It’s no surprise that the flooring in your home can impact its style and structural integrity, but did you know that it can also have an impact on your home’s air quality, chemical emissions, and VOCs? Oddly enough, these can often prove detrimental regardless how often you clean your home. Here are a few examples of the impact that flooring can have on your home’s air quality.
Carpet
As we’ve mentioned previously, modern carpet is designed to prevent dirt, soil, and moisture from becoming embedded. This allows carpet to actually help filter the home’s air.
Don’t just take our word for it. A study published by Airmid Healthgroup Limited in 2012 used a controlled environment to test the impact of both an undisturbed room and a room with activity (someone walking around while bouncing a ball). Under both circumstances, fewer allergens were found in the air. A study conducted by Professional Testing Laboratory, completed in 2002, yielded similar results.
Flooring Emissions
Many older flooring selections contain formaldehyde, with laminate previously being one of the worst culprits. In 2012 the CARB (California Air Resource Board) standard was updated to place even more stringent restrictions on formaldehyde after testing its impact on indoor air quality. Unfortunately, this news didn’t exactly make headlines, so many homeowners still don’t realize the potential dangers in their home. While the CARB standards are only enforced in California, these restrictions did influence the flooring industry as a whole.
Avoiding Volatile Organic Compounds
In addition to chemical emissions, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are another concern that could impact your home’s air quality. These potentially harmful materials naturally evaporate at room temperature. They are invisible and often odorless (though some are known to cause strange odors). Fortunately, the FloorScore® certification can help identify floors that are designed to prevent the release of VOCs in dangerous levels. Certified floors are labeled for easy classification. You can also browse our resilient vinyl selection as these will prevent VOC releases naturally.
GREENGUARD Certification
GREENGUARD is a private certification employing standards that are even stricter than CARB. Material emissions must not exceed levels that are set well-below those considered safe. Emphasis is placed on formaldehyde, but a variety of other materials are also tested. GREENGUARD Certification is applied to hardwood and laminate selections.
Learn More
For expert advice on how your current flooring is impacting your home’s air quality, visit Griffin’s leading flooring professionals at Cleveland Carpets and Floors today! We will help you find the best selections for promoting a healthy home.
