The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has an active program to develop chronic toxicity guidelines for air pollutants.

The program uses procedures, developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, that have been subject to extensive peer review and public comment.To date, this program has developed Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs) for 80 chemical substances, a number of which may be emitted by building products (Read about CRELs on the OEHHA site).

 The CRELs assume long-term exposures and include a number of conservative uncertainty factors; these CRELs are the scientific basis for the Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification program.  

In order for a product to qualify for the Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification, modeled concentrations for individual VOCs in classrooms and offices must not exceed one-half of the defined CREL threshold. Given that other (uncertified) products and materials in the building may be sources for the same chemicals, the conservative standard set for Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification is intended to ensure that individual occupants’ overall exposure to any one of these chemicals does not exceed the CREL.   

The emphasis on individual VOCs rather than on total VOC concentration is one of the features that distinguish the SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold program.  The health risks associated with individual VOCs vary, making some more of a concern than others.  Likewise, this emphasis on individual VOCs encourages manufacturers to identify and address the sources of chemical contaminants in their manufacturing process and enables them to establish specifications for the materials and components they purchase. 

The Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification conforms to the criteria of the following standards:

• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.1 (adhesives and sealants)
• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.2 (paints and coatings)
• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.4 (composite wood and agri-fiber products)
• USGBC LEED criteria for EQ4.5 (furniture and seating)
• ANSI/BIFMA X7.1-2006 Low-emitting office furniture systems and seating
• Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS)
• California 01350 Special Environmental Requirements
• California Department of General Service (DGS) Indoor Air Quality Specifications for Open Panel Office Furniture

Benefits of Certification
The Indoor Advantage™ and Indoor Advantage™ Gold certifications benefit the entire supply chain from component manufacturer to consumer.  Benefits to manufacturers of certified products include:

Reinforced brand image

Confidence among regulators and customers that certified products are held to rigorous standards

Clear steps for continued progress toward improved environmental sustainability

Access to an objective tool for evaluating component materials and supplier performance

Opportunities to work closely with suppliers on specific ways to improve product performance

Means of linking environmental strategies to bottom-line cost savings

Access to school, healthcare, and residential markets

• Access to State of California contracts under the State of California Indoor Air Quality Specifications for Open Panel Office Furniture

Benefits to customers who purchase certified products include: 

Assurance that the products they purchase meet tough indoor air quality standards

Credit toward LEED certification of their building project.

Compliance with California Special Environmental Requirements Specification 01350

Satisfaction of endorsing manufacturers with a demonstrated commitment to environmental sustainability.

To learn more:

Join in a series of webinars co-presented by SCS and Environmental Design + Construction magazine. The third installment of the series will air May 28. Earn AIA-accredited CEU credits with archived webinars now.

Stowe Hartridge-Beam, SCS Program Manager for Environmentally Preferable Products, analyzes indoor air qualty certification and its future in the August 2007 issue of Environmental Design and Construction magazine (external link).