The report, prepared for the Institute by Air Quality Sciences, outlines the test method and initial validation of data obtained on interior materials. The test methods will be used as part of the Institute’s one-year pilot study intended to establish a standard for comparing building materials. The study is open to all interior product manufacturers and stakeholders in the development of the method and ranking system. Leading manufacturers of insulation, adhesives and textiles have already signed up to participate.
Based on ASTM D 6329-98, the method developed specifically for evaluation of products commonly found in indoor environments, the pilot program demonstrates applicability and repeatability among different product types. One of the challenges of this program is to develop a test and ranking that is applicable to a wide range of materials.
Materials will be ranked on their ability to resist mold growth. Performance results are expected to be reported by product category and subcategories, if applicable. The initial results will be represented for each product category on a proposed scale of 1 to 5, with 1 being least resistant to mold growth and 5 being most resistant.
The scale has been proposed using data obtained from recognized susceptible materials for each category, such as paper-based wall materials, economy-grade ceiling tiles, insulation, textiles and engineered wood.
The definitions of rankings are:
• 1 Not Resistant: Mold growth comparable to highly susceptible materials.
• 2 Slightly Resistant: Mold growth comparable to slightly resistant materials.
• 3 Moderately Resistant Mold growth comparable with moderately resistant materials.
• 4 Resistant: Mold growth comparable to resistant materials. o 5 Highly Resistant: Mold growth comparable with highly resistant materials. The full report is available at www.greenguard.org.
