NSF 342 Included in LEED v4 Pilot Credit

Washington, D.C. — The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) has cited wallcoverings certified to the NSF/ANSI 342 Sustainability Standard for Wallcovering as eligible for credits under LEED® v4. Certified products qualify for a possible one point under the Pilot Credit entitled Certified Multi-attribute Products and Materials. The intent of the Pilot Credit is “to encourage the use of products and materials for which life-cycle information is available and that have environmentally, economically, and socially preferable life-cycle impacts,” according to USGBC.

Wallcoverings covered by NSF/ANSI 342 include textiles, vinyl, vinyl coated, alternative polymer, alternative polymer coated, paper and natural fiber products. The standard evaluates criteria across the product life cycle, from raw material extraction through manufacturing, distribution, use, and end-of-life management. Unique to this standard is the requirement that both manufacturer and distributor qualify in order for the product to carry the certification.

“We are pleased that USGBC has expanded LEED to include NSF/ANSI 342 as an accepted certification program,” said Sean Samet, Executive Director for the Wallcoverings Association. “The wallcoverings industry is continually working to reduce the environmental impact of its products, and is proud of the industry-wide effort that developed this multi-attribute standard. The third-party certification provides accountability and transparency to all aspects of the product’s manufacture and distribution.”

For more information, contact the WA at (312) 321-5166 or visit wallcoverings.org.

Featured

  • Countway Library at Harvard Medical School

    From Shadows to Sanctuary: The Transformation of Light at Countway Library

    The renovation of Countway Library at Harvard Medical School demonstrates how biophilic design and advanced lighting strategies transformed a formerly dark, insular space into a vibrant, welcoming hub that supports wellness, learning, and community engagement.

  • Illinois District Boosts Security at High-School Stadium

    Richmond-Burton Community High School in Richmond, Ill., recently announced that it has completed the redesigned entrance to its high school stadium with a new focus on school security and community engagement, according to a news release. The district partnered with Wold Architects and Engineers on the project as part of District #157’s year-long facilities master plan.

  • iPark 87

    Building a Future-Focused Career and Technical Education Center

    A district superintendent shares his team's journey to aligning student passions with workforce demands, and why their new CTE center could be a model for districts nationwide.

  • Houston K–12 District Opens New Elementary School

    The Lamar Consolidated Independent School District (Lamar CISD) recently announced the completion of a new elementary school in a western suburb of Houston, Texas, according to a news release. Haygood Elementary School measures in at 110,000 square feet, has the capacity for 854 students, and is the first of three new schools scheduled to be built in the Cross Creek West community.