Tarkett Powerbond RS flooring has been designated as CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL), an independent global certification company, and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), the world’s leading patient organization for people with asthma and allergies.
“Powerbond was introduced in 1967 and, decades later, is still ahead of its time,” said Roxane Spears, Tarkett North America’s vice president of sustainability.
“Our customers are concerned about their health and well-being. Powerbond RS was created specifically to address potential issues with indoor air quality and building-related illness. This type of third-party certification validates Tarkett’s innovative work in creating healthy, sustainable products.”
Powerbond RS is a hybrid resilient flooring, which means it has the appearance and feel of carpet but the durability and cleanability of a resilient surface.
Powerbond RS is a wall-to-wall moisture barrier that is made with an impermeable, closed-cell cushion backing and installed with chemically welded seams. Furthermore, its low pile height facilitates the removal of dust and allergens.
During testing, a simple dry vacuuming effectively removed 95% of allergens.
Exposure to indoor air pollutants, such as volatile organic compounds, has been linked to the exacerbation of asthma, allergies, and other respiratory illnesses (VOCs). Powerbond RS is made with low VOCs, including the pre-applied adhesive, ensuring a quick installation while also contributing to healthy indoor air quality over the life of the floor.
“We congratulate Tarkett in achieving the asthma & allergy friendly certification for the Powerbond RS collection,” said Allergy Standards Ltd. CEO Dr. John McKeon.
“Tarkett has certified its hybrid resilient flooring, the first in the soft surface flooring category, and we applaud their strong commitment to creating healthier indoor environments. This will make it easier for people with asthma and allergies to find flooring options that are suitable for them.”
The AAFA and ASL collaborated to develop the science-based asthma and allergy friendly Certification Program. A product must pass rigorous, product-specific standards developed by ASL’s team of scientists and reviewed by AAFA’s medical experts to become CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly.
To become CERTIFIED, a product must meet all certification requirements, indicating that it has been proven to be better suited for those with asthma and allergies. During cleaning, Powerbond RS was tested for VOCs, allergen removal, and particulate release into the air.
According to the AAFA, more than 50 million Americans suffer from allergies each year, with 25 million suffering from asthma. Asthma is the leading chronic cause of child absenteeism from school.
Tarkett’s CERTIFIED asthma & allergy friendly soft surface flooring ensures that the company not only contributes to healthier classrooms and learning spaces for children, but also to campus housing, corporate offices, senior living communities, and other locations.
Powerbond RS was created with the wellbeing of both people and the planet in mind, in keeping with Tarkett’s commitment to Human-Conscious Design.
In addition to its research-backed design, which is scientifically proven to help mitigate against indoor asthma and allergy irritants, Powerbond RS is made from recycled materials and, like all Tarkett North America floors, is free of ortho-phthalates.
Eco-Ensure, a proprietary, fluorine-free anti-soil chemistry that provides enhanced soil protection and removal, as well as foot traffic durability, is also applied to all Powerbond RS designs. Eco-Ensure is Platinum Cradle to Cradle Certified in the Material Health Category.
Powerbond RS is available in hundreds of Tarkett designs and can be combined with Tarkett’s Imaginations program to display customized visuals such as brand names, logos, mascots, wayfinding, or communications.
“Launched over 50 years ago, Powerbond still has no equal in the industry,” said Spears. “Having this official Certification is a huge step forward not only for the flooring industry, but also for the millions of people who suffer from asthma and allergies.”
