China and in World War II a range of chemicals were used to impart antimicrobial activity to tents, tarpaulins and truck covers4. Prevention of microbial attack is essential for durability of the textile, in addition to potential use in prevention of transmission of disease.

Key takeaways from the 2019 World Allergy Congress in Lyon, France, attended by Allergy Standards’ Head of International Sales.

Air is one of the most fundamental requirements for life and air filters can be an excellent way to improve air quality, indoors and on the go.

A human could last up to 3-4 days without water and just 3-4 minutes without air, this is how important healthy air is to us.

Our warmer, tighter homes as well as the lack of circulation of fresh air from outdoors and VOCs off gassing in our modern homes can trigger asthma.

Great article featuring the best recommendations from Asthma Canada to clean the air in your home and reduce potential irritants.

The second of a two-part article on the development of an allergy and asthma management plan for the home, controlling of exposure to allergens through their removal or treatment.

With the continuous information provided to consumers about the allergen content of their food, why is it that we don’t receive similar information about the allergen content of non-food product?

ASL recently attended the IFAI Expo to learn about advanced techniques in textile testing, sourcing, and manufacturing.

From March 27 – March 30 the Certification & ASL Team went to New York to attend New York Home Fashions Market Spring 2017, meeting with clients, attending industry seminars and speaking with key retailers.

ASL’s Dr. John McKeon and Dr. John Ryan joined 8000 other delegates at the highly informative congress, the largest event of its kind in the world.

Government agency, Enterprise Ireland, responsible for the development of Irish businesses in world markets and Europe’s third largest venture capital entity by deal count, is currently invested in 1,300 start-up and mature businesses, 700 of which operate in North America.

Congressman Brendan Boyle, representing Pennsylvania’s 13th congressional district, has expressed that he will support the designation of May as “National Asthma and Allergy Awareness Month.”

Families had access to free samples from allergy-friendly businesses and learned all about the companies that offer certified asthma & allergy friendly™ products and services.

Congratulations to the winner of our National ‪Asthma and ‪‎Allergy Awareness Month Tips Contest, Saundra B. from Centuria, WI! Her prize is a Dyson Pure Cool Link™ purifier, which is Certified asthma & allergy friendly™.