What is Greenguard?
Greenguard Certification is recognized and accepted as an authoritative indoor air quality certification by sustainable building programs worldwide.
Originally, the Greenguard Environmental Institute (GEI) was created to fill a need in the commercial and residential building communities for an un-affiliated certification of products as healthful for the people occupying the buildings, and for meeting sustainable building goals. The GEI functions as an independent, non-profit that conducts scientific testing and offers tiered indoor air quality product certifications for product manufacturers and building developers. The Greenguard Environmental Institute was established by Air Quality Sciences, Inc in 2001, and acquired by UL Environment in 2011.
When console furniture achieves Greenguard certification, it meets strict chemical emissions limits for 10,000+ chemicals that have been shown to cause physical agitation and illness. Greenguard certifications indicate that a product is safe for indoor use and contributes to good indoor air quality.
Why does Indoor Air Quality Matter?
Studies by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and other researchers have found that VOCs (volatile organic compounds) are common in indoor environments. Our friends at Phifer add,
People spend about 90% of their time indoors, where air can be 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air. Products can release thousands of potentially harmful chemicals into the indoor environment. Once airborne, VOCs can easily be inhaled by building occupants. Poor indoor air quality can trigger a number of health problems, including asthma and allergy attacks, headaches and flu-like symptoms.
Agencies seeking to promote health and focus and reduce indoor-air associated illness benefit from a comprehensive approach to building design and maintenance. This includes allowing outside-air to circulate, maintaining a filtered HVAC system, maintaining a clean work place, and choosing console furniture products that are low and no-VOC emitters.
What is the Advantage of Gold Certification?
Products that have achieved Greenguard Gold Certification are scientifically proven to meet some of the world’s most rigorous third-party chemical emissions standards. Products receiving Gold Certification are acceptable for use in schools and healthcare facilities. If your console furniture is Greenguard Gold certified, you know you are getting consoles that are recognized for contributing to indoor air quality.
Gold products also meet the requirements for low-emitting materials as declared by BIFMA X7.1 and California Green Building Standards, Section 01350; both BIFMA and California Green Building Standards are commonly cited by organizations seeking to support sustainable building and healthful living.
Which Russ Bassett Products are Greenguard Gold?
All of them!
Check out Russ Bassett Greenguard Gold Certifications online: Flex Consoles, Define Consoles, Define Storage, Define Tables, Vector, Vertex, and Structure.
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