Breathe easy when you install a new Allwood floor.
You can breathe easy when you install a new Allwood floor. Because now Allwood products are FloorScore® Certified to meet or exceed healthy indoor air quality standards.
We all spend a lot of time at home and indoors. And of course we also spend a lot of time breathing too. But were you aware how polluted the air inside our homes can be, or just how important the quality of the air you breathe is? Apart from the dust that collects on countertops, behind bookcases, and under the couch (that may get cleaned a few times a year), and the normal allergens like pollen and mold, the air inside is often also filled with things we don’t see or can’t smell which can be harmful to our health. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) get into the air from things like carpeting, vinyl flooring, paint, cleaning products and even from cosmetics. Many every day items discharge VOCs into the air we breathe through what’s called “off-gassing”. The chemicals they release are not good for us either; like benzene, ethylene glycol, formaldehyde and methylene chloride. They can cause everything from headaches, dizziness and nausea to even more serious health conditions. In other words, VOCs are no bueno.
Where VOCs Come From.
Flooring can be one of the largest contributors to unhealthy air in your home. Carpet and vinyl are two of the worst. They are absolutely chock full of stuff that can off-gas VOCs (like formaldehyde) into your home for many years after installation. Products that carry the FloorScore Certification, however, can actually contribute to improving the environmental quality of your home. To gain the FloorScore Certificate a product must pass very rigorous testing, and meet stringent criteria for heath-based, clean-air emissions standards set by the California EPA and California Department of Health.
Since most of us like being healthy, and generally love our pets and family members, keeping nasty stuff out of the air is pretty important to us. Improving indoor air quality takes knowing what products are safe. But how do we know which ones?
When it comes to flooring, what you want to look for is the FloorScore Certification.
Getting fresh air with hardwood floors.
Allwood cares about you and your family and the air we all breathe. That’s why we have begun making sure all of our products are safe to be in your home by having them FloorScore Certified.
So as you flip through the many styles and colors of real hardwood and bamboo floors Allwood has available, keep in mind how important the air in your home is and be sure to look for the FloorScore logo.
Then…breathe easy.
FloorScore FAQ
Now that you’re aware Allwood is well on its way to having all of its products FloorScore Certified, you may be wondering to yourself, “Yeah but, what the heck is FloorScore?”.
Fair point. I have not told you what FloorScore even is yet.
Below is a collection of FAQs about FloorScore to answer most (if not all) of your questions. If you still want more info after you have read these, you can find even more on their website at www.scsglobalservices.com/services/floorscore.
And, if you are just so excited about making the air in your home cleaner that you immediately want to buy an Allwood floor, you can call us at 503-255-7976. One of our helpful sales assistants will be happy to help you.
What is FloorScore Certified?
FloorScore is an independent, third-party certification program created by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute that tests and certifies hard surface flooring products, to determine whether or not they are in compliance with very strict indoor air quality emissions standards, as established by the California EPA and California Department of Health (California Section 101350 standard). This standard addresses chronic inhalation exposures of building occupants to toxic, airborne organic chemicals and applies to building products and furniture which are intended for long term use. The intent of the FloorScore certification is to provide consumers an easy way to identify products that meet or exceed these standards, and which should promote healthier, cleaner indoor air.
Leading causes of poor indoor air quality and harmful breathing environments are inadequate ventilation, poor cleaning and/or excessive emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from surfaces and finishes such as paints, other architectural coatings, sealants, adhesives, wall coverings, floor coverings, ceiling tiles, wall paneling, and furniture components and systems. Breathing air of poor quality increases risk of health problems such as headaches and dizziness.
To gain a FloorScore Certification, experts test hard a product to certify that they are in compliance with strict indoor air quality standards. Any product that meets these stringent standards is a product that will contribute to good indoor air quality. Essentially, the FloorScore certification means healthier, cleaner air in your home or where you work.
What is tested for?FloorScore tests for 35 individual Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) specified by the California Standard Method for VOC Emissions Testing and Evaluation (Standard Method V1.2), otherwise known as CA Section 01350.
Why is FloorScore Certification important?FloorScore products help customers create healthy indoor environments at home or at the office. FloorScore Uses Stringent Product VOC Testing and Emission Criteria developed by the California EPA and endorsed by the California Department of Public Health’s Standard Method for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions Testing and Evaluation. A FloorScore certification confirms a product meets the criteria for quality control procedures, material formulations and sourcing, and indoor air quality performance.
Are the testing and data analysis procedures open and transparent?The product testing practice was developed by the California Department of Public Health indoor air quality research staff with input from other environmental scientists. It is publicly available and follows the guidance of ASTM D5116 for small-scale chamber testing of products. It also details the procedures required to test product samples for their emissions of individual VOCs in environmental chambers to calculate VOC emission factors. The practice then specifies scenarios for typical school classrooms and offices that are used to estimate concentrations of the measured VOCs in buildings.
How are tests conducted and what parameters are measured in the laboratory?The testing practice uses a ten-day conditioning period followed by a 4-day test period at defined conditions. This 14-day exposure period provides emission data characteristic of a product appropriate for assessing the product’s potential indoor air quality impacts. The test measures chamber concentrations of individual VOCs appearing on California lists of chemical substances that have potential health effects due to long-term exposures. Abundant compounds also are identified and measured. Only those compounds that can be analyzed by the prescribed widely used VOC EPA and ASTM methods are included. Individual VOCs are analyzed using multi-point calibration curves prepared with pure compounds. Laboratories must operate under an audited quality system.
How is the laboratory data analyzed?Data analysis follows the guidance of ASTM D5116. The measured chamber VOC concentrations are used to calculate VOC emission factors. Proprietary models and those models making assumptions about emission decay profiles are avoided. The emission factors are then used to estimate VOC concentrations in school classrooms and offices due to emissions from the product. Standardized building scenarios are provided for these calculations so products can be evaluated on an equitable basis.
What is the basis of the VOC criteria used for product certification?The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has an active program to develop chronic toxicity guidelines for air pollutants. The program uses widely accepted procedures developed by the U.S. EPA and includes extensive peer review and public comment. Only toxicity data are used in the assessment. To date, the program has developed Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) for 78 chemical substances, a number of which can be analyzed by the specified methods and are potentially emitted by building products (www.oehha.ca.gov). The CRELs are concentrations that assume long-term exposures and include a number of conservative uncertainty factors. These guidelines provide a strong scientific basis for the FloorScore program. For a product to qualify for certification, its estimated VOC concentrations for classrooms and offices must not exceed one-half the CREL concentrations under the assumption that other products in a building also may be sources of the same compounds.
Are there special criteria for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde?The allowable limit for emissions of formaldehyde corresponds to an indoor air concentration not to exceed the full CREL of 9 µg m3. While the allowable limit for acetaldehyde is not to exceed 70µg/m3. Formaldehyde concentrations in outdoor urban areas is approximately 3 µg/m3.
Does the FloorScore program involve manufacturers’ supply chains in the process?SCS’s evaluation of a manufacturer’s quality control plan includes review of suppliers and supplier variability in the manufacturer’s supply chain. In addition, the manufacturer must maintain documented procedures to ensure that supplier materials conform to specified requirements. Since the FloorScore program focuses on individual VOCs of concern, the identification of chemical sources is strongly encouraged. Manufacturers can use this information to establish specifications for the materials they purchase. Use of input materials with appropriately low concentrations of the target VOCs should give manufacturers confidence that their final products will meet the certification criteria.
What environmental programs recognize FloorScore certified products?Over 20 programs recognize the FloorScore certified products including the USGBC’s LEED Rating Systems, BREEAM, Green Globes, ASHRAE/USGBC/EIS 189.9 Standard for High Performance Building Green Buildings, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), NAHB Green Building Standard and US EPA Tools for Schools.
What is the history and experience of the certifying body?SCS Global Services (SCS) has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for three decades. SCS is an internationally recognized third-party certifier that follows established and recognized guidelines to ensure its objectivity.
What is tested for?FloorScore tests for 35 individual Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) specified by the California Standard Method for VOC Emissions Testing and Evaluation (Standard Method V1.2), otherwise known as CA Section 01350.
What is FloorScore Certified?
FloorScore is an independent, third-party certification program created by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute that tests and certifies hard surface flooring products, to determine whether or not they are in compliance with very strict indoor air quality emissions standards, as established by the California EPA and California Department of Health (California Section 101350 standard). This standard addresses chronic inhalation exposures of building occupants to toxic, airborne organic chemicals and applies to building products and furniture which are intended for long term use. The intent of the FloorScore certification is to provide consumers an easy way to identify products that meet or exceed these standards, and which should promote healthier, cleaner indoor air.
Leading causes of poor indoor air quality and harmful breathing environments are inadequate ventilation, poor cleaning and/or excessive emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from surfaces and finishes such as paints, other architectural coatings, sealants, adhesives, wall coverings, floor coverings, ceiling tiles, wall paneling, and furniture components and systems. Breathing air of poor quality increases risk of health problems such as headaches and dizziness.
To gain a FloorScore Certification, experts test hard a product to certify that they are in compliance with strict indoor air quality standards. Any product that meets these stringent standards is a product that will contribute to good indoor air quality. Essentially, the FloorScore certification means healthier, cleaner air in your home or where you work.
What is tested for?
FloorScore tests for 35 individual Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) specified by the California Standard Method for VOC Emissions Testing and Evaluation (Standard Method V1.2), otherwise known as CA Section 01350.
Why is FloorScore Certification important?
FloorScore products help customers create healthy indoor environments at home or at the office. FloorScore Uses Stringent Product VOC Testing and Emission Criteria developed by the California EPA and endorsed by the California Department of Public Health’s Standard Method for Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Emissions Testing and Evaluation. A FloorScore certification confirms a product meets the criteria for quality control procedures, material formulations and sourcing, and indoor air quality performance.
Are the testing and data analysis procedures open and transparent?
The product testing practice was developed by the California Department of Public Health indoor air quality research staff with input from other environmental scientists. It is publicly available and follows the guidance of ASTM D5116 for small-scale chamber testing of products. It also details the procedures required to test product samples for their emissions of individual VOCs in environmental chambers to calculate VOC emission factors. The practice then specifies scenarios for typical school classrooms and offices that are used to estimate concentrations of the measured VOCs in buildings.
How are tests conducted and what parameters are measured in the laboratory?
The testing practice uses a ten-day conditioning period followed by a 4-day test period at defined conditions. This 14-day exposure period provides emission data characteristic of a product appropriate for assessing the product’s potential indoor air quality impacts. The test measures chamber concentrations of individual VOCs appearing on California lists of chemical substances that have potential health effects due to long-term exposures. Abundant compounds also are identified and measured. Only those compounds that can be analyzed by the prescribed widely used VOC EPA and ASTM methods are included. Individual VOCs are analyzed using multi-point calibration curves prepared with pure compounds. Laboratories must operate under an audited quality system.
How is the laboratory data analyzed?
Data analysis follows the guidance of ASTM D5116. The measured chamber VOC concentrations are used to calculate VOC emission factors. Proprietary models and those models making assumptions about emission decay profiles are avoided. The emission factors are then used to estimate VOC concentrations in school classrooms and offices due to emissions from the product. Standardized building scenarios are provided for these calculations so products can be evaluated on an equitable basis.
What is the basis of the VOC criteria used for product certification?
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has an active program to develop chronic toxicity guidelines for air pollutants. The program uses widely accepted procedures developed by the U.S. EPA and includes extensive peer review and public comment. Only toxicity data are used in the assessment. To date, the program has developed Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) for 78 chemical substances, a number of which can be analyzed by the specified methods and are potentially emitted by building products (www.oehha.ca.gov). The CRELs are concentrations that assume long-term exposures and include a number of conservative uncertainty factors. These guidelines provide a strong scientific basis for the FloorScore program. For a product to qualify for certification, its estimated VOC concentrations for classrooms and offices must not exceed one-half the CREL concentrations under the assumption that other products in a building also may be sources of the same compounds.
Are there special criteria for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde?
The allowable limit for emissions of formaldehyde corresponds to an indoor air concentration not to exceed the full CREL of 9 µg m3. While the allowable limit for acetaldehyde is not to exceed 70µg/m3. Formaldehyde concentrations in outdoor urban areas is approximately 3 µg/m3.
Does the FloorScore program involve manufacturers’ supply chains in the process?
SCS’s evaluation of a manufacturer’s quality control plan includes review of suppliers and supplier variability in the manufacturer’s supply chain. In addition, the manufacturer must maintain documented procedures to ensure that supplier materials conform to specified requirements. Since the FloorScore program focuses on individual VOCs of concern, the identification of chemical sources is strongly encouraged. Manufacturers can use this information to establish specifications for the materials they purchase. Use of input materials with appropriately low concentrations of the target VOCs should give manufacturers confidence that their final products will meet the certification criteria.
What environmental programs recognize FloorScore certified products?
Over 20 programs recognize the FloorScore certified products including the USGBC’s LEED Rating Systems, BREEAM, Green Globes, ASHRAE/USGBC/EIS 189.9 Standard for High Performance Building Green Buildings, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), NAHB Green Building Standard and US EPA Tools for Schools.
What is the history and experience of the certifying body?
SCS Global Services (SCS) has been providing global leadership in third-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for three decades. SCS is an internationally recognized third-party certifier that follows established and recognized guidelines to ensure its objectivity.
What is tested for?
FloorScore tests for 35 individual Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) specified by the California Standard Method for VOC Emissions Testing and Evaluation (Standard Method V1.2), otherwise known as CA Section 01350.
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