Brands lead the engineered hardwood flooring industry by earning prestigious distinction for indoor air quality
Dallas, January 29, 2009 – Mohawk, Columbia Flooring and Century Flooring have earned FloorScore certification, making the brands the first engineered hardwood flooring products in the marketplace to receive this coveted distinction for indoor air quality emissions. FloorScore tests in accordance with CA01350 developed by the California Department of Health Services and is recognized as one of the most stringent indoor air quality programs in the United States.
“Being the first in our industry to secure FloorScore certification is proof that our ongoing Mohawk GreenWorks’ deliberate focus to provide products that are both stylish and environmentally sound puts us at the top of our industry,” said Dewevai Buchanan, vice president of hardwood flooring for Unilin Flooring NC LLC, a Mohawk Industries company. Engineered hardwood for all three brands is manufactured by Mohawk Industries.
“FloorScore certification will give our consumers the peace of mind that when using engineered hardwood from Mohawk, Columbia Flooring and Century Flooring, there is no need to be concerned about exposure to harmful VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) typically associated with newly installed UF (urea formaldehyde) engineered hardwood flooring products,” Buchanan added. “FloorScore certification allows our retailers and distributors to objectively tell their customers that the flooring they are selling not only exceeds the most stringent formaldehyde emission standards currently in the world for composite wood products, but has also passed tests for 78 VOCs – not just formaldehyde.”
FloorScore, developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems, tests and certifies hard surface flooring and flooring adhesive products for compliance with rigorous indoor air quality emissions requirements. Individual VOCs are evaluated using health-based specifications. Flooring and adhesives that earn FloorScore certification earn a legitimately enhanced market position, distinguished by the FloorScore certification label. FloorScore certification also signifies for retailers, distributors and consumers that the Mohawk, Columbia Flooring and Century Flooring engineered hardwood meet criteria required by a variety of other well-respected organizations.
The U. S. Green Building Council (USGBC) accepts FloorScore-certified products as compliant with its LEED Green Building Rating Systems for residential and commercial “low emitting” materials. FloorScore certified products also meet the criteria for the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), a measureable standard set for educational facilities. Also, regarding healthcare facilities, products bearing the FloorScore label may honorably claim they meet criteria established for the Green Guide for Health Care.
“Our use of the patented *PureBond® formaldehyde-free engineered flooring technology has been key in securing both FloorScore certification and our other recent achievements of both CARB Phase 1 and 2 certifications,” said Buchanan. PureBond ® is a new innovation replacing urea formaldehyde traditionally used in hardwood plywood construction. (*PureBond® is a registered trademark of Columbia Forest Products, Inc., in the U. S. and other countries. Used under license.)
Recently, Mohawk, Columbia Flooring and Century Flooring all achieved Phase 2 certification for their engineered hardwood almost one year before the California Air Resources Board’s (CARB) January 1, 2010-mandated deadline for full compliance. This is further evidence that these three brands are leading the engineered hardwood industry by offering their customers flooring that meets strict emissions standards that many other brands do not meet.
About Mohawk
Mohawk is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of carpet, ceramic tile, laminate, hardwood, stone, vinyl, rugs, and other home products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which include Mohawk, Karastan, Ralph Lauren, Lees, Bigelow, Dal-Tile, American Olean, Unilin, and Quick-Step. Mohawk’s unique merchandising and marketing assist customers in creating the consumers’ dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations. For more information, visit www.mohawkind.com.
About Columbia Flooring
Columbia Flooring is a domestic manufacturer of solid and engineered hardwood and laminate flooring. Columbia Flooring’s product range is 100% U. S. made with wood harvested from local and regional forests and is sold through independent distributors. Columbia Flooring is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.columbiaflooring.com.
About Century Flooring
Century Flooring is a domestic manufacturer of solid and engineered hardwood flooring. Century Flooring’s product range is 100% U. S. made with wood harvested from local and regional forests and is sold through independent wood distributor specialists. Century Flooring is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.centuryflooring.com.
About the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI)
The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) is an industry trade association of North American manufacturers who produce resilient flooring products. Associate members of RFCI supply raw materials to the resilient flooring industry and manufacture installation and maintenance products. For more information, visit www.rfci.com.
About Scientific Certification Systems
Scientific Certification Systems, Inc. (SCS) is a reputable third-party certification and assessment body headquartered in Emeryville, California. SCS is committed to delivering professional services that encourage organizations in a variety of industry and service sectors to establish and maintain practices that support environmental, social and quality goals, and that can be continually improved upon. For more information, visit www.scscertified.com.
About the U. S. Green Building Council
The U. S. Green Building Council is a 501(c)(3) non-profit community of leaders working to make green buildings available to everyone within a generation. For more information, visit www.usgbc.org.
About California Air Resource Board (CARB)
The California Air Resource Board (CARB), a division of the California EPA, is responsible for improving air quality in California by establishing limits for air contaminants, such as formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. For more information, visit www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm or www.carbrule.org.
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For more information about FloorScore, visit www.scscertified.com/ecoproducts/indoorairquality/floorscore.html
Media Contact: Diana DuBois
diana@coopersmithagency.com, (214) 329-9191