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Steelcase Recognized for Commitment to Improving Indoor Air Quality
Steelcase Products Awarded Indoor Advantage(TM) Certifications for Low Emissions
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich., Feb. 12 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Steelcase Inc. (NYSE:SCS) , a global office environments manufacturer, today announced that over 20 of its product lines have received Indoor Advantage(TM) certifications from Scientific Certification Systems (SCS), an independent third-party certifier. The Indoor Advantage certification program confirms adherence to specific indoor air quality emission requirements and recognizes companies that excel in this environmental initiative.
The Indoor Advantage certification program is applicable to any non-flooring product generally used within an enclosed indoor environment including wall coverings, systems furniture, casegoods, and insulation. Indoor Advantage offers two different certifications -- Indoor Advantage and Indoor Advantage Gold. Indoor Advantage demonstrates conformance with the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturer's Association (BIFMA) and U.S. Green Building Council's Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) criterion. In addition to BIFMA and LEED, Indoor Advantage Gold also demonstrates conformance to California 01350 criterion. California 01350 is a special environmental standard specification developed by the state of California to cover key environmental performance issues related to the selection and handling of building materials.
The SCS Indoor Advantage Certification program offers a highly transparent and independent indoor air quality testing and certification method. It follows strict auditing protocols, accepts data only from pre-qualified laboratories, and has a proven track record in verifying manufacturer's environmental claims.
Steelcase's wood seating line received high marks in regard to low volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions, garnering 14 Indoor Advantage certifications for product lines including Alcove(R), Alerion(R), Collaboration(R), Company(R), Deck(R), England(R), Escapade(R), Gentry Side Chair(R), Mansfield Side Chair(R), Mingle(R), Oriana(R), Snodgrass-Wood(R), Terazzo(R) and Topaz(R). Pathways(R) Privacy Wall and five Steelcase Systems including Answer(R), Avenir(R), Currency(R), Kick(R) and Pathways(R) Technology Wall also received Indoor Advantage certification.
Achieving an additional level of conformance is the Steelcase Think(R) chair, as well as its Answer(R) and Pathways(R) Technology Wall system, which received Indoor Advantage Gold certification.
The Indoor Advantage programs require a series of steps to achieve certification. SCS worked closely with Steelcase throughout the process to identify appropriate product samples for testing, reviewed VOC emission test reports, determined if the test data conformed to LEED, BIFMA and/or California 1350 criteria, and evaluated Steelcase's documented control system. In addition, SCS will periodically inspect Steelcase's manufacturing plants to review product formulas, processing and quality control in order to ensure Steelcase's products retain their low-emitting status.
"Indoor air quality is an environmental issue that Steelcase takes very seriously and our product development process is dedicated to creating low-emitting products that meet critical industry standards and are not detrimental to the health of our customers," said Jeff Musculus, manager of product development test labs and codes for Steelcase. "We are pleased that so many of our products have been certified by Scientific Certification Systems as it highlights our drive for continuous improvement in environmental sustainability and provides Steelcase with momentum for further product certification."
About Steelcase Inc.
Steelcase Inc., a Fortune 500 company, helps individuals and organizations around the world to work more effectively by providing knowledge, products and services that enable customers and their consultants to create work environments that integrate architecture, furniture and technology. Founded in 1912 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, the company has led the global office furniture industry in sales every year since 1974. Its product portfolio includes interior architectural products, furniture systems, technology products, seating, lighting, storage and related products and services. Fiscal 2003 revenue was approximately $2.6 billion. Steelcase Inc. and its subsidiaries have dealers in more than 900 locations, manufacturing facilities in over 50 locations and approximately 16,000 employees around the world. The company's Class A Common Stock trades on the NYSE under the symbol SCS. For more information, visit www.steelcase.com .
About Scientific Certification Systems
SCS is an independent third-party certifier of environmental, sustainability, food quality and food purity claims. Over two decades, SCS has developed internationally recognized standards and certification programs aimed at spurring the highest level of environmental improvements, social accountability and product performance. Its programs span a wide cross-section of the economy, recognizing accomplishments in the fields of forestry, green building, agricultural production, food processing and handling, fisheries, energy, consumer and business product manufacturing, and retail. SCS was the first company to offer manufacturers a program for verifying the accuracy of environmental claims on products. Certification programs for building products include Recycled Content, Biodegradability, Indoor Advantage(TM), Indoor Advantage(TM) Gold, Environmentally Preferable Product, and SCS Sustainable Choice(TM). For more information about SCS, visit www.scscertified.com or call .
FCMN Contact:
Source: Steelcase Inc.
CONTACT: Sara Whitman, of Peppercom, , for Steelcase
Inc.
Web site: http://www.steelcase.com/
http://www.scscertified.com/
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