Article Number: 7911
Mohawk, Quick-Step, Columbia Laminate Earn FloorScore Certification
Dallas, November 15, 2012 – Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate have recently earned the highly-coveted FloorScore certification by passing one of the most stringent indoor air quality certification programs in the world. FloorScore tests for 78 volatile organic compounds (VOCs), some of which are identified as known carcinogens or reproductive toxins. (A carcinogen is a cancer causing substance and a reproductive toxin is a chemical that can damage the reproductive systems of children and adults.) All Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate products are officially FloorScore certified.
“FloorScore is a prestigious distinction regarding indoor air quality and is recognized as one of the most credible certification programs in the United States,” said Roger Farabee, senior vice president of marketing for Unilin, the parent company of Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate brands. “Flooring that has earned FloorScore certification enjoys a legitimately enhanced market position, distinguished by the FloorScore certification label.”
“Unilin takes very seriously our position as an industry leader when it comes to all aspects of environmental responsibility,” said Farabee. “We have continuously focused our efforts on producing Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate products that are both stylish and environmentally sound. Families living on our laminate flooring can have peace of mind that they are bringing a product into their home that meets strict indoor air quality standards.”
“From a sales opportunity perspective, FloorScore certification also opens doors for retailers to aggressively pursue commercial sales,” said Shane Calloway, vice president of North American independent distribution sales for Unilin. “The market for commercial projects requiring compliance with specific air quality emissions standards is a substantial, potential revenue source open to retailers carrying the right products. With achievement of FloorScore certification, our floors meet the criteria required by a variety of well-respected organizations.”
FloorScore certified hard surface products contribute points to projects under The U.S. Green Building Council’s USGBC) LEED v3 Commercial Interiors and New Construction and Major Renovations program. FloorScore certified products also meet the criteria for the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), a measurable standard set for educational facilities. Regarding healthcare facilities, products bearing the FloorScore label may honorably claim they meet criteria established for the Green Guide for Health Care.
“The industry’s overall commercial laminate segment makes up approximately 6-8% of laminate industry sales,” adds Calloway. “Light to medium commercial sales form the largest portion of this commercial segment. Almost all of our brands’ displayed products offer a 5-Year Light To Medium Commercial Warranty. Our new FloorScore certification now increases the opportunities for our retail partners to pursue even more commercial sales.”
In addition to the new FloorScore achievement, all Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate flooring qualifies as an Environmentally Preferred Product (EPP) in almost all green rating systems and can help a project get up to four (4) LEED points.
Protection from VOCs is further provided by Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate flooring through inclusion of the Uniclic glueless installation locking system in the brands’ products. The patented Uniclic installation method ensures planks simply click together for a lasting connection, so no glue is needed during installation. The Uniclic advantage protects families from VOCs introduced into a home by other types of flooring that must be glued down during installation.
FloorScore testing and certification was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). FloorScore tests in accordance with CA01350 developed by the California Department of Health Services.
About Mohawk
Mohawk is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of broadloom carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile, laminate, stone, vinyl, rugs, and other home and business products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which include Mohawk, Karastan, Columbia, Dal-Tile, American Olean, Quick-Step, Lees, Bigelow, and Durkan. Mohawk's unique merchandising and marketing assist customers in creating the consumer’s dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations. For more information, please visit www.MohawkFlooring.com.
About Unilin
Unilin is a leading manufacturer of laminate floors, engineered and solid hardwood flooring, melamine boards, MDF boards, chipboards, and roofing systems. The company operates 21 production sites across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Unilin is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.unilin.com.
About Quick-Step
Quick-Step is a market leader in flooring, providing solutions for a wide variety of interiors. Quick-Step is a registered trademark of Unilin Flooring, a Mohawk Industries company. Mohawk Industries is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. To find the nearest Quick-Step dealer or for additional information, visit www.quickstep.com.
About Columbia Flooring
Columbia Flooring is a domestic manufacturer of solid and engineered hardwood and laminate flooring. Columbia Flooring’s product range is 100% U. S. made with wood harvested from local and regional forests and is sold through independent distributors. Columbia Flooring is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.columbiaflooring.com.
About the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI)
The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) is an industry trade association of North American manufacturers who produce resilient flooring products. Associate members of RFCI supply raw materials to the resilient flooring industry and manufacture installation and maintenance products. For more information, visit www.rfci.com.
About Scientific Certification Systems
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has been providing global leadership in their-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than 25 years. SCS currently provides services under 16 internationally recognized accreditations. In additional, SCS was named in both 2010 and 2011 as one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies in the U. S. For more information, contact, www.scscertified.com.
About California Air Resource Board (CARB)
The California Air Resource Board (CARB), a division of the California EPA, is responsible for improving air quality in California by establishing limits for air contaminants, such as formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. For more information, visit www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm or
www.carbrule.org.
“FloorScore is a prestigious distinction regarding indoor air quality and is recognized as one of the most credible certification programs in the United States,” said Roger Farabee, senior vice president of marketing for Unilin, the parent company of Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate brands. “Flooring that has earned FloorScore certification enjoys a legitimately enhanced market position, distinguished by the FloorScore certification label.”
“Unilin takes very seriously our position as an industry leader when it comes to all aspects of environmental responsibility,” said Farabee. “We have continuously focused our efforts on producing Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate products that are both stylish and environmentally sound. Families living on our laminate flooring can have peace of mind that they are bringing a product into their home that meets strict indoor air quality standards.”
“From a sales opportunity perspective, FloorScore certification also opens doors for retailers to aggressively pursue commercial sales,” said Shane Calloway, vice president of North American independent distribution sales for Unilin. “The market for commercial projects requiring compliance with specific air quality emissions standards is a substantial, potential revenue source open to retailers carrying the right products. With achievement of FloorScore certification, our floors meet the criteria required by a variety of well-respected organizations.”
FloorScore certified hard surface products contribute points to projects under The U.S. Green Building Council’s USGBC) LEED v3 Commercial Interiors and New Construction and Major Renovations program. FloorScore certified products also meet the criteria for the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS), a measurable standard set for educational facilities. Regarding healthcare facilities, products bearing the FloorScore label may honorably claim they meet criteria established for the Green Guide for Health Care.
“The industry’s overall commercial laminate segment makes up approximately 6-8% of laminate industry sales,” adds Calloway. “Light to medium commercial sales form the largest portion of this commercial segment. Almost all of our brands’ displayed products offer a 5-Year Light To Medium Commercial Warranty. Our new FloorScore certification now increases the opportunities for our retail partners to pursue even more commercial sales.”
In addition to the new FloorScore achievement, all Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate flooring qualifies as an Environmentally Preferred Product (EPP) in almost all green rating systems and can help a project get up to four (4) LEED points.
Protection from VOCs is further provided by Mohawk, Quick-Step, and Columbia laminate flooring through inclusion of the Uniclic glueless installation locking system in the brands’ products. The patented Uniclic installation method ensures planks simply click together for a lasting connection, so no glue is needed during installation. The Uniclic advantage protects families from VOCs introduced into a home by other types of flooring that must be glued down during installation.
FloorScore testing and certification was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) in conjunction with Scientific Certification Systems (SCS). FloorScore tests in accordance with CA01350 developed by the California Department of Health Services.
About Mohawk
Mohawk is a leading supplier of flooring for both residential and commercial applications. Mohawk offers a complete selection of broadloom carpet, hardwood, ceramic tile, laminate, stone, vinyl, rugs, and other home and business products. These products are marketed under the premier brands in the industry, which include Mohawk, Karastan, Columbia, Dal-Tile, American Olean, Quick-Step, Lees, Bigelow, and Durkan. Mohawk's unique merchandising and marketing assist customers in creating the consumer’s dream. Mohawk provides a premium level of service with its own trucking fleet and over 250 local distribution locations. For more information, please visit www.MohawkFlooring.com.
About Unilin
Unilin is a leading manufacturer of laminate floors, engineered and solid hardwood flooring, melamine boards, MDF boards, chipboards, and roofing systems. The company operates 21 production sites across the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Unilin is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.unilin.com.
About Quick-Step
Quick-Step is a market leader in flooring, providing solutions for a wide variety of interiors. Quick-Step is a registered trademark of Unilin Flooring, a Mohawk Industries company. Mohawk Industries is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. To find the nearest Quick-Step dealer or for additional information, visit www.quickstep.com.
About Columbia Flooring
Columbia Flooring is a domestic manufacturer of solid and engineered hardwood and laminate flooring. Columbia Flooring’s product range is 100% U. S. made with wood harvested from local and regional forests and is sold through independent distributors. Columbia Flooring is part of Mohawk Industries which is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a Fortune 500 company. For more information, visit www.columbiaflooring.com.
About the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI)
The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) is an industry trade association of North American manufacturers who produce resilient flooring products. Associate members of RFCI supply raw materials to the resilient flooring industry and manufacture installation and maintenance products. For more information, visit www.rfci.com.
About Scientific Certification Systems
Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) has been providing global leadership in their-party environmental and sustainability certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than 25 years. SCS currently provides services under 16 internationally recognized accreditations. In additional, SCS was named in both 2010 and 2011 as one of Inc. Magazine’s 5000 fastest growing companies in the U. S. For more information, contact, www.scscertified.com.
About California Air Resource Board (CARB)
The California Air Resource Board (CARB), a division of the California EPA, is responsible for improving air quality in California by establishing limits for air contaminants, such as formaldehyde emissions from composite wood products. For more information, visit www.arb.ca.gov/toxics/compwood/compwood.htm or
www.carbrule.org.
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