Working on a project in Hong Kong where the client is considering the purchase of some carpets that are manufactured in Japan. I do not see any Green Label Plus certification in their spec sheets. Two part question: 1) Is it a requirement that the carpet be GLP certified or would earning this credit also be possible by tests to confirm that carpets meet the testing and product requirements of the Carpet and Rug Institute GLP program? If the latter is eligible, what are these requirements? 2) Has anyone successfully earned this credit with carpet that was not officially GLP certified? Substantially all of the project flooring will be carpet. Thanks in advance for any comments and tips.

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Josh Jacobs

Technical Information & Public Affairs Manager

UL Environment

LEEDuser Basic Member

356 thumbs up

Mon, 09/26/2011 - 12:28

Raymond, You would look towards Option 2 in the credit, which simply allows a representative sample of the carpet that you are going to use be tested to CA 01350 requirements by a lab that has that standard in the scope of its ISO 17025 accreditation.

Melissa Vernon

Director of Client Engagement

Natural Capital Partners

LEEDuser Basic Member

42 thumbs up

Thu, 09/29/2011 - 14:08

Raymond, The carpet does not have to be certified by CRI, it just needs to meet the requirements of GLP. We have had European manufactured carpet tested by an independent lab using the CRI Green Label Plus criteria and they have successfully been used on numerous LEED projects.

Raymond Loo

Senior Manager, Corporate Services

MEA & Associates Limited (Hong Kong)

LEEDuser Basic Member

62 thumbs up

Fri, 09/30/2011 - 04:44

Josh and Melissa, Thank you very much for your prompt and helpful replies to my question. Just a quick follow up question although I believe the answer should be obvious but just to double check. The designer on this project has selected a carpet that he believes (still checking) to not be GLP certified but he states that the manufacturer is GLP certified. My assumption is that the carpet in question needs to be GLP certified and that fact that the manufacturer is GLP certified (also assuming this is possible) by itself does not meet the requirements of this credit. Can anyone just give a quick confirmation on my assumption?

Josh Jacobs

Technical Information & Public Affairs Manager

UL Environment

LEEDuser Basic Member

356 thumbs up

Fri, 09/30/2011 - 11:27

Raymond, You are correct in your skepticism as manufacturers can not be GLP certified - only products. So either the product is certified or it isn't, it does not matter if the manufacturer has other products that are certified. If you want to check and see if the carpet is certified or not, here is the website with all the listings: http://www.carpet-rug.org/commercial-customers/green-building-and-the-environment/green-label-plus/green-label-plus-carpet-list.cfm?ProductType=0&IDNumber=0

Melissa Vernon

Director of Client Engagement

Natural Capital Partners

LEEDuser Basic Member

42 thumbs up

Fri, 09/30/2011 - 13:49

The product does not have to be GLP certified officially through CRI. It must meet the product and testing requirements of GLP or CHPS 01350. What does this mean? A product can be tested by an independent lab to demonstrate compliance. The Option 2 test method is located here: http://www.cal-iaq.org/download-standard-method-publications/standard-method/standard-practice-2004

Raymond Loo

Senior Manager, Corporate Services

MEA & Associates Limited (Hong Kong)

LEEDuser Basic Member

62 thumbs up

Tue, 10/04/2011 - 15:31

Josh and Melissa, Thank you again for all of your comments and for sharing the links with us. Just one last question - have any of you heard of or had any experience with "Sumitron" or "Antron" carpet manufacturer based in Japan? I have a brochure from them and the emphasis is on the recyclable content with very little information on its VOC levels. Thanks.

Raymond Loo

Senior Manager, Corporate Services

MEA & Associates Limited (Hong Kong)

LEEDuser Basic Member

62 thumbs up

Thu, 10/06/2011 - 23:27

Sorry, I forgot to mention that the certification of the Sumitron carpet is "ECO Mark Certification", which appears to focus on recyclable content. Has anyone come across this kind of certification before and if it would be accepted an equivalent of GLP?

Lauren Sparandara

Sustainability Manager

Google

LEEDuser Expert

700 thumbs up

Fri, 10/07/2011 - 16:24

Wow, many great comments from Melissa and Josh. Just in terms of helping with your last question, Raymond. I am not familiar with Eco Mark certification but a certification focused on recycled content wouldn't qualify for this point. This LEED point is all about indoor air quality and reducing the offgassing of the carpet. The Green Label Plus requirement ensures it meets the indoor air quality requirements. Alternatively, you can test your product in question per Josh's comments above.

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