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ASTM E84 Flammability

Explore Materials and Sample ASTM E84 Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials The ASTM E84 test is a standard of the American Society of Testing and Materials (ASTM) that measures the burning properties, or fire resistance, of building materials that may be exposed to flames using the Steiner tunnel chamber…

Beaded

Explore Materials and Sample The term beaded refers to the process of stringing beads on a thread or wire, or of sewing them to a cloth. Beads can be made of various materials and are available in different sizes and shapes. Beadwork techniques can be combined with weaving, embroidery, crochet,…

Botanical

Explore Materials and Sample Botanical is a motif depicting precise illustrations of plants that occasionally includes representations of flowers in bloom, leaves, or stems. As a favored subject in formal framed art, the imagery has also become a widespread design in printed textiles. Photography Courtesy of James Dunlop Textiles…

Braided

Explore Materials and Sample Braiding is a technique that interlaces a minimum of three threads or strips diagonally across to form a narrow band that can be flat or tubular. Braids are most frequently used for trimmings and can also be sewn together to form a larger surface, such as…

California Prop 65 List

The California Prop 65 List is a public index of naturally occurring and synthetic chemicals that are known to cause cancer and reproductive harm. This list was established by Proposition 65—a law officially known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986—to inform Californians about potential exposure…

CDPH/CHPS 01350

Explore Materials and Sample CDPH (California Department of Public Health) / CHPS (Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security) Section 01350 is a United States standard that addresses the human health and environmental impacts of building materials used by the architecture and design community. Also known as the Standard Method for…

Embroidered

Explore Materials and Sample Embroidered refers to a textile that has been embellished on its surface with fibers, yarns, beads, or other materials. This style can be created by both hand and machine. Hand embroidery is typically constructed through stitch or needle work in the form of a decorative pattern…

Fringe

Explore Materials and Sample Fringe refers to the warp’s yarns that are a by-product of the weaving process. These strands are typically left free on the short sides of a rug and can be loose or twisted.…

International Living Future Institute

The International Living Future Institute (ILFI), established in 2009 by members of the Cascadia Green Building Council, is a non-profit advocating for a socially just, culturally rich, and ecologically restorative society. As the umbrella organization tasked with managing the Living Building Challenge, the Living Product Challenge, the Living Community Challenge,…

Laced

Explore Materials and Sample Laced refers to an ornamental, delicate fabric made by interlacing thread in an open pattern. Lace can be either knit or woven, with knit lace having more stretch than woven lace. Traditionally, lace is made by hand using linen or silk threads, but machine-made lace is…

LEED

Explore Materials and Sample Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a third-party certification system and global standard for green buildings and communities. Developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC), LEED is the world’s most widely used green building rating system. It provides the tools for building industry…

Low-Emitting

Explore Materials and Sample Low-emitting or low volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are reduced concentrations of chemical contaminants in manufactured goods that, at significant levels, can be harmful to human health and the environment. VOC emissions can be released from household products like paints, solvents, carpets, wood composites, and cleaning products,…

Sequin

Explore Materials and Sample A sequin is a shiny disk or bead that can be sewn onto clothing, textiles, trims, or wallcoverings for decoration. The embellishments are often used to add sparkle or shimmer to fabrics. Sequins are typically made from plastic or shiny metals in many geometrical shapes. They…

TENCEL

Explore Materials and Sample TENCEL is the branded cellulosic fiber produced by Lenzing company. Lenzing offers three types of fibers, TENCEL Lyocell, TENCEL Modal and TENCEL Luxe. TENCEL fibers are manufactured fibers made from wood pulp with a solvent spun process. TENCEL Lyocell fibers and TENCEL Modal fibers can be…

Three Dimensional

A three-dimensional material has physical attributes that exist in the X, Y, and Z plains. While specific categories of materials will define three-dimensionality differently, if there has been an additive, reductive, or transformative process done to the material, it may qualify as having three-dimensional characteristics. Photography Courtesy of INAX…

UL 723 Flammability

Explore Materials and Sample The UL 723 Surface Burning Characteristic of Building Materials test is a standard of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that measures the burning properties, or fire resistance, of building materials that may be exposed to flames. Results obtained from this test are used by code officials in the…

US Green Building Council

The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming the nation’s construction industry by promoting the values of the green building rating system Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). Its mission is to facilitate healthier, more socially and environmentally responsible buildings and communities that improve…

WELL

Explore Materials and Sample The WELL Building Standard is a global rating system that uses a point-based framework of best-practice policies to assess the impact of the built environment on human health. WELL was founded by the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI), a public benefit corporation with a mission to…

Woven

Explore Materials and Sample A woven textile is created by interlacing warp and weft (fill) yarns on a loom. Warp yarns run vertically in a loom and weft yarns run horizontally. Warp yarns are thin with a high twist, making them more durable than weft yarns. They usually have a…

Distressed

Explore Materials and Sample Distressed refers to a material that has simulated marks of age and wear or has been purposely blemished so as to give the appearance of long, steady use. It can be applied to wood, metal, textile, glass, and stone through many methods such as hammering, denting,…

Acrylic

Explore Materials and Sample Acrylic fiber is a synthetic fiber made from polyacrylonitrile that was first developed by Dupont in the 1940s and trademarked under the name Orlon. Acrylic fiber is lightweight, durable, and can be extruded in both staple and filament form through wet and dry spinning process. Acrylic…

Nylon

Explore Materials and Sample Nylon is a synthetic thermoplastic polyamide fiber that was first developed by Dupont in 1938. It is a performance fiber that can be manufactured in both filament and staple form. There are multiple types of Nylon based on different molecular structure. With its high tensile properties,…

Sealant

A sealant can be applied for purposes of protecting a substrate material from air, gas, dust, liquids, or abrasion. It can be designed to provide thermal and acoustical insulation or serve as a fire barrier. Sealants may have smoothing or gap filling properties, and may be weak or strong, flexible…

Substrate

A substrate refers to a base surface or underlying layer upon which another material is adhered, coated, laminated, deposited, printed, or otherwise brought into contact with.…

Crewel Embroidery

Explore Materials and Sample Crewel embroidery, or crewelwork, is a type of free surface embroidery that uses a crewel or two-ply wool yarn. This heftier yarn gives embroidery patterns a signature thickness and texture. Because crewel is defined by the type of material used, it may use any embroidery stitch.…

Dog-Tooth Moulding

Dog-tooth moulding is an ornamental architectural element. The dog-tooth pattern consists of triangles, pyramids, or a petal-like designs connecting at the ends to form a diamond or square, that more often look like a sharp canine tooth. The dog-tooth moulding pattern stems from the Early Normal period (c.1066-1485 AD) and…

Acetate

Explore Materials and Sample Acetate is a manufactured cellulose fiber made from wood pulp through a dry spinning process. It can be manufactured as a staple fiber and filament yarn. Acetate staple fiber is commonly used as cigarette filters, while acetate filament yarn is often weaved into satin fabric, which…

Polyester

Explore Materials and Sample Polyester is a category of synthetic petroleum-based fiber. It is one of the most popular synthetic fiber families that is often referred to as polyethylene terephthalate (PET). Polyester can be manufactured as staple fibers, filament yarns, and mono filament yarns. Polyester is hydrophobic and can only…

Crown Moulding

Crown moulding refers to decorative cornice installed at the intersection of the ceiling and wall, which is constructed from wood, plaster, or other materials. This decorative moulding can give a ceiling the feeling of height. Crown moulding dates back to Egyptian times, and later in classical Greek and Roman architecture,…

Dentil Moulding

Dentil moulding refers to a decorative moulding that consists of a simple repetition of closely spaced, rectangular blocks. Dentil is derived from the Latin word dens, meaning teeth. This moulding is generally used below the cornice of the roof line, or along a fireplace mantel. It is a popular ornamentation…

Egg and Dart Moulding

Egg and dart moulding refers to a type of decorative moulding, which consists of the simple repetition of an egg-shaped object—also called the echinus—interspersed with a V-shaped element such as an arrow, anchor, or dart that surrounds the echinus. This moulding is traditionally found at the top of ionic capitals,…

Ribbon Moulding

Ribbon moulding refers to a decorative moulding that gives the appearance of a spiraling ribbon around a narrow cylindrical column. These mouldings are generally reeded and have decorative elements such as rosettes.…

Declaration

A declaration is a report that provides quantified, transparent information about a product’s environmental performance and material ingredients. It can be used by building industry professionals to facilitate comparison with similar products and to help manufacturers qualify for transparency credits in green building rating systems. Declarations can be published as…

Modal

Explore Materials and Sample Modal is a manufactured cellulose fiber that was first developed in Japan in 1951. As a fiber in the rayon family, it is known for being stronger and more stable than other types of rayon fiber. Modal is manufactured in a modified solvent spun process that…

BREEAM

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method, or BREEAM, was the world’s first widely used green building certification system. Developed in the 1990s in the UK by Building Research Establishment (BRE), today BREEAM is used in over 80 countries.1 BREAAM certification demonstrates a building project’s sustainability and its commitment to protecting…

Rayon

Explore Materials and Sample Rayon is a manufactured cellulose fiber that is made from plant-based materials. In general, rayon is made with a solvent spun process that includes dissolving wood pulp into cellulose solution, metering through a spinneret, and dipping it into an acid bath. Acetate, bamboo, lyocell, modal, and…

Viscose

Explore Materials and Sample Viscose is a manufactured cellulose fiber that is made from plant-based materials. It is the most commonly produced type of rayon and was patented by Charles Frederick Cross, Edward John Bevan, and Clayton Beadle in 1894. Since viscose is soft to skin, lightweight, breathable, and lustrous,…

Environmental Justice

Environmental Justice is the equitable distribution of environmental burdens and benefits, and of meaningful participation in environmental decision-making. This means that all people have the right to equal protection from environmental and health hazards, and the right to live, work, play, worship, or learn in safe, healthy communities.1 The US…

Global Warming Potential

The Global Warming Potential (GWP) is a unit of measurement developed to compare the atmospheric global warming impacts of gases. It tells us how long a gas remains in the atmosphere, and how much energy it absorbs over a given time period, relative to 1 ton of carbon dioxide (CO2).…

SCS Global Services

SCS Global Services is a third-party certification body that also develops its own standards. It develops environmental, sustainability, food safety, and quality performance standards, as well as auditing and certification programs. It works internationally, initiating partnerships with companies, government agencies, NGOs, and other stakeholders to achieve sustainable development goals and…

Social Equity

Social Equity, at its simplest, can be understood as impartiality, fairness, and justice for all people.1 This means taking into account systemic inequalities to ensure that that everyone has access to the same opportunities and outcomes. Equity acknowledges that inequalities exist and works to eliminate them. It means that regardless…

Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a volatile organic chemical (VOC) used as a preservative, disinfectant, and binding agent in the building industry.1 ­It has been designated as a carcinogen by the World Health Organization and California’s Proposition 65, and a Hazardous Air Pollutant by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It is a key…

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the quality of air in and around buildings, as it affects human health and safety. Pollutants released into indoor air can cause adverse short- and long-term health effects. These effects have a disproportionate impact on at-risk populations like children, the elderly, asthmatics, low-income, minorities,…

Life Cycle Assessment

Life cycle assessment (LCA) is a standardized set of procedures used to quantify the inputs, outputs, and potential environmental impacts of products or systems across their entire life cycle. LCAs promote the redesign and responsible design of products and processes to reduce harm to the environment.1 The life cycle is…

Perkins and Will Precautionary List

The Perkins & Will Precautionary List is a compilation of hazardous chemicals that are used in the building, design, and construction industry. The list was developed by Perkins & Will, an architecture and planning firm whose aim is to provide industry professionals with a tool to analyze the health and…

REACH Substances of Very High Concern

REACH Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs) are chemicals that pose a serious threat to human health and the environment, as evaluated by the European Chemical Agency (ECHA). They are regulated through the Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH), a European Union law instated in 2007. The SVHC…

Red List

The Red List is an index of the most harmful and polluting materials used in the building industry. It was created by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI) to identify and eliminate pollutants, substances that are harmful to construction and factory workers, and chemicals that bio-accumulate up the food chain…

Six Classes

Six Classes is a framework developed by the Green Science Policy Institute to provide information about many  of the harmful chemicals used in building materials and consumer products, in order to minimize their use. Rather than creating a list of chemicals of concern, Six Classes groups chemicals into six categories.…

Third Party

A third party is an objective, independent person or organization. Product testing, evaluation, certification, and reporting is often performed by a third party in order to ensure reliability. In order to be independent, third parties must have no conflicts of interest, financial, personal, or otherwise, with involved parties such as…

Toxicity

Toxicity refers to the potential of a substance to cause harm to the living body. Toxic substances, or toxicants, can be naturally occurring (such as lead), synthetic (like phthalates), or produced by a living organism (like mold). Those produced by a living organism fall into a subclassification of toxicants called…

Biodegradation

Biodegradation is the breakdown or decomposition of materials by microorganisms. It refers to the processes that transform materials into less complex compounds that can be used and reused by living systems. Biodegradation is used for waste management and environmental remediation, also known as bioremediation. It is an important process that…

Circular Economy

The Circular Economy is a framework that aims to reduce environmental impacts and generate economic growth by eliminating waste and reusing resources. This model is an alternative to the traditional linear economic system, which presumes the existence and accessibility of unlimited natural resources, and in which a product’s life cycle…

Compliance

In the building industry, compliance means acting in adherence to a set of regulations, standards, or codes. It indicates that a product, project, or process fulfills all official requirements. Designers, manufacturers, and other professionals may need to demonstrate compliance to internal management, regulators, the government, customers, or independent third parties.…

Cradle to Cradle Basic Level Restricted Substances List (RSL)

The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Basic Level Restricted Substances List (RSL) is a register of the chemicals that are banned from use in Cradle to Cradle Certified products above certain thresholds. These substances have been found to be harmful or toxic to the environment and human health.1 The RSL was…

Cradle to Cradle Material Health Certificate

The Cradle to Cradle (C2C) Material Health Certificate recognizes products that avoid the use of harmful chemicals or toxic materials, in accordance with Cradle to Cradle’s Certified Product Standard. The C2C product standard is administered by the Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute (C2CPII) to incentivize environmentally and socially responsible…

Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is an agency of the United States federal government whose mission is to protect human health and the environment. It was established in 1970 to ensure that all Americans have access to clean air, land, and water, and that related federal laws are administered and…

EPA Chemicals of Concern

EPA Chemicals of Concern is a list compiled by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) containing chemical substances found to be harmful or toxic to human health and the environment. This list was published in accordance with a 2016 amendment to the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA), which requires…

Heavy Metals

Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements with high densities relative to water, which are toxic at low concentrations.1 They are part of an ill-defined subset of elements with metallic properties, usually categorized as metals or metalloids.2 In trace amounts, many of these elements are necessary to sustain life, but when…

Product Life Cycle

A product life cycle is an assessment of resource consumption, performance, and environmental impacts at each phase of an industrial product’s life. It consists of the extraction of raw materials, the processing of those materials, manufacturing, shipping, use, maintenance, and finally disposal or recycling. Life cycle assessment is based on…

Supply Chain

A supply chain is a coordinated system of processes, information, resources, physical locations, and service providers that are responsible for a product’s manufacturing, storage, distribution, and retail.1 All activities between the extraction of raw materials and the product’s acquisition by an end customer make up part of the supply chain.…

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are chemical contaminants that, at significant levels, can be harmful to human health and the environment. VOCs are volatile, meaning that they evaporate readily, and organic, which means that they contain carbon atoms. There are several exceptions that do not fall under VOC categorization, including carbon…

Wastewater

Wastewater refers to any water that has been used by humans. It includes water that has been contaminated by domestic, industrial, agricultural, and commercial use, and from stormwater runoff and infiltration.1 After use, water must be treated to reduce pollutants before being released into the environment. Wastewater is collected in…

UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories)

UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories), founded in 1894, is an independent safety science company and standards developer that promotes the production and use of products that are physically and environmentally safe. It seeks to advance the living and working conditions for people, through the application of science, hazard-based safety engineering, and…

American National Safety Institute (ANSI)

The American National Safety Institute (ANSI) is a private, non-profit membership organization that manages and regulates the development of voluntary safety standards for products and systems in the United States. Founded in 1918, ANSI and its members have laid the groundwork for national standardization and assessment frameworks in industries encompassing…

Certification

A certification provides third-party confirmation that a product, project, process, or system fulfills the requirements of a given standard. Certification programs vary in method or philosophy. They can be divided into multi-attribute and single-attribute programs. A single-attribute certification focuses on just one factor, like water use, energy use, or chemical…

Texture

Explore Materials and Sample Texture describes the dimensionality of a material surface independently from a pattern or motif. Textures can be flat or deep, even or uneven, and soft or rough. Textures are created for visual impact, but their tactile quality and physical properties are experienced through touch. Photography Courtesy…

Bleach Cleanable

Explore Materials and Sample Bleach cleanable is a common cleaning instruction for textiles. It usually comes with detailed dilution instructions as well as the applicable bleach type. There are two different types of bleach: chlorine bleach and oxygen bleach or non-chlorine bleach. Chlorine bleach can disinfect, oxidize, and deodorize textiles,…