RFCI Launches ASSURE CERTIFIED™
Program for Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Tile
LA GRANGE, Ga., January 2, 2020 /3BL Media/ – The Resilient Floor Covering Institute and SCS Global Services announce a new program to ensure the continued growth and popularity of Rigid Core Luxury Vinyl Tile (LVT) marketed and sold in North America. The program is called ASSURE CERTIFIED™.
“As part of our mission to support the interest of resilient flooring, RFCI and member manufacturers determined there was an urgent need to establish industry-wide standards for Rigid Core LVT quality, no matter where it’s made,” explained Dean Thompson, president and CEO of RFCI.
Rigid Core LVT is the fastest growing resilient flooring category. It has evolved quickly from an innovative “multilayer” resilient concept – first as expanded polymer core (also called WPC), and quickly adding solid polymer core (SPC) – to a very popular, resilient waterproof flooring solution offered by many brands. ASSURE CERTIFIED™ flooring will be positioned as “Smart. Durable. Responsible.”
SCS Global Services (SCS), an international leader in third-party certification and standards development, will provide certification services and direct the testing protocol. This includes an assessment of the manufacturing quality control procedure for material suppliers, product traceability, chain of custody, internal QC testing and segregation of non-conforming products and materials. It also includes an on-site manufacturing facility audit, as well as performance testing in compliance with the rigid core ASTM standard, testing for heavy metals and ortho-phthalates content, and FloorScore® testing for indoor air quality. (FloorScore®, another RFCI program managed by SCS Global Services, is the industry’s most widely recognized indoor air quality (IAQ) certification standard for hard surface flooring materials, adhesives, and underlayments.)
“The standards for the ASSURE CERTIFIED™ program will be the best protection and quality assurance for all Rigid Core manufacturers, suppliers, distributors, retailers and, of course, consumers and end users,” said Thompson.
“Flooring customers are very informed and engaged in choosing safe, high performance flooring for their homes, offices, and other indoor uses,” said Nicole Muñoz, vice president of Environmental Certification Services at SCS. “ASSURE CERTIFIED™ is a timely label for this rapidly developing flooring category.”
Starting this month, information about ASSURE CERTIFIED™ will be available on the RFCI.com site and the SCSGlobalServices.com site. Outreach to the floor covering trade is occurring via an ad campaign now being featured in the trade media, “What the best dressed brands will be wearing.”
Rigid Core manufacturers can contact SCS Global Services directly to start their certification
process now.
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About RFCI
The Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), based in La Grange, GA, is the leading industry association for hard surface flooring and helps designers, architects, facilities managers, home owners, and others make wise flooring decisions. RFCI promotes resilient flooring as the durable, sustainable and highly affordable floor covering solution that’s perfect for residential and commercial constructions and remodels. It also monitors and responds to Legislation and regulations from all levels of government that affect the resilient industry, its products, and the people who use them. RFCI provides technical information on the resilient flooring industry and is continuously developing guidelines to ensure the quality and sustainability of resilient flooring products, their installation, and their maintenance. https://rfci.com
Contact:
Dean Thompson, President and CEO
About SCS Global Services
SCS Global Services has been a global leader in third-party environmental and sustainability verification, certification, auditing, testing, and standards development for more than three decades. Its programs span a cross-section of industries, recognizing achievements in green building, product manufacturing, food and agriculture, forestry, power generation, retail, and more. Headquartered in Emeryville, California, SCS has representatives and affiliate offices throughout the Americas, Asia/Pacific, Europe and Africa. Its broad network of auditors are experts in their fields, and the company is a trusted partner to many environmental NGOs due to its dedication to quality and professionalism. SCS is a chartered Benefit Corporation, reflecting its commitment to socially and environmentally responsible business practices. For more information visit www.scsglobalservices.com.
Contact:
Karen Righthand, Director of Sales and Marketing
krighthand@scsglobalservices.com
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For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact
Paul Friederichsen at 404-642-3357 or at paul@brandbizinc.com
