5/13/2010

NEWS RELEASE

Knauf Insulation Congratulates GREENGUARD Environmental Institute on ISO-Guide 65 Accreditation

GREENGUARD Environmental Institute strengthens position as leading independent accreditation body

(SHELBYVILLE, Ind. May 13, 2010) Today, Knauf Insulation North America is extending congratulations to the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) for receiving ISO/IEC Guide 65 accreditation from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). ISO/IEC 65 accreditation is the world’s most prestigious endorsement of a product certification program given by the ISO/IEC.

GEI has long been recognized as a leading independent accreditation body for indoor air quality performance of building materials and furnishings, including insulation, paints, cabinets, doors, windows, office furnishing, and floor treatments.  Knauf Insulation North America was the first insulation manufacturer to certify products to the GREENGUARD Environmental Certification Program to signify superior Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) product performance.  Certified products must not only meet stringent requirements for chemical emissions and toxicity, but require ongoing monitoring and testing to ensure that compliance is maintained. 

ISO/IEC 65 requires that third-party accreditation agencies, such as GEI, conduct their processes in an impartial, reliable and consistent manner. This assures that certifications are free of any conflicts of interest from outside financial, commercial or social influences. Obtaining ISO/IEC 65 accreditation reinforces the credibility of GEI as an independent certification agency. 

Alongside the ISO/IEC 65 accreditation, GEI has announced that all procedural documentation for every new certification will be submitted to The Epsten Group, Inc., a strategic consulting firm, for independent review and analysis. This additional level of checks-and-balances further strengthens GEI’s already impressive position as a leading independent accreditation body for the building materials industry.

Knauf Insulation North America has certified products using the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute Certification Program since 2002. “We see certification to the most stringent IAQ standard in our industry as consistent with our commitment to producing sustainably enhanced products that are environmentally-friendly, conserve energy and save natural resources,” says Knauf Insulation North America Director of Sustainability and Product Affairs Scott Miller. “There’s great value and distinction that comes from manufacturing sustainable insulation products that are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified. Now, with GEI’s attainment of ISO/IEC 65, the accreditation is even more valuable and credible. Architects, building owners and building occupants will know that when they select insulation that is certified, they are assured of products that provide the highest level of performance as it relates to indoor air quality.”

Knauf Insulation North America has led the industry in providing GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified insulation products. “We take the commitment to provide sustainable, environmentally-friendly products that meet GEI’s standards very seriously; and certainly our products are a demonstration of that commitment,” continues Miller. Producing insulation products that meet GEI’s requirements has become a critical component of all new product design efforts at Knauf Insulation. “During the design process, we look at everything that has potential to emit VOCs (volatile organic compounds) such as adhesives, facings and other additives.”

One example of Knauf Insulation’s commitment to producing environmentally-friendly products is the recent innovation, ECOSE^® Technology, a revolutionary bio-based binder. This new, more sustainable binder contains no phenol, formaldehyde or other petroleum-based chemicals traditionally found in previous binder formulations. With a goal of eliminating those chemicals from their products, processes and plant stacks, Knauf Insulation has converted all of their North American plants to ECOSE Technology, resulting in all Knauf Insulation residential, commercial, and industrial products made with ECOSE Technology being GREENGUARD Certified for Children & Schools. Knauf Insulation is the only manufacturer that can make this claim.

In the years since Knauf Insulation first certified products to the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality standards, many of Knauf Insulation’s competitors have recognized the importance of the certifications and followed suit.

“It’s really impressive what GEI is doing,” finishes Miller. “By obtaining ISO/IEC 65 accreditation and putting in place the additional review of all new certifications by The Epsten Group, GEI is further elevating a certification program that already assured the most stringent IAQ performance in the industry.  We think it’s great that GEI is raising the bar, and we look forward to providing our customers with products that are GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified for years to come.” 

Knauf Insulation is a leading global manufacturer of thermal and acoustical fiber glass insulations for residential, commercial, industrial, OEM and metal building applications. For more information about Knauf Insulation sales and products, visit http://www.knaufinsulation.us/, write to Knauf Insulation, One Knauf Drive, Shelbyville, IN 46176 or call 800-825-4434 ext. 8212.

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