GREENGUARD Launches Comprehensive Health-Based Certification Pilot Program

November 17, 2009

New GREENGUARD product certification pilot significantly expands chemical emissions and content criteria to curb human exposure to harmful chemicals from products used in multiple environments.

Atlanta,IL /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ --The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announces the launch of GREENGUARD Premier(SM), a comprehensive product certification pilot program incorporating existing stringent indoor air quality criteria, additional chemical emission requirements and new content requirements for critical chemicals. The new program will utilize exposure assessments that address primary uses of products in a home, office, healthcare or school environment.

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By combining key criteria for formaldehyde and other volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from established indoor air quality standards (such as California's section 01350 and GREENGUARD Children & Schools(SM) Certification) with additional guidelines on toxic substances from nationally established public health agencies, the new program will guide manufacturers in meeting today's holistic market needs. Key elements added to the new health-based standard will be additional guidelines for acute exposure (short term), assessment of reproductive and carcinogenic substances and control of critical pollutants including lead and phthalates. The new pilot program offers an integrated and stringent approach to controlling indoor sources of environmental pollutants.

"GREENGUARD Premier is raising the bar regarding health-based product evaluations," said Henning Bloech, GEI's Executive Director. "By broadening the criteria and evaluating products against use in the most critical environments, home owners and building professionals alike will be able to make product choices that best meet their requirements and improve indoor air quality."

GEI has called on manufacturers that are currently participating in the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified(R) or GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certified Certification Programs as pilot participants. Please visit the GREENGUARD Exhibit #924 at the Greenbuild Conference and Expo in Phoenix (Nov. 10-12) to learn more about GREENGUARD Premier and indoor air quality.

About the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI)
Founded in 2001, GEI is a third-party organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification Program(SM). The Institute's mission is to improve human health and quality of life through programs that improve indoor air. All GREENGUARD Certified products must meet stringent standards for low chemical emissions based on established health criteria from key public health agencies.

For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org. Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Henning Bloech

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SOURCE GREENGUARD Environmental Institute