FloorScore® – What You Need to Know

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FloorScore® – What is it?

When it comes to indoor air quality, a primary concern is the emission level of specific volatile organic compounds (VOCs). FloorScore® Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Certification means that a flooring product is independently certified by SCS to comply with the volatile organic compound emissions criteria of the California Section 01350 Program. Hundreds of resilient hard surface flooring materials and their adhesives bear the FloorScore® seal. This seal tells you that the products have been independently certified by SCS to comply with the volatile organic compound emissions criteria of the California Section 01350 Program ( California Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers, Version 1.2). Any product that has met these stringent standards is a product that will contribute to good indoor air quality.

why should i care about FloorScore?

indoor air quality or IAQ

IAQ is important because, if you’re like most people, you spend around 90% of your time indoors. If you’re breathing poor quality air, you could be facing a higher risk level for a variety of health problems, including headaches, dizziness, and more serious long-term conditions. The FloorScore® certification means healthier, cleaner air. And that means healthier humans.

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Can IAQ really be improved?

Absolutely. Here are five ways to improve your IAQ:

  1. Improve your HVAC system design and maintenance
  2. Ensure adequate ventilation with clean air
  3. Improve air filtering
  4. Schedule maintenance or remodeling for minimum impact
  5. Control the sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

What’s your building’s FloorScore?

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in a building depends on many factors, including:

  • How well the HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning) system and filters are maintained,
  • How well and how often the rooms are cleaned,
  • The people, activities and furnishings in the building,
  • The outdoor environment, and
  • Surfaces and finishes throughout.

What are some of the environmental programs that recognize FloorScore certified products?

  • U.S. Green Building Council LEED Rating System
  • Green Guide for Health Care
  • NAHB ANSI National Green Building Standard
  • BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method)
  • Collaboration for High Performance Schools (CHPS)

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About SCS Global Services
SCS is an internationally recognized third-party evaluation, testing, and certification organization. SCS programs span a wide cross-section of the economy, including consumer products, the energy industry, manufacturing and retail, and home improvement and construction.
As a third party independent certification firm, SCS audits and determines whether products qualify for the FloorScore® seal by meeting the requirements of SCS-EC-10.3-2014 v3.0. 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.