LEED 2009 cites FloorScore Certification as indicator of indoor air quality

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has cited FloorScore® certified flooring products as eligible for credits under the new LEED 2009 Version 3 guidelines. Reflecting the inclusion of FloorScore, the new LEED IEQ Credit 4.3 for Low-Emitting Materials has been expanded from “Carpet Systems” to “Flooring Systems” to include hard surface flooring.

FloorScore, developed by Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) in collaboration with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), is a voluntary, independent certification program that tests vinyl, linoleum, laminate, wood, ceramic and rubber flooring and certifies that they meet the requirements of California Section 01350.  The major resilient flooring manufacturers that market products in North America certify their products under the FloorScore program. A list of FloorScore-certified products is available at www.rfci.com.

Several LEED systems specifically cite FloorScore as an indicator of indoor air quality, including New Construction (NC), Commercial Interiors (CI), Core and Shell (CS), Healthcare (HC), and LEED for Homes.  FloorScore also is included in important environmental rating systems such as the Green Building Initiative’s Green Globes, Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), Green Guide for Health Care and EPA’s Tools for Schools.

“We are pleased that the USGBC has officially expanded LEED Version 3 to include hard surface flooring and specifically has named FloorScore as an accepted certification program,” said Dean Thompson, RFCI president.  “The resilient flooring industry is continually working to reduce the environmental impact of its products, and RFCI is pleased to be involved with an independent third-party certification program that provides accountability and transparency.”   

For information on FloorScore, visit www.rfci.com.  Visit www.usgbc.org/LEED for information on LEED 2009 Version 3. 

More on FloorScore, SCS and RFCI
FloorScore is a voluntary, independent certification program that tests and certifies hard surface flooring and associated products for compliance with indoor air emissions criteria California Section 01350 (www.dhs.ca.gov/iaq). First adopted in California, these stringent indoor air quality criteria have become a national standard in the major U.S. environmental programs. FloorScore was developed by Scientific Certification Systems (www.scscertified.com) in collaboration with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (www.rfci.com) following several years of extensive testing. SCS is an internationally recognized third-party certifier that follows established and recognized guidelines to ensure objectivity. For over two decades, SCS has developed global standards and certification programs designed to encourage the highest levels of environmental improvement, social accountability and product performance. RFCI is a nonprofit industry trade association that represents manufacturers of more than 95% of all resilient flooring marketed throughout North America.  RFCI serves as a clearinghouse for information on the industry and helps educate specifiers and end-users about resilient flooring.