Easy-to-Use Mold Resistance Rating for Building Materials

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Air Quality Sciences, Inc.

AQS Creates Easy-to-Use Mold Resistance Rating for Building Materials

http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release_html_b1?release_id=128685

ATLANTA, GA -- (MARKET WIRE) -- 05/11/2006 -- Air Quality Sciences

(AQS), in conjunction with the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute

(GEI), announces a new test method that reliably measures the

ability of newly manufactured building materials to resist mold

growth. Once tested, a newly manufactured product receives a 1 to 4

performance rating -- 1 being highly susceptible to mold growth and

4 being highly resistant to mold growth.

" This easy-to-use rating system will greatly assist architects and

specifiers by taking the guesswork out of selecting the best

building materials that resist mold growth as well as supporting

product manufacturers in their efforts to provide products that meet

this critical need, " said Marilyn S. Black, PhD, CEO and chief

scientist with AQS. The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute will use

this rating system to develop product certification criteria for

mold resistance as more data becomes available on key construction

and furnishing materials.

" The test method that supports the rating system determines

microbial resistance of new materials as manufactured and not as

installed, soiled or weathered. As such, the test does not guarantee

product performance, since installation, modification of materials,

weathering, aging, and building operation and maintenance may impact

the microbial resistance of materials, " Dr. Black said. The test

method is based on the US Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA)

research guide, published as ASTM D 6329-98 (2003), " Standard Guide

for Developing Methodology for Evaluating the Ability of Indoor

Materials to Support Microbial Growth Using Static Environmental

Chambers. "

Air Quality Sciences conducted a rigorous trial of the test method,

including a nine-month laboratory study (Phase 1), followed by a

yearlong pilot study of products submitted for testing (Phase 2).

Results confirmed and validated the choice of mold, consistency of

results from control samples, the time course of mold growth, and

that different materials respond differently. Ten manufacturers of

insulation, adhesive, flooring and wallcovering products accepted an

invitation to participate in Phase 2 of the study.

The final pilot study report will be available free from the

GREENGUARD website (www.greenguard.org). A white paper that provides

perspective on the usefulness of this new test method and rating

system is currently available on the Aerias - AQS IAQ Resource

Center website (www.aerias.org or www.aqs.com).

Air Quality Sciences, Inc. is a fully integrated indoor air quality

(IAQ) company that provides solutions to create healthy indoor

environments and avoid potentially dangerous indoor pollution. As

the only IAQ firm with internal labs that are both ISO 9001:2000

registered and AIHA EMLAP accredited, AQS sets the standard for

effective diagnoses and solutions. AQS is also the technical partner

for the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute, which provides an

independent, third-party certification for low emitting products

used indoors.

The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute is an independent, non-profit

organization that oversees the GREENGUARD Certification program,

including the establishment of acceptable standards for indoor

products and testing protocols. GREENGUARD's goal is to improve

public health and quality of life by helping manufacturers build

better and safer products. GREENGUARD certified or tested furniture

and furnishings are a part of the US Green Building Council's LEED

for Commercial Interiors.

To learn more about AQS and GREENGUARD, visit www.aqs.com and

www.greenguard.org, respectively.

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Contact:

Kelley Gullison

(770) 933-0638 x 239

Email Contact

www.aqs.com

SOURCE: Air Quality Sciences, Inc.