Healthier Flooring

Most flooring products (i.e. those that constitute finish flooring) have been on the market long enough to be proven for different applications and are available in a wide range of colors, patterns, and textures. One characteristic that has emerged to differentiate products and manufacturers from each other is related to the health impact of flooring products on people. Different types of flooring go through different manufacturing processes and may rely on the use of volatile organic compounds (VOCs). VOCs, both man-made and naturally occurring, are an expansive and ubiquitous class of chemicals that are transmitted through air. Some types of flooring have commonly contained high levels of the VOC formaldehyde, a carcinogen linked to cancer and respiratory problems.

A growing consumer awareness of indoor-related health issues in general, along with green building standards in particular, have brought a spotlight onto the effect that VOCs and other chemicals in flooring can have on the indoor air quality inside a building. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air quality is one of the its top environmental risks to public health. Residents of multifamily housing units are among the people who are both concerned and affected by this environmental health issue, particularly when those residents spend considerable portions of their days indoors. With an increased concern about the health effects that chemical leaching from building products may have on IAQ, the motivation exists for manufacturers to reduce or eliminate any emissions from the flooring products that they make. It is also the motivation to seek out those products that are successfully doing so.

When looking at products with VOC content, it is important to understand both the VOC (individual chemicals emitting) and the TVOC (total volatile organic compound) levels attached to the product. Certain individual chemicals may exist at acceptable levels in a product, but the combination of all of them expressed in the TVOC may be problematic. The latest version of the USGBC LEED rating system recognizes the importance of TVOCs by requiring a total disclosure of potentially harmful chemicals. It also looks at the TVOC in a space such that not only flooring, but walls, ceilings, and furniture VOCs should be added together to identify the total exposure a person has in a space. The USGBC identifies the very low level of 500 micrograms per cubic meter or less as the goal.

Separate from VOCs, vinyl flooring manufacturers have commonly added phthalates, specifically ortho-phthalates, to increase the flexibility, transparency, durability, and longevity of the flooring. Some recent studies have revealed that phthalates migrate out of flooring products and mix with dust, which may create asthma and allergy issues for inhabitants. Specifically, ortho-phthalates have been identified as endocrine disruptors that may cause asthma/allergies, change in baby boys. The good news is that at least some flooring manufacturers are now reducing or eliminating these potentially harmful chemicals from their products. Those are becoming the sought after products to specify.

One of the ways to know whether or not a flooring product is safe and appropriate for use in multifamily housing is to specify products that carry an independent certification for health-related concerns. One such certification focused on IAQ is the Asthma & Allergy Friendly™ Certification. This program independently tests and identifies products for likely exposure to allergenic and irritant materials and then determines whether they are compatible with people living with asthma and related allergies. Certification categories include paint, cleaning products, flooring systems, filters for HVAC systems, and others.

Another program that has been widely used specifically for flooring is the FloorScore^® Certification Program for Indoor Air Quality. This industry standard was developed together with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) to test and certify flooring and adhesive products for compliance with indoor air quality emission requirements. A FloorScore^® IAQ Certification means that a flooring product is independently certified by SCS to comply with identified volatile organic compound emissions criteria. Under this program, SCS 1) reviews all VOC emissions test reports for particular products generated by independent testing laboratories; 2) determines whether those test results meet the California Section 01350 requirements for listed VOCs; and 3) conducts periodic manufacturing plant inspections to review product formulas, processing, and quality control to ensure the continuing integrity of the FloorScore^® seal. To date, hundreds of different resilient flooring materials and their adhesives bear the FloorScore^® seal. Any such product that bears this seal is represented to have met the stringent IAQ standards and contribute to good indoor air quality.

Photos courtesy of MP Global Products

Flooring underlayment is available in a variety of material and product types that can improve acoustical performance of floors, help control moisture, and assure the long-term performance of finish flooring.

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has cited FloorScore^® certified flooring products as eligible for credits under LEED 2009 and LEED v4. Reflecting the inclusion of FloorScore, the LEED IEQ Credit 4.3 for Low-Emitting Materials has been expanded from “Carpet Systems” to “Flooring Systems” to include hard surface flooring. 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^® is also included in other 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.

When selecting flooring to round out the design and performance needs of a multifamily housing facility, it is possible to use a single-source manufacturer with multiple flooring options to help coordinate from room to room and throughout the entire property. At least one has a coordinated program that allows architects and designers to choose flooring to suit specific multifamily needs. Whether flooring is needed for dwelling spaces, common areas, support spaces, or others, it is possible to specify quality flooring that is also certified to be healthy and safe. Whether selecting for laundry rooms, fitness centers, bathrooms, hallways, or spaces in between, the choices include laminate, luxury vinyl tile, wall base, carpet tile, and others. This means that it is now entirely achievable to select coordinated flooring designs that help achieve a safe and healthy environment throughout a multifamily housing project. That is good for everyone—designers, owners and residents.

Photos courtesy of Tarkett

Flooring manufacturers who put people first create finish flooring products that reduce or eliminate chemicals and compounds that can impact indoor air quality and resident health.