Furniture for Schools by Margie McNally

We don't often think about how indoor air quality is affected by furniture and furnishings however this is something to consider. With the rise in asthma in school children and more people being affected by chemical sensitivity testing of materials has become commonplace. Certification standards and transparency in manufacturing processes are on the horizon. Greenguard Children and Schools addresses these environmental issues with third party certification for product emissions. Third-party certification refers to certification programs in which all aspects of the certification program, from claims verification and standard design to administration of the program, are conducted and run by an independent body whose only ties to manufacturer or industry are fees for assessment services. (www.greenguard.org). Here is a recent news article that gives some excellent information and resources for selecting furniture for healthy indoor environments....
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http://greenspec.buildinggreen.com/blogs/five-steps-choosing-healthier-greener-furniture