Allergy Standards Ltd. (ASL) has announced that its asthma & allergy friendly certification standards for building materials have been approved by the U.S. Green Building 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 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,” says 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 also assesses allergen removal from flooring, particulate and dust release during insulation installation, 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 products. Dr. John McKeon, CEO of Allergy Standards, adds: “There is great alignment between ASL’s mission to make the right to breathe clean air a reality, 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 healthy indoor environments through certification, education, and science.”
