Steelcase Products Awarded Indoor Advantage(TM) Certifications for Low
Emissions
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Steelcase Inc.
(NYSE: SCS), a global office environments manufacturer, today announced
that over 20 of its product lines have received Indoor Advantage(TM)
certifications from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent
third-party certifier. The Indoor Advantage certification program confirms
adherence to specific indoor air quality emission requirements and
recognizes companies that excel in this environmental initiative.
The Indoor Advantage certification program is applicable to any
non-flooring product generally used within an enclosed indoor environment
including wall coverings, systems furniture, casegoods, and insulation.
Indoor Advantage offers two different certifications -- Indoor Advantage
and Indoor Advantage Gold. Indoor Advantage demonstrates conformance with
the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association (BIFMA)
and U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental
Design (LEED) criterion. In addition to BIFMA and LEED, Indoor Advantage
Gold also demonstrates conformance to California 01350 criterion.
California 01350 is a special environmental standard specification
developed by the state of California to cover key environmental performance
issues related to the selection and handling of building materials.
The SCS Indoor Advantage Certification program offers a highly
transparent and independent indoor air quality testing and certification
method. It follows strict auditing protocols, accepts data only from
pre-qualified laboratories, and has a proven track record in verifying
manufacturer's environmental claims.
Steelcase's wood seating line received high marks in regard to low
volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, garnering 14 Indoor Advantage
certifications for product lines including Alcove(R), Alerion(R),
Collaboration(R), Company(R), Deck(R), England(R), Escapade(R), Gentry Side
Chair(R), Mansfield Side Chair(R), Mingle(R), Oriana(R), Snodgrass-Wood(R),
Terazzo(R) and Topaz(R). Pathways(R) Privacy Wall and five Steelcase
Systems including Answer(R), Avenir(R), Currency(R), Kick(R) and
Pathways(R) Technology Wall also received Indoor Advantage certification.
Achieving an additional level of conformance is the Steelcase Think(R)
chair, as well as its Answer(R) and Pathways(R) Technology Wall system,
which received Indoor Advantage Gold certification.
The Indoor Advantage programs require a series of steps to achieve
certification. SCS worked closely with Steelcase throughout the process to
identify appropriate product samples for testing, reviewed VOC emission
test reports, determined if the test data conformed to LEED, BIFMA and/or
California 1350 criteria, and evaluated Steelcase's documented control
system. In addition, SCS will periodically inspect Steelcase's
manufacturing plants to review product formulas, processing and quality
control in order to ensure Steelcase's products retain their low-emitting
status.
"Indoor air quality is an environmental issue that Steelcase takes very
seriously and our product development process is dedicated to creating
low-emitting products that meet critical industry standards and are not
detrimental to the health of our customers," said Jeff Musculus, manager of
product development test labs and codes for Steelcase. "We are pleased that
so many of our products have been certified by Scientific Certification
Systems as it highlights our drive for continuous improvement in
environmental sustainability and provides Steelcase with momentum for
further product certification."
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase, the global leader in the office furniture industry, helps
people have a better work experience by providing products, services and
insights into the ways people work. The company designs and manufactures
architecture, furniture and technology products. Founded in 1912 and
headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Steelcase (NYSE: SCS) serves
customers through a network of more than 800 independent dealers and
approximately 13,000 employees worldwide. Fiscal 2006 revenue was $2.9
billion. Learn more at http://www.steelcase.com.
About Scientific Certification Systems
SCS is an independent third-party certifier of environmental,
sustainability, food quality and food purity claims. Over two decades, SCS
has developed internationally recognized standards and certification
programs aimed at spurring the highest level of environmental improvements,
social accountability and product performance. Its programs span a wide
cross-section of the economy, recognizing accomplishments in the fields of
forestry, green building, agricultural production, food processing and
handling, fisheries, energy, consumer and business product manufacturing,
and retail. SCS was the first company to offer manufacturers a program for
verifying the accuracy of environmental claims on products. Certification
programs for building products include Recycled Content, Biodegradability,
Indoor Advantage(TM), Indoor Advantage(TM) Gold, Environmentally Preferable
Product, and SCS Sustainable Choice(TM). For more information about SCS,
visit http://www.scscertified.com or call 510-452-8000.
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