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

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.

Great to see the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program highlighted in The Washington Post. The author, Laura Daily, was tasked with finding out what is the best flooring for allergy sufferers and how consumers can really know what’s in the materials being used. 

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

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 Ltd develops new standard for Merino Wool

Dublin, Ireland. (August 31st, 2020) – Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) announced today the appointment of David McLeod as Senior Finance Business Partner. In his role as Senior Finance Business Partner, David will liaise with the Chief Financial Officer and with the leadership team to drive company performance. His role will include assisting in the expansion of ASL’s financial reporting system and working closely with ASL’s partners in USA and Canada to grow the asthma & allergy friendly® Certification Program

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.

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.

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

At the core of design thinking is the user, the consumer, the human combined with an approach that requires empathy and an open mind

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.

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. 

Allergy Standards Ltd launch the development of a new certification standard for Whole Home Air Cleaners, also known as In-Duct Air Cleaners, to help consumers improve the overall “health” of their home.

The challenge to an extent is not in having too many certification marks, but in identifying which certification marks you should trust and why.

Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards Ltd., joins Stephanie Benedetto and Samanta Cortes on location at TexWorld USA 2017 in New York.