Northwest Region CSI
S508
Full Transparency in Product
Declarations
#K1307B
Casey Johnson
May 9, 2014
Credit(s) earned on completion of
this course will be reported to AIA
CES for AIA members.
Certificates of Completion for both
AIA members and non-AIA
members are available upon
request.
This course is registered with AIA
CES for continuing professional
education. As such, it does not
include content that may be deemed
or construed to be an approval or
endorsement by the AIA of any
material of construction or any
method or manner of
handling, using, distributing, or
dealing in any material or product.
_______________________________________
____
Questions related to specific materials, methods,
and services will be addressed at the conclusion
of this presentation.
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Reproduction, distribution, display and use of the presentation without written
permission of the speaker is prohibited.
Forbo Flooring Systems • North American Headquarters • 8 Maplewood Drive • Hazleton, PA 18202 • 1-800842-7839 / 570-459-0771 • Fax: 570-450-0258
Full transparency in product
declaration:
– When selecting and specifying building materials, architects
and interior designers need to rely on data from manufacturers
regarding the make-up and performance of those materials. In
order to verify product claims, independent testing or
certification is required so the building owner has some basis to
feel comfortable and protected in the selections being made.
– The emerging use of standardized Environmental Product
Declarations (EPDs) is quickly becoming the tool that can
inform those who specify products on a range of environmental
issues. This is fundamentally viewed as a good thing but there
are still some limitations in the data made available through the
criteria behind the EPDs or disclosed by some product
manufacturers.
– Recognizing this, a movement has begun that looks deeper into
the impacts of building products not only on the natural
environment, but also on human health. This article examines
the importance of complete transparency in reporting by
industries and individual product manufacturers.
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Learning Objectives
At the end of the this course, participants will be able
to:
1. Identify and differentiate emerging practices
involved in quantifying the environmental impacts
of building materials and products.
2. Investigate and distinguish between toxicity to the
environment and toxicity to human health.
3. Explore the role of Environmental Product
Declarations and other initiatives as part of green
building certification programs.
4. Evaluate specific programs that address Health
Product Declarations and the relative toxicity of
materials.
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Full Transparency in
Product Declarations
What you need to know to avoid
20 more years of “Greenwash”!
What does it mean to be “Sustainable”?
Sustainable development is development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future
generations to meet their own needs.
- As defined by The United Nations’ Brundtland Commission Report, 1987
Three dimensions make up the Sustainable Policy:
• The Economic Dimension
• The Social Dimension
• The Environmental Dimension
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Understanding the Acronyms
Consensus Standards Organizations
ISO – the International Organization for Standardization
ANSI – American National Standards Institute
The Agreed Upon Science
LCA – Life Cycle Assessment
Defines the Measurement Criteria
PCR – Product Category Rule
The Output
EPD– Environmental Product Declaration
HPD – Health Product Disclosure
*click on each acronym for the full definition
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What makes a good “industry standard”?
Consensus-based with all relevant stakeholders
having a “seat at the table”.
If environmental, it should be full LCA (Life Cycle
Assessment) based. Preferably “equal weighted”.
Testing and certification must be
3rd party and separate from the
“standard development body”.
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LCA = Life Cycle Assessment
The LCA analyzes all phases of a product’s life (from raw
material extraction to end of life), measuring the effect each
element has on each environmental impact category.
Process Elements
Environmental Impact
Categories
Field to gate
Ecotoxicity
Raw materials
Pre-processing
Gate to gate
Production
Gate to final disposition (field)
Transport
Installation
Use & maintenance
End of life
Human Toxicity
Abiotic Depletion
Acidification Potential
Eutrophication Potential
Global Warming Potential
Ozone Layer Depletion Potential
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential
Embodied Energy
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PCR = Product Category Rules
A PCR is the standardized method that defines what data
is used in a LCA, and how the data is collected and
reported in the EPD for a particular category of products.
Who developed the Flooring PCR?
NSF International collaborated with flooring trade
associations to develop the Flooring PCR, including:
• Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI)
• Resilient Flooring Covering Institute (RFCI)
• National Wood Flooring Association (NWFA)
• North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA)
• Tile Council of North America (TCNA)
* Information taken from www.nsf.org/info/epds
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What does the Flooring PCR measure?
Impact Categories included in the
PCR:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Abiotic Depletion
Acidification Potential
Eutrophication Potential
Global Warming Potential
Ozone Layer Depletion Potential
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential
Hazardous and Non-Hazardous Waste
What does the PCR exclude?
• Ecotoxicity
• Human Health
* click impact categories for the full definition
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Failure to meet the criteria of “a standard”
Industry
standard:
Consensus-based

Full LCA-based
Independent,
3rd party testing
and certification
Flooring PCR:
Consensus-based
 Full LCA-based
Independent,
3rd party testing
and certification
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So, what will get us to
Full Disclosure and Transparency?
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HPD = Health Product Declaration
The HPD is a new standard for product hazard reporting that
INCLUDES the ecotoxicity and human toxicity categories.
The HPD was developed by the Health Product Declaration
Collaborative™ (HPDC) and includes:
• Architects
• Building owners and developers
• Product manufacturers
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HPD = a major step forward in
transparency
HPDC created the HPD Open Standard to be used free
of charge. It facilitates an apples-to-apples comparison
and clear discussions about product formulations.
The HPD:
• Incorporates data from the EPD, combined with trustworthy,
verifiable measures of ingredients that impact ecotoxicity and human
toxicity
• Truthfully represents the toxicity impact of a product on the people
who live with it and the natural environment it exists within
• Uses an open-source approach to
deciding which criteria are included
• Creates a single standard to compare
products based on their ingredients
and comparative health hazards
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Full Transparency is what we need.
An EPD can report more
impact categories than what
is required by the PCR.
Forbo’s EPD contains
information on all phases of
our LCAs, including an
addendum that
approximates the new HPD
standard to include
ecotoxicity and human
toxicity.
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Excerpt from HPD section of Forbo’s EPD
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Excerpt from HPD section of Forbo’s EPD
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Full transparency certifications
Sustainable Materials Rating Technology© (SMaRT)
The SMaRT Consensus Sustainable Product Standard © was
developed by the Institute for Market Transformation to
Sustainability (MTS), and acts as a PCR to define a category of
exemplary certified sustainable products.
SMaRT Certification requires environmental excellence in a variety
of impact categories, including human toxicity and eco-toxicity.
Additionally, this certification considers energy inventory,
manufacturer social indicator reporting, and product durability.
• Forbo’s Marmoleum and Bulletin Board products are
SMaRT Platinum Certified.
• Marmoleum achieved the SMaRT EPD/HPD.
Products achieving SMaRT EPD/HPD are toxin free
in the Use Stage with minimal toxicity in other stages.
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Full transparency tools that include
toxicity
The Pharos Project
The Healthy Building Network (HBN) developed Pharos, an online evaluation tool for building materials that enables users to
locate the best building materials to meet their need for
transparency in building products. Pharos includes a building
product library and chemical and material library.
www.pharosproject.net
Declare™
The International Living Future Institute developed Declare, an
ingredients label and online database, to provide manufacturers
with a platform to disclose the chemical makeup of their products
using a label to easily identify chemicals of concern.
www.declareproducts.com
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Presentation title
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How is this impacting the
Construction Market?
1.
2.
3.
4.
LEED v4 vs. Green Globes
The introduction of the PTD – controlled labeling
Why toxicity is important to talk about
The Introduction of “phthalate free” PVC’s (not biobased)
How this impacts LEED
Challenges with previous versions of LEED
Awarded points for many single attributes, examples include:
•
•
Rapidly Renewal
Recycled Content
•
•
Indoor Air Quality
Regional Production = 500 miles
Equality of points questionable, for example:
A million dollar clean-up of a brownfield = same points as a bike rack in a shower
Changes with Version 4 (targeted for late 2013)
Multiple Attribute focus (lv4) versus Single Attribute focus (lv3) – Transparency
• Environmental Product Declarations (EPD)
• Raw Material Ingredients (HPD)
• Extracting of Raw Materials - Reporting & Practices
• Supply Chain Optimization
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What is lacking in LEED v4?
• True emphasis on Ecotoxicity and Human Toxicity
• Better understanding on Chemicals of Concern*
• Credit given for compliance rather than selecting the
appropriate product with the least impact
What is the hysteria about?
•
Pilot versions of LEED v4 recognized – with a
single credit – the avoidance of the use of
products containing “chemicals of concern”
•
This was met with huge resistance and a
multi-million dollar PR campaign from industry
trade organizations – crippling the process
* Click for definition
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Vested Interests & Controlled
Transparency
LEED
Green Globes
U.S. Green Building Council
(USGBC)
22 member Board of Directors,
representing:
• Architects
• Building owners
• Developers
• Engineering/Construction
• Product Manufacturers
• Government
• Financial Groups
Green Building Initiative (GBI)
20 member Board of Directors,
• Architects
• Developers
• Engineering/Construction
• Trade Organizations
• Product Manufacturers
Which is consensusbased? Are their standard’s LCAbased?
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PTD = Product Transparency Declarations
Recently introduced, the Product Transparency Declaration
(PTD) is marketed as a tool to determine if a toxic ingredient
in a building product presents an actual danger to the health
of building occupants. If a toxic ingredient(s) is present in a
product, the manufacturer reviews regulatory requirements to
determine if a warning label needs to be added.
Who developed the PTD?
The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI)
* Information taken from www.nsf.org/info/epds
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What does the PTD measure?
Process Elements included in the
PTD:
• Installation and Use
What does the PTD exclude?
•
•
•
•
•
Raw Materials
Pre-processing
Production
Transport
End of Life
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The danger of Controlled Transparency
FloorScore®
The RFCI FloorScore IAQ Certification addresses
the same VOC emissions criteria as the California
Section 01350 standard, which measures a
product’s VOC emissions as tested in a dark
chamber with a controlled temperature of 23oC
oF).
(75
Numerous scientific studies detail that toxic phthalate emissions from
PVC based products increase with exposure to light and heat.
Therefore, in the case of PVC, this test method is only valid if a building
has no windows and perfect environmental controls. These studies
show a mere 10oC increase in temperature raises the phthalate
emission rate almost 10-fold. In the real world, schools turn off their
HVAC systems in the summer and ambient temperatures in buildings
increase at least this much. Further, increased use of daylight for
illumination can create “hotspots” on the floor, again greatly increasing
the rate of emissions. In short, products that pass the standard may
fail in real application.
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Demanding Transparency Makes a
Difference
• From the recently published RFCI category EPD on rubber –
please note the amount of natural rubber used in the
production of rubber flooring.
Material Content of the Product
Component Material Mass %
Availability Origin of
Renewable Non-renewable Recycled raw materials
Fillers Kaolin 65.6% Mineral abundant Global
Binder SBR 27.4% Fossil limited US
Additives Various 4.6% Mineral abundant US / China
Binder Polybutadiene 1.0% Fossil limited US
Binder Natural rubber 0.6% Bio-crop based Fossil limited US
Other
components Various 0.8% Fossil limited
Global
Presentation title
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Demanding Transparency Makes a
Difference – Excerpt from the end of
RFCI product category EPD’s
This EPD follows the specifications of PCR Flooring: Carpet, Resilient, Laminate, Ceramic, and Wood
(NSF 2012). Eco-toxicity and human health assessments are not part of this PCR and are not
addressed in this EPD. The current available models used to calculate eco-toxicity and human health
assessments impact categories have a large amount of uncertainty and variation in their results. Over
time, it is expected that research will improve the accuracy of these models making the results
meaningful like other impact categories (i.e. greehouse gas, acidification, etc).
• The USEtox model is recognized as the globally preferred
model for modeling the human and eco-toxicity impacts
according to LCIA United Nations Environmental Program
SETAC Life Cycle Initiative
Presentation title
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“Phthalate Free” PVC – what’s out,
what’s in
• “Phthalate Free” PVC refers to the removal of DINP, the
traditionally used plasticizer in most PVC flooring
production. Considered the least harmful based on 3rd
party testing.
• In place of DINP, manufacturers are beginning to use
DOTP. DOTP (Dioctyl terephthalate (bis(2-ethylhexyl)
benzene-1, 4-dicarboxylate or Di(ethylhexyl)
terephthalate), commonly abbreviated DOTP) is a
plasticizer which lacks 3rd party testing. It is currently sole
sourced from Exxon Mobil and they have provided the
health and toxicity related data to this point.
(Do NOT confuse this with “Bio-based” plasticizer
products.)
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Full Transparency is what we need.
In order to provide FULL TRANSPARENCY,
manufacturers must disclose ALL impact categories and
ALL process elements.
Why can’t manufacturers give the full
picture with EPD’s and PTD’s?
The Flooring PCR and resulting EPD exclude key
LCA environmental impact categories that don’t
reflect positively on the trade organization
members.
The RFCI’s PTD excludes most LCA process
elements, skewing the data to reflect positively on the
trade organization members.
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Chemical Regulation and Toxicity
Excerpt From “Death By Rubber Duck”
– “There are 82,000 chemicals in use in the United States with
700 new ones added each year. Of these 82,000 some odd,
only 650 are monitored through TRI*, only 200 have ever been
tested for toxicity, and only five** have been banned under the
Toxic Substances Control Act. Not even asbestos is banned,
a known carcinogen that has killed nearly 45,000 Americans
over the past 30 years
– Further Research on the subject shows
– *EPA’s Toxic Release Inventory (TRI) program
– ** five chemicals (PCBs, chlorofluorocarbons, dioxin,
asbestos, and hexavalent chromium) in its 35 year history,[4]
and the ban on asbestos was overturned in 1991.
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Who supports Full Transparency?
Visit forboflooringna.com/truth for a current list Source: HBN – Greenbuild
of transparency leaders and toxic supporters. 2012
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Who supports Full Transparency?
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Who supports Full Transparency?
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Who supports Full Transparency?
Transparency is not raw material dependent. Forbo
produces PVC products, but in support of full
transparency and disclosure, we have issued EPDs (that
include human health and ecotoxicity impacts) for ALL of
our products.
Manufacturers who DO
disclose:
• Forbo Flooring Systems
• Interface
• Knoll
• Milliken
• Shaw Contract Group
• Tandus
Manufacturers who DO NOT
disclose:
• Armstrong Flooring
• Centiva
• Johnsonite/Tarkett
• Nora
• Roppe
Visit forboflooringna.com/truth for the full list of
transparency leaders and toxic supporters.
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Our challenge to you
EPDs will eventually form the basis for a product rating system, as we
have seen examples developed in Europe. Based on what is in the
current EPD (and what is missing), all products will receive a “5-star
rating”, essentially validating the status quo. NOW is the time to change
the course of transparency in product declarations.
• Demand Full Transparency from all of your product manufacturer’s
when specifying building materials.
• Ask product representatives if their company supports full disclosure
of chemicals of concern to its customers.
• Ask if their products emit compounds that might impact human health
and the environment.
• Be willing to consider all the ways a product could contribute to a
healthy environment.
You can make the difference.
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Thank you!
The online CEU course earns:
• one AIA/CES HSW Learning Unit – course #K1307B
• one GBCI CE Hour for LEED Credential Maintenance
– course # 0090009966
Visit Architectural Record’s Continuing Education
Center to take the quiz and receive the credit
http://continuingeducation.construction.com/article.php?L=354&C=1111
Click here to preview QUIZ
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This concludes The American Institute of Architects
Continuing Education Systems Course
Forbo Flooring Systems • North
American Headquarters • 8
Maplewood Drive • Hazleton,
PA 18202 • 1-800-842-7839 /
570-459-0771 • Fax: 570-4500258
Appendix
ISO – The International Organization for Standardization
The world’s largest developer of voluntary International
Standards. International Standards give state of the art
specifications for products, services and good practice, helping
to make industry more efficient and effective. Developed through
global consensus, they help to break down barriers to
international trade. The ISO 14044 standards provide guidelines
for conducting an LCA.
ANSI– American National Standards Institute
The voice of the U.S. standards and conformity assessment
system. ANSI is also actively engaged in accrediting programs
that assess conformance to standards – including globallyrecognized cross-sector programs such as the ISO 9000
(quality) and ISO 14000 (environmental) management systems.
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Appendix
LCA– Life Cycle Assessment
also known as life-cycle analysis, ecobalance, & cradle-to-grave analysis
LCA is a technique to assess environmental impacts associated
with all the stages of a product's life from-cradle-to-grave (i.e. from
raw material extraction through materials processing,
manufacture, distribution, use, repair and maintenance, and
disposal or recycling).
LCAs can help avoid a narrow outlook on environmental concerns
by:
• Compiling an inventory of relevant energy and material inputs
and environmental releases; (also known as LCI – Life Cycle Inventory)
• Evaluating the potential impacts associated with identified
inputs and releases;
• Interpreting the results to help make a more informed decision.
source: Wikipedia
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Appendix
PCR – Product Category Rules
Product Category Rules are defined in ISO 14025 –
Environmental Labels and Declarations – Type III
Environmental Declarations. According to ISO 14025, a PCR
is a set of specific rules, requirements and guidelines for
developing Type III environmental declarations for one or
more product categories. The PCRs define the type of data
that should be collected, measured and reported in a life
cycle analysis. PCRs include instructions for gathering data
about the consumption of resources, including energy, water
and renewable resources, and emissions to air, water and
soil.
source: NSF International website
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Appendix
EPD– Environmental Product
Declarations
Document created by a manufacturer to
show the results of a LCA for a particular
product (in accordance with ISO
standards) using the PCR for that
category.
The EPD must be verified and approved
by an independent entity such as UL
Environmental (ULE) or the Institute for
Market Transformation to Sustainability
(MTS)
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Appendix
Ecotoxicity: The potential of biological, chemical, or physical stressors to adversely affect
ecosystems
Human Toxicity: The likelihood of an environmental toxicant to have an adverse effect on
human health
Abiotic Depletion: The consumption of non-renewable resources including those used for
energy (oil, gas, coal, metals, etc.)
Acidification potential: The potential for the product to contribute to acid rain
Eutrophication potential: The product’s contribution to water or soil nutrients that cause
algal blooms
Global warming potential: The emissions of carbon dioxide or methane that affect the
earth’s atmosphere
Ozone layer depletion potential: The reduction in beneficial environmental ozone caused
by chlorofluorocarbon emissions
Photochemical ozone creation potential: The contributions to smog caused by
hydrocarbon emissions
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Appendix
Chemicals of concern:
In December 2009, the US EPA released a list of four
chemicals that raise serious concerns for human health and
the environment. These “chemicals of concerns” include flame
retardants, stain and water repellants, and phthalates (such
as softeners in vinyl floor and wall coverings).
source: www.healthybuilding.net
Click here to view the four chemicals being addressed by the
EPA.
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Appendix
The four EPA “chemicals of concern” groups are:
Phthalates - eight high production volume chemicals used as plasticizers in polyvinylchloride, PVC,
products. Adverse effects on the development of the reproductive system in male laboratory animals are
the most sensitive health outcomes from phthalate exposure.
Short-chain chlorinated paraffins
- over 200 formulations are in use for industrial
applications, such as flame retardants and plasticizers, as additives in metal working fluids, and in
sealants, paints and coatings, adhesives and caulks. These chemicals are persistent, bioaccumulative,
and toxic to aquatic organisms at low concentrations.
Polybrominated diphenyl ethers, PBDEs - used as flame retardants in a wide array of
products, including building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles, airplanes, plastics,
polyurethane foams, and textiles. This listing reinforces a voluntary phaseout of all production,
importation, and sales of decaBDE in the United States by the end of 2013. The EPA will require that any
new uses of PBDEs are reviewed by the agency before they are allowed on the market. PBDEs are
persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic to both humans and the environment. The EPA is concerned about
their effects on the human nervous system and behavior.
Perfluorinated chemicals, including perfluorooctanoate, PFOA - used in the
manufacture of cookware with non-stick coating. Other perfluorinated chemicals are used in everyday
items such as food packaging, pesticides, clothing, upholstery, carpets and personal care products.
Perfluorinated chemicals are toxic to laboratory animals and wildlife, producing reproductive,
developmental, and systemic effects in laboratory tests.
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Comparing Data
• In the following tables we will compare CUMMULATIVE data
for each of our products (not by Process Element).
• NO other manufacturer is willing to disclose impacts to the
level we do so we are forced to compare to ourselves for
illustrative purposes.
• We will use Marmoleum 2.0 mm sheet as the
benchmark/baseline.
• The numbers given will be the score in each category relative
to Marmoleum 2.0. (i.e 1.07 means it is 1.07 times worse. 2.8
means it is 2.8 times worse, etc.)
Presentation title
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Comparing Data
• We know from the EFRMI Category EPD’s from 2009 that
Eternal is a “better than average” PVC sheet
• We know from the ERFMI Category EPD’s that Allura is a
“much better than average” LVT
• The products compared are:
• Marmoleum 2.0mm sheet
• Marmoleum 2.5mm sheet
• Marmoleum 2.0mm tile
• Marmoleum 2.5mm tile
• Eternal Project Vinyl (PVC Sheet)
• Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
Presentation title
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Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka:
Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares
People
Global Warming
Potential
Ozone Layer Depletion
Marmoleum 2.0 sheet
1.00
1.00
Marmoleum 2.5 sheet
1.13
1.02
Marmoleum 2.0 tile
1.72
5.17
Marmoleum 2.5 tile
1.86
5.98
Eternal Project Vinyl
2.37
5.17
Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
2.70
5.98
Presentation title
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Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka:
Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares
People
Acidification Potential
Eutrophication
Potential
Marmoleum 2.0 sheet
1.00
1.00
Marmoleum 2.5 sheet
1.22
1.24
Marmoleum 2.0 tile
1.45
1.27
Marmoleum 2.5 tile
1.60
1.49
Eternal Project Vinyl
0.62
0.36
Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
0.65
0.40
Presentation title
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Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka:
Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares
People
Photochemical Ozone
Creation Potential
Marmoleum 2.0 sheet
1.00
Marmoleum 2.5 sheet
1.16
Marmoleum 2.0 tile
2.02
Marmoleum 2.5 tile
2.31
Eternal Project Vinyl
5.66
Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
6.04
Presentation title
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Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka:
Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares
People
Abiotic Depletion
Elements
Abiotic Depletion
Fossil
Marmoleum 2.0 sheet
1.00
1.0
Marmoleum 2.5 sheet
1.16
1.07
Marmoleum 2.0 tile
1.08
2.21
Marmoleum 2.5 tile
1.19
2.32
Eternal Project Vinyl
11.11
3.79
Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
14.70
3.97
Presentation title
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Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka:
Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares
People
Ecotoxicity
Marmoleum 2.0 sheet
1.00
Marmoleum 2.5 sheet
1.11
Marmoleum 2.0 tile
1.38
Marmoleum 2.5 tile
1.40
Eternal Project Vinyl
622.58
Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
780.65
Presentation title
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Comparing EPD/HPD Info – aka:
Why The Toxicity Discussion Scares
People
Human Toxicity
Carcinogenic
Human Toxicity
Non-Carcinogenic
Marmoleum 2.0 sheet
1.00
1.00
Marmoleum 2.5 sheet
1.00
1.00
Marmoleum 2.0 tile
2.61
1.08
Marmoleum 2.5 tile
2.61
1.08
Eternal Project Vinyl
66.61
12,878.79
Allura LVT (0.55/20mil)
67.27
16,666.67
Presentation title
13/04/2015
57
QUIZ
1.
A life-cycle assessment (LCA) is an analysis of:
a. the extraction and manufacturing phases of a product.
b. the construction and use phases of a product.
c. the end of life phase of a product.
d. all of the above
Answer:
d. all of the above
QUIZ
2. The standards that specify requirements and provide
guidelines for conducting an LCA come from:
a. ANSI Standards.
b. the ISO 14044 family of published standards.
c. the USGBC.
d. the Healthy Building Network.
Answer:
b. the ISO 14044 family of published standards.
QUIZ
3. A product category rule (PCR) is:
a. the standardized method for conducting and reporting
the results of an LCA for a particular group (category) of
products.
b. a particular environmental impact of a product.
c. a determination of what products can be tested for
environmental impacts.
d. developed by a manufacturer for their own product.
Answer:
a. the standardized method for conducting and reporting the
results of an LCA for a particular group (category) of products.
QUIZ
4. Before being published by a manufacturer, an
Environmental
Product Declaration (EPD) needs to be:
a. sent to ISO for certification.
b. verified and approved by an independent entity such as
ULE or MTS.
c. released for an open comment period.
d. requested by an architect or engineer.
Answer:
b. verified and approved by an independent entity
such as ULE or MTS.
QUIZ
5. EPDs can always report more impact categories than
required
by the PCR.
a. true
b. false
Answer:
a. true
QUIZ
6. The potential for biological, chemical, or physical
stressors to
adversely affect ecosystems is referred to as:
a. human toxicity
b. Environmental Product Declaration
c. ecotoxicity
d. Health Product Declaration
Answer:
c. ecotoxicity
QUIZ
7. The specific means by which human health is affected by
building products are:
a. inhaling VOCs.
b. ingesting toxic dust particles.
c. absorption through dermal exposure.
d. any of the above
Answer:
d. any of the above
QUIZ
8. Health Product Declarations (HPDs) build on and
incorporate
the data from the EPD but go on to combine it with
measures
of ingredients that impact ecotoxicity and human toxicity.
a. true
b. false
Answer:
a. true
QUIZ
9. The HPD Open Standard was created to be used:
a. as a way to generate revenue for the creators.
b. free of charge—no copyright applies for this purpose.
c. by other not-for-profit organizations.
d. by architects and engineers.
Answer:
b. free of charge—no copyright applies for this purpose.
QUIZ
10. The Pharos Project is a tool for users to locate the best
materials to meet their current needs for transparency
in
building materials and products.
a. true
b. false
Answer:
a. true