ICC ES Launches Verification Program for Green Building Products

ICC Evaluation Service has introduced the Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation program, designed to provide independent confirmation to manufacturers that building products are sustainable and could qualify for points under green building rating systems.

“SAVE brings great benefit to manufacturers, specifiers, designers and code officials because it’s designed to be useable under the three major green rating systems: the new National Green Building Standard, LEED and Green Globes,” says Steve Thorsell, ICC-ES director of special projects. “A verification of attributes report from ICC-ES gives manufacturers proof they can show their customers that the sustainability of their product is indeed verified, a significant advantage in an increasingly competitive marketplace.”

ICC-ES is a subsidiary of the International Code Council that provides technical evaluations of building products, components and methods.  Its new SAVE verification process includes inspection of the manufacturer’s production process and reviews of independent product testing, where required. Manufacturers that complete the process receive a verification report in one or more of nine categories:

• recycled content (postconsumer/preconsumer)
• regional materials
• bio-based materials
• certified wood products
• solar reflectance index and thermal emittance of roofing materials
• volatile organic compound content and emissions (adhesives and sealants)
• volatile organic compound content and emissions (paints and coatings)
• urea formaldehyde resin content in composite wood products
• volatile organic compound content and emissions of floor coverings.

Application details for the SAVE program are available at www.saveprogram.icc-es.org/details.