A09 - ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
A09-1 Definitions
A09-2 Leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) program
A09-3 Environmental choice program (ECP)
A09-4 Environmental claims
A09-5 Environmental requirements
A09-6 Indoor air quality requirements
A09-7 Recycling of floor covering materials
A09-8 Reuse of floor covering materials
A09-2 Leadership in energy and environmental design (LEED) program
A09-3 Environmental choice program (ECP)
A09-4 Environmental claims
A09-5 Environmental requirements
A09-6 Indoor air quality requirements
A09-7 Recycling of floor covering materials
A09-8 Reuse of floor covering materials
Preface:
This reference guide covers environmental issues in regard to flooring materials. Individuals using this guide should verify all requirements with authorities having jurisdiction relative to the particular project.
1 • DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are provided in order to understand some of the environmental issues pertaining to flooring discussed herein:
.01 Biocide: a chemical treatment applied to a carpet to prevent or inhibit microbial activity within the carpet. This does not include preservatives added to softeners, anti-static agents, or lubricants, etc.
.02 Biodegradable: Capable of decomposing rapidly by micro-organisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic). In accordance with OSHA biodegradable means that a minimum of 40% of the original sample has been decomposed to inert ingredients within twenty-eight (28) days. Note: Refer to environmental claims below.
.03 Environment: refers to natural and human surroundings. A flooring material manufacturer's environment extends from within the organization itself to the global system, and includes air, water, land, flora, fauna, as well as human beings.
.04 Environmental Aspect: This is a feature or characteristic of an activity, product, or service that affects or can affect the environment.
.05 Environmental Impact: This is an activity, product, or service that changes the environment. Such change can be positive or negative.
.06 Formaldehyde: A gas used widely in production of adhesives, plastics, preservatives, and fabric treatments and commonly emitted by indoor materials that are made with its compounds. It is highly irritating if inhaled and is now listed as a probable human carcinogen.
.07 Health Hazard: a substance for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur when an individual is exposed to it.
.08 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): the quality of air (and environment) within a building. ASRAE defines IAQ as air which has no known contaminates at harmful concentrations as determined by knowledgeable authorities and with which a substantial majority (80 percent or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction. Good indoor air quality includes (1) introduction and distribution of adequate ventilation air; (2) control of airborne contaminants; and (3) maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity.
.09 LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A voluntary, consensus-based program in both the USA and Canada for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings based on a whole building perspective.
.10 Life-cycle: The consecutive, interlinked stages of a product, beginning with the acquisition and manufacturing of raw materials, and continuing with its fabrication into products and use in construction, and concluding with a variety of recovery, recycling, or waste management options.
.11 Life-cycle cost (LCC) of material: The costs accruing throughout the service life of a material. Life-cycle costs address the capital costs involved in production, maintenance, and disposal, and can also include other environmentally related capital costs and societal costs.
.12 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): written or printed material concerning the composition and handling and storage requirements for a product. This includes information on airborne contaminants, precautions, steps for inspection, health effects, odor description, volatility, expected contaminants from combustion, reactivity, and procedures for cleanup.
.13 Off-gassing: This is a process where volatile organic compounds / odours are gradually emitted (off-gassed) initially and/or over the life of a natural or synthetic product.
.14 Post-consumer recycled content: This refers to material that has been used by consumers, such as used newspaper, and has been diverted or separated from waste management systems for recycling.
.15 Post-industrial recycled content: This is waste that is produced during the manufacturing process that is recycled back into the industrial process. In many cases the flooring industry is already recycling this material back into the process and thus post industrial recycled content is not as significant as post consumer.
.16 Pre-consumer recycled material: A material that is removed from source gathering or production processes (such as scrap, breakage, or returned inventory) and returned to the original manufacturing process or an alternative process. Pre-consumer recycled materials have not yet reached a consumer for the intended use.
.17 Recyclability: The ability of a material to be recycled. Note: Refer to environmental claims below.
.18 Recycled content: The amount of recycled material defined as a percentage of the total weight by volume. Note: Refer to environmental claims below.
.19 Recycled material: This is material that would otherwise be destined for disposal but is diverted or separated from the waste stream, reintroduced as material feed-stock, and processed into marketed end-products.
.20 Remanufacturing: Industrial process in which worn-out products are restored to "like-new" condition.
.21 Renewable: A renewable product can be grown or naturally replenished or cleansed at a rate that exceeds human depletion of the resource.
.22 Sustainable: The condition of being able to meet the needs of present generations without compromising those needs for future generations. Achieving a balance among extraction and renewal and environmental inputs and outputs, as to cause no overall net environmental burden or deficit. To be truly sustainable, a human community must not decrease biodiversity, must not consume resources faster than they are renewed, must recycle and reuse virtually all materials, and must rely primarily on resources of its own region.
.23 Toxic: The extent, quality, or degree of being poisonous or harmful to humans or other living organisms.
.24 TVOC: Total Volatile Organic Compounds (typically in milligram per cubic metre) collected in air.
.25 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): Organic substances capable of entering a gaseous state from a liquid or solid form which participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. Some organic compounds are excluded as having negligible photochemical reactivity. VOCs in indoor air refer to any volatile carbon containing compounds, excluding carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) that may or may not participate in photochemical reactions.
This reference guide covers environmental issues in regard to flooring materials. Individuals using this guide should verify all requirements with authorities having jurisdiction relative to the particular project.
1 • DEFINITIONS
The following definitions are provided in order to understand some of the environmental issues pertaining to flooring discussed herein:
.01 Biocide: a chemical treatment applied to a carpet to prevent or inhibit microbial activity within the carpet. This does not include preservatives added to softeners, anti-static agents, or lubricants, etc.
.02 Biodegradable: Capable of decomposing rapidly by micro-organisms under natural conditions (aerobic and/or anaerobic). In accordance with OSHA biodegradable means that a minimum of 40% of the original sample has been decomposed to inert ingredients within twenty-eight (28) days. Note: Refer to environmental claims below.
.03 Environment: refers to natural and human surroundings. A flooring material manufacturer's environment extends from within the organization itself to the global system, and includes air, water, land, flora, fauna, as well as human beings.
.04 Environmental Aspect: This is a feature or characteristic of an activity, product, or service that affects or can affect the environment.
.05 Environmental Impact: This is an activity, product, or service that changes the environment. Such change can be positive or negative.
.06 Formaldehyde: A gas used widely in production of adhesives, plastics, preservatives, and fabric treatments and commonly emitted by indoor materials that are made with its compounds. It is highly irritating if inhaled and is now listed as a probable human carcinogen.
.07 Health Hazard: a substance for which there is statistically significant evidence based on at least one study conducted in accordance with established scientific principles that acute or chronic health effects may occur when an individual is exposed to it.
.08 Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): the quality of air (and environment) within a building. ASRAE defines IAQ as air which has no known contaminates at harmful concentrations as determined by knowledgeable authorities and with which a substantial majority (80 percent or more) of the people exposed do not express dissatisfaction. Good indoor air quality includes (1) introduction and distribution of adequate ventilation air; (2) control of airborne contaminants; and (3) maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity.
.09 LEED: Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design. A voluntary, consensus-based program in both the USA and Canada for developing high-performance, sustainable buildings based on a whole building perspective.
.10 Life-cycle: The consecutive, interlinked stages of a product, beginning with the acquisition and manufacturing of raw materials, and continuing with its fabrication into products and use in construction, and concluding with a variety of recovery, recycling, or waste management options.
.11 Life-cycle cost (LCC) of material: The costs accruing throughout the service life of a material. Life-cycle costs address the capital costs involved in production, maintenance, and disposal, and can also include other environmentally related capital costs and societal costs.
.12 Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS): written or printed material concerning the composition and handling and storage requirements for a product. This includes information on airborne contaminants, precautions, steps for inspection, health effects, odor description, volatility, expected contaminants from combustion, reactivity, and procedures for cleanup.
.13 Off-gassing: This is a process where volatile organic compounds / odours are gradually emitted (off-gassed) initially and/or over the life of a natural or synthetic product.
.14 Post-consumer recycled content: This refers to material that has been used by consumers, such as used newspaper, and has been diverted or separated from waste management systems for recycling.
.15 Post-industrial recycled content: This is waste that is produced during the manufacturing process that is recycled back into the industrial process. In many cases the flooring industry is already recycling this material back into the process and thus post industrial recycled content is not as significant as post consumer.
.16 Pre-consumer recycled material: A material that is removed from source gathering or production processes (such as scrap, breakage, or returned inventory) and returned to the original manufacturing process or an alternative process. Pre-consumer recycled materials have not yet reached a consumer for the intended use.
.17 Recyclability: The ability of a material to be recycled. Note: Refer to environmental claims below.
.18 Recycled content: The amount of recycled material defined as a percentage of the total weight by volume. Note: Refer to environmental claims below.
.19 Recycled material: This is material that would otherwise be destined for disposal but is diverted or separated from the waste stream, reintroduced as material feed-stock, and processed into marketed end-products.
.20 Remanufacturing: Industrial process in which worn-out products are restored to "like-new" condition.
.21 Renewable: A renewable product can be grown or naturally replenished or cleansed at a rate that exceeds human depletion of the resource.
.22 Sustainable: The condition of being able to meet the needs of present generations without compromising those needs for future generations. Achieving a balance among extraction and renewal and environmental inputs and outputs, as to cause no overall net environmental burden or deficit. To be truly sustainable, a human community must not decrease biodiversity, must not consume resources faster than they are renewed, must recycle and reuse virtually all materials, and must rely primarily on resources of its own region.
.23 Toxic: The extent, quality, or degree of being poisonous or harmful to humans or other living organisms.
.24 TVOC: Total Volatile Organic Compounds (typically in milligram per cubic metre) collected in air.
.25 Volatile Organic Compound (VOC): Organic substances capable of entering a gaseous state from a liquid or solid form which participate in atmospheric photochemical reactions. Some organic compounds are excluded as having negligible photochemical reactivity. VOCs in indoor air refer to any volatile carbon containing compounds, excluding carbon dioxide (CO2) and carbon monoxide (CO) that may or may not participate in photochemical reactions.
2 • LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) PROGRAM
.01 The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program incorporates design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:
.02 Points are awarded in each category based on achievement beyond the minimum requirements. Based on the number of points earned, a project may be rated Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, or may not be rated. A building may achieve LEED rating the day it opens.
Note that LEED, at the moment, is only concerned with design and construction issues and not occupant behaviour, long-term durability, or life cycle costing.
.03 What are the benefits and results of LEED? Sustainable building design provides environmental and economic benefits. It also protects the health and well being of the occupants of a building. Studies have shown that sustainable design actually improves productivity. LEED addresses climate change directly, by rewarding and encouraging energy efficiency. It also addresses climate change indirectly, by encouraging material choices and construction practices that minimize consumption of resources and energy.
.04 Where the LEED program is a requirement of the floor covering project, the design authority may consider and incorporate the following items within the project specification:
.05 Where the LEED program is a requirement of the project, the floor covering contractor will be required to provide information to the General Contractor as requested by the design authority in the project specifications. This information will be required to qualify for LEED points and will be validated by a neutral third party. The information required may include the following items:
.06 In addition, the flooring contractor may also have to either prepare its own spread sheet or fill-in one provided by the design authority indicating such items as:
.07 For a comprehensive view of LEED requirements refer to the appropriate local (provincial) authorities having jurisdiction or the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) website at www.cagbc.org.
Further Notes and Food for Thought – Chasing LEED points
At the present time LEED requirements do not consider product durability or life-cycle costing. This may be a concern when using products containing recycled materials such as those used in some carpet fibre or deleting products containing biological inhibitors such as anti-microbial treatments which are particularly important in carpet used in health care facilities. In addition LEED does not consider the detrimental impact on the environment of materials used in the cleaning and maintenance of flooring such as cleaners, strippers, and waxes required for some types of flooring. The selection of flooring products that do not consider durability or maintenance, or the exclusion of flooring materials (such as vinyl flooring) that are not considered "green" needs to be reconsidered if saving the environment is a concern. It is up to the design authority and Owner to carefully weight all these considerations when selecting any flooring product.
Vinyl Flooring (December 2004)
A new draft report from the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) PVC Task Group finds that the environmental and health impacts of vinyl used in building products are comparable to those of competing materials. The Task Group studied vinyl and some of the principal competing building product materials for nearly two years and recommended against a credit for excluding vinyl in the LEED rating system, stating that "the available evidence does not support a conclusion that PVC is consistently worse than alternative materials on a life cycle environmental and health basis."The report is available at USGBC's web site for the Task Group review, http://www.usgbc.org /Docs/LEED_tsac/USGBC_TSAC_PVC_Draft_Report
.01 The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) program incorporates design and construction practices that significantly reduce or eliminate the negative impact of buildings on the environment and occupants in five broad areas:
- sustainable site planning.
- safe guarding water and water efficiency.
- energy efficiency and renewable energy.
- conservation of materials and natural resources.
- indoor environmental quality.
.02 Points are awarded in each category based on achievement beyond the minimum requirements. Based on the number of points earned, a project may be rated Platinum, Gold, Silver, Bronze, or may not be rated. A building may achieve LEED rating the day it opens.
Note that LEED, at the moment, is only concerned with design and construction issues and not occupant behaviour, long-term durability, or life cycle costing.
.03 What are the benefits and results of LEED? Sustainable building design provides environmental and economic benefits. It also protects the health and well being of the occupants of a building. Studies have shown that sustainable design actually improves productivity. LEED addresses climate change directly, by rewarding and encouraging energy efficiency. It also addresses climate change indirectly, by encouraging material choices and construction practices that minimize consumption of resources and energy.
.04 Where the LEED program is a requirement of the floor covering project, the design authority may consider and incorporate the following items within the project specification:
- The selection of products whose material extraction and/or manufacturing process have minimal impact on the environment.
- The selection of floor covering products based on the use or incorporation of "natural" materials, such as linoleum, bamboo, cork, etc. or products containing a percentage of recycled material. In carpet, for example, this may include recycled material in the carpet fibre or backing or use of a carpet cushion that contains recycled or natural products.
- The selection of floor covering materials that can be recycled or reclaimed, such as wood flooring, that can be removed, cleaned, and replaced, such as carpet tile, or that are made from rapidly renewable fibre, such as bamboo and sisal, may also be considered.
- The selection of installation materials, such as adhesives, sealers, etc., that are low odour and low or zero VOC emitting. The maximum level of VOCs in regard to LEED flooring requirements is governed by the "South Coast Rule #1168" which includes adhesives used in the installation of underlayments, resilient, carpet, cushion, hardwood, and laminate flooring, bases and related accessories.
- The selection of materials that either do not off-gas or that have minimal off-gassing over time. The pre-conditioning of products to limit product off -gassing as well as to reduce their VOC emissions, particularly in heated environments which may have an impact on occupancy requirements must be incorporated. This requirement includes limits of 4-phenylclyclohexene, formaldehyde, styrene, and 2-ethyl-1-hexanol emissions. As an assistance to those selecting carpets both the Canadian Carpet Institute and the Carpet and Rug Institute Green Label Testing Programs test and list carpets in regard to these emissions and their impact on indoor air quality.
- The selection of products that are manufactured within close proximity to the project site to limit the impact of transportation costs and impact on the environment.
.05 Where the LEED program is a requirement of the project, the floor covering contractor will be required to provide information to the General Contractor as requested by the design authority in the project specifications. This information will be required to qualify for LEED points and will be validated by a neutral third party. The information required may include the following items:
- Drawings indicating storage and collection areas of recyclable products and materials.
- A construction waste management plan and procedures.
- MSDS data sheets for all floor covering products and materials used, including adhesives, underlayments, etc. This may also require additional testing data from the product manufacturer to substantiate LEED requirements.
.06 In addition, the flooring contractor may also have to either prepare its own spread sheet or fill-in one provided by the design authority indicating such items as:
- All materials used on site high-lighting percentage of salvaged and refurbished materials used, as well as manufacturer's literature and test data indicating same.
- The amount of locally and/or regionally manufactured materials used, as well as manufacturer's literature and plant location substantiating same.
- The amount of locally and/or regionally harvested / extracted / recovered materials used, as well as manufacturer's literature and data substantiating same.
- The amount of rapidly renewable materials or products containing same used, as well as manufacturer's literature and data substantiating same.
- The amount of "certified wood" products used, as well as manufacturer's literature and data substantiating same.
.07 For a comprehensive view of LEED requirements refer to the appropriate local (provincial) authorities having jurisdiction or the Canada Green Building Council (CaGBC) website at www.cagbc.org.
Further Notes and Food for Thought – Chasing LEED points
At the present time LEED requirements do not consider product durability or life-cycle costing. This may be a concern when using products containing recycled materials such as those used in some carpet fibre or deleting products containing biological inhibitors such as anti-microbial treatments which are particularly important in carpet used in health care facilities. In addition LEED does not consider the detrimental impact on the environment of materials used in the cleaning and maintenance of flooring such as cleaners, strippers, and waxes required for some types of flooring. The selection of flooring products that do not consider durability or maintenance, or the exclusion of flooring materials (such as vinyl flooring) that are not considered "green" needs to be reconsidered if saving the environment is a concern. It is up to the design authority and Owner to carefully weight all these considerations when selecting any flooring product.
Vinyl Flooring (December 2004)
A new draft report from the U.S. Green Building Council's (USGBC) PVC Task Group finds that the environmental and health impacts of vinyl used in building products are comparable to those of competing materials. The Task Group studied vinyl and some of the principal competing building product materials for nearly two years and recommended against a credit for excluding vinyl in the LEED rating system, stating that "the available evidence does not support a conclusion that PVC is consistently worse than alternative materials on a life cycle environmental and health basis."The report is available at USGBC's web site for the Task Group review, http://www.usgbc.org /Docs/LEED_tsac/USGBC_TSAC_PVC_Draft_Report
3 • ENVIRONMENTAL CHOICE PROGRAM (ECP)
.01 The Environmental Choice Program of Environment Canada is designed to support a continuing effort to improve and/or maintain environmental quality by reducing energy and materials consumption and by minimizing the impacts of pollution generated by the production, use, and disposal of goods and services available to Canadians.
.02 The Environmental Choice Program has established national certification criteria for "Flooring Products" based on requirements that will produce an environmental benefit through a longer product life, a reduction in wastes and toxic emissions to the environment, the use of more renewable and/or sustainability managed materials, and the potential for greater material re-use and recycling.
.03 Flooring products may contain a variety of substances that are toxic or have other potential environmental impacts. These substances may include, amongst other things, volatile organic compounds, styrene butadiene latex (SBL), 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PC) and formaldehyde. The conventional production processes for these products uses significant amounts of energy, water, heavy metals, and other resources. The final product is generally considered to have an excessively high "embodied energy". Additionally, flooring products may be manufactured from slower growing tree species that may not have been managed in a sustainable manner.
.01 The Environmental Choice Program of Environment Canada is designed to support a continuing effort to improve and/or maintain environmental quality by reducing energy and materials consumption and by minimizing the impacts of pollution generated by the production, use, and disposal of goods and services available to Canadians.
.02 The Environmental Choice Program has established national certification criteria for "Flooring Products" based on requirements that will produce an environmental benefit through a longer product life, a reduction in wastes and toxic emissions to the environment, the use of more renewable and/or sustainability managed materials, and the potential for greater material re-use and recycling.
.03 Flooring products may contain a variety of substances that are toxic or have other potential environmental impacts. These substances may include, amongst other things, volatile organic compounds, styrene butadiene latex (SBL), 4-phenylcyclohexene (4-PC) and formaldehyde. The conventional production processes for these products uses significant amounts of energy, water, heavy metals, and other resources. The final product is generally considered to have an excessively high "embodied energy". Additionally, flooring products may be manufactured from slower growing tree species that may not have been managed in a sustainable manner.
4 • ENVIRONMENTAL CLAIMS
.01 Discerning the accuracy of manufacturers claims about their "green" or environmentally friendly products is sometimes difficult. Some of these "greenwash" claims are misleading or inaccurate. It is important therefore that any claims made must be clearly understood and be capable of being substantiated. Any disclaimers must also be equally clear. Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). The following points are important to note:
.01 Discerning the accuracy of manufacturers claims about their "green" or environmentally friendly products is sometimes difficult. Some of these "greenwash" claims are misleading or inaccurate. It is important therefore that any claims made must be clearly understood and be capable of being substantiated. Any disclaimers must also be equally clear. Caveat Emptor (Buyer Beware). The following points are important to note:
- Biodegradable: For a claim of biodegradability to be valid, it should be substantiated by competent and reliable scientific evidence that the entire product will completely break down and return to nature, i.e., decompose into elements found in nature, within a reasonably short period of time after disposal. If the product is placed in a landfill and the product requires sunlight to degrade (photodegradable), then any claim of biodegradability will be invalid unless there is a means of spreading the product out and exposing it to sunlight for the required time.
- Recycled Content: For a claim of recycled content to be valid, any claim about pre-consumer or post-consumer content must be clearly substantiated.
- If the entire material cannot be totally recycled those portions that can be must be clearly defined (typically as a percentage by weight). Any claim of recycled content that is not qualified is deceptive and/or invalid.
- Recyclability: For a claim of recyclability to be valid, a flooring product or material must be capable of being collected, separated, or otherwise recovered from the solid waste stream for reuse, or in the manufacture or assembly of another product through an established recycling program that is currently available and operational. Any claim based on future expectation of technology, equipment, processes, or availability of the material as "feed stock" is invalid.
- In addition, if a product is manufactured in layers that must be separated from each other for recycling there must be an operational capability to do so otherwise any claim of recycling is invalid.
By-products in the manufacturing of a product which are normally reused in the original manufacturing process and that would normally not enter the waste stream do not constitute either post-consumer or pre-consumer recycling. This also includes spills or scraps unless these normally enter the waste stream.- In the United States, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has established a set of Environmental Marketing Guides that can be used as a basis for evaluating environmental marketing claims. These guides cover six specific areas:
- Basis of claims.
- Environmentally friendly Claims.
- Degradable / Biodegradable / Photodegradable.
- Recyclability.
- Recycled Content.
- Clarity of Claims, Qualifiers and Disclaimers.
5 • ENVIRONMENTAL REQUIREMENTS
.01 Not withstanding ECP and LEED requirements, it is recommended that every effort be made to be environmentally responsible. At the job site this will entail adherence to the following:
.02 Where floor covering manufacturers provide a reclamation program for existing floor covering materials removed during alteration / demolition procedures or for scrap and waste floor covering materials from new installations, every effort should be made to participate in the reclamation program, however ...
Reclamation of Flooring
Although some manufacturer's might offer a reclamation program for their flooring materials the design authority must ensure if it is available locally and at what cost. Shipping the materials to the manufacturer's reclamation plant might be prohibitively expensive with the result that such materials end up in the landfill because it is less expensive. Where reclamation of flooring is a requirement and is achievable, the specifying authority must ensure that this is noted in the specification and that costs for this are included.
.03 Where a jurisdiction provides a recycling program, every effort shall be made to participate in the recycling program.
.01 Not withstanding ECP and LEED requirements, it is recommended that every effort be made to be environmentally responsible. At the job site this will entail adherence to the following:
- being energy efficient and using methods to reduce energy consumption.
- use of recycled, toxic-free products and compatible equipment and procedures.
- use of methods to protect and prevent pollution and damage to the environment during installation (and removal / demolition) of floor covering materials.
- using methods to effect the maximum reduction of solid wastes. This entails provision of adequate space on site for the sorting and storage of waste materials.
- using environmentally safe methods to dispose of waste materials such as fillers, primers, adhesives, flooring material scraps, etc.
.02 Where floor covering manufacturers provide a reclamation program for existing floor covering materials removed during alteration / demolition procedures or for scrap and waste floor covering materials from new installations, every effort should be made to participate in the reclamation program, however ...
Reclamation of Flooring
Although some manufacturer's might offer a reclamation program for their flooring materials the design authority must ensure if it is available locally and at what cost. Shipping the materials to the manufacturer's reclamation plant might be prohibitively expensive with the result that such materials end up in the landfill because it is less expensive. Where reclamation of flooring is a requirement and is achievable, the specifying authority must ensure that this is noted in the specification and that costs for this are included.
.03 Where a jurisdiction provides a recycling program, every effort shall be made to participate in the recycling program.
6 • INDOOR AIR QUALITY REQUIREMENTS
.01 Indoor air quality is dependent on good building design, implementation of effective building systems, operations, and maintenance programs, and the appropriate selection of low VOC and odour emitting interior products.
.02 In addition to the initial selection of low odour and low VOC emitting interior floor covering and related materials and other interior products, indoor air quality is also dependent on the design and installation of an effective mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (including an appropriate maintenance program) to provide appropriate fresh, filtered, and appropriately tempered air and to maintain a dust and fume free environment within a building.
.03 In the interest of minimizing the impact of new floor covering installations on indoor air quality, the use of tested and labelled products such as adhesives, and floor covering materials must be considered.
.04 To alleviate poor air quality conditions during the removal of existing floor covering materials or the installation of new flooring materials, the following procedures should be considered:
.01 Indoor air quality is dependent on good building design, implementation of effective building systems, operations, and maintenance programs, and the appropriate selection of low VOC and odour emitting interior products.
.02 In addition to the initial selection of low odour and low VOC emitting interior floor covering and related materials and other interior products, indoor air quality is also dependent on the design and installation of an effective mechanical heating, ventilation and air conditioning system (including an appropriate maintenance program) to provide appropriate fresh, filtered, and appropriately tempered air and to maintain a dust and fume free environment within a building.
.03 In the interest of minimizing the impact of new floor covering installations on indoor air quality, the use of tested and labelled products such as adhesives, and floor covering materials must be considered.
.04 To alleviate poor air quality conditions during the removal of existing floor covering materials or the installation of new flooring materials, the following procedures should be considered:
- Where existing floor covering materials are to be removed, especially carpet, such materials should be vacuumed before removal to minimize the amount of dust particles that may be generated during removal.
- Where there is a potential of excessive dust generation during the removal of existing floor covering materials, means should be taken to seal off the area with dust proof enclosures and to seal off heating and ventilation duct systems.
- The existing substrate surfaces should be vacuumed immediately after the existing floor covering materials, especially carpet and cushion, have been removed.
- To remove fumes resulting from the use of strippers, cleaners, grinding dust, adhesives, off-gassing fumes, etc., doors and windows should be kept open if possible (considering weather and security issues) to provide ventilation and an adequate supply of fresh air. The use of window fans, exhaust fans, room air conditioning units, or other means for fresh air ventilation should also be considered where the fumes are excessive or will transpire over a period of time. If available, the existing or new ventilation system should be run continuously at a normal room temperature for 48 to 72 hours after the installation of flooring materials.
- If the flooring material is to be glued to the substrate, low-odour / low VOC emitting primers (where required) and floor covering adhesives should be used. This is a LEED requirement and may also be a requirement of the Owner, the specifying authority, or authorities having jurisdiction particularly if the area is already occupied (as in a renovation or re-carpeting of an existing space). Such materials should display appropriate labels identifying such requirements.
- Where the likelihood occurs that occupants within the work area may be unusually sensitive to dust, odours, or other noxious fumes generated by floor covering work, prior notice should be given / posted so that these same individuals could avoid the area or leave the premises while such work is being performed.
- Floor covering materials shall be acclimatized at the place of work in a well-ventilated area for a day or so before installation. This is particularly important where the floor covering material may off-gas fumes such as new carpet or cushion.
7 • RECYCLING OF FLOOR COVERING MATERIALS
.01 There are several major methods of recycling flooring materials:
.01 There are several major methods of recycling flooring materials:
- Mechanical: This process involves mechanically separating, breaking up, or reducing flooring materials into a useable form. Some carpet fibres for example can be separated from their backing material and the fibres used in the manufacturing of new carpet, carpet backing, or carpet cushion. Similarly some vinyl flooring may also be chipped up and reused in the manufacturing of new vinyl flooring. Some wood and laminate flooring may also be chipped up for other uses. Mechanically reduced materials and/or leftover material from these processes may also be processed into products such as parking barriers, geotextiles, lumber alternatives, fibreboard, sod reinforcement, carpet tack strip or automobile parts, among other products.
- Fiberizing: This is a mechanical harvesting process that shears off carpet fibre which can then be converted into carpet cushion for use in new carpet installations.
- Chemical: This process involves chemically breaking down flooring materials (e.g. nylon from carpet, vinyl from flooring, etc.) so that the material can be reprocessed into new flooring materials such as carpet fibre. In regard to carpet, only certain kinds of virgin nylon compounds can be converted into new fibres. Verify with flooring manufacturers / suppliers to see if their particular floor covering can be recycled and in particular what brand and style is eligible.
- Waste to Energy: Some floor covering materials that cannot be converted into new materials can be converted into fuel pellets and in some cases used in the manufacturing process to generate heat / power used in the manufacturing of new flooring.
8 • REUSE OF FLOOR COVERING MATERIALS
.01 Some flooring materials, notably hardwood flooring, can be salvaged, re-planed / sanded and used in new installations.
.02 Some carpet, notably stretch-in carpet that is not appreciably worn, could also be salvaged, cleaned and trimmed and be used in new installations.
.01 Some flooring materials, notably hardwood flooring, can be salvaged, re-planed / sanded and used in new installations.
.02 Some carpet, notably stretch-in carpet that is not appreciably worn, could also be salvaged, cleaned and trimmed and be used in new installations.