| Résumé : |
Floor covering manufacturers have made considerable progress in developing coverings, both hard and soft, that are healthier for building users because they have less impact on the environment. However, just because a floor covering is considered “green” or more environmentally preferable does not mean it will continue to have less impact on the environment and the health of building users once installed.
This was brought to light several years ago through research conducted by Greg Norris, Ph.D., of the Harvard School of Public Health. Norris studied a variety of hard surface flooring materials and concluded that because of some of the chemical ingredients found in conventional, non-green floor care products that were used to clean and maintain the floors, "the amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from a single waxing is comparable to the amount of VOCs emitted from [a green] floor over its entire lifetime."
Essentially, Norris concluded that green components are only as strong as their weakest link. Taking the time, trouble, and possible added expense to select an environmentally preferable floor can be a waste if the floor is not maintained in an environmentally responsible manner.
Norris' conclusion can also be applied to the installation of green flooring materials, such as ceramic tile, which are considered one of the more environmentally friendly floor coverings. If the tile coming from the manufacturer has been specifically developed to reduce the impact of building materials on the environment, but is installed using adhesives made with urethane or other materials that can potentially harm the environment, the environmentally preferable benefits of the tile may be lost. |
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Ajouter le résultat dans votre panier Affiner la rechercheEnsuring floor covering sustainability / Robert Kravitz in ADHESIVES & SEALANTS INDUSTRY (ASI), Vol. 20, N° 11 (11/2013)
