Two certification bodies - NSF International and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) - along with BIFMA, are pleased to announce 2-hour training sessions (.2 CEU credits) that will provide the architect, interior designer and furniture specifier with an understanding of how level™ certification works to make the identification of “green” products easier.

The training sessions are being provided at no-charge but registration is limited and required for all sessions. Each session will provide a thorough review and understanding of this multi-attribute standard and the level™ certification program. The level™ mark is awarded to products based on performance against assessment criteria in the follow areas:

- Materials and Natural Resources

- Energy and Atmosphere

- Human and Ecosystem Health

- Social Responsibility

level™ Training Dates for Architects, Designers, Specifiers and Customers

Los Angeles, CA - Herman Miller Showroom - March 24, 2010; 8:30 - 11 a.m.

San Francisco, CA - Allsteel/Gunlocke Resource Center - March 31, 2010; 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Dallas, TX - Knoll Showroom - April 13, 2010; 6:00 p.m.- 8:00 p.m.

Dallas, TX - Knoll Showroom - April 14, 2010; 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Houston, TX - Houston Marriott West Loop (hosted by National Office Furniture) - April 16, 2010; 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Atlanta, GA - Herman Miller Showroom - May 5, 2010; 8:00 - 10:30 a.m.

Washington D.C. - To Be Announced

New York, NY - izzy+ Showroom - May 20, 2010; 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Toronto, ON - Knoll Showroom - June 3, 2010; 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Toronto, ON - Knoll Showroom - June 3, 2010; 4:00 p.m.- 6:00 p.m.

Chicago, IL - Bretford Showroom - June 23, 2010; 8:00 a.m.- 10:00 a.m.

Visit http://www.leveltraining2010.org and register to attend a session in a city near you.

My work over the years has lead me to people like Denise Vanvalkenburg at Masco, Randy Carter of Steelcase, Kirsten Ritchie of Gensler and others inside and out of the commercial interiors world. Each of these individuals has knowledge that is truly remarkable. Randy and Denise’s understanding of chemicals and their impacts is amazing. And Kirsten is unmatched in taking the abstract and bringing it to life.

Still, at many green events, we often get theory and niche examples of potential change. Why don’t we rip a page from the TED conference and build a green TED? We need ideas from those that are living sustainability from inside the corporate world and making significant, game changing moves.

I’m looking forward to Greenbuild, and I look forward to hearing speakers, and meeting an ever growing sea of individuals who are implementing the inspiration.

The level certification program continues to grow with more companies adopting the program and certifying product to the standard. The following is a listing of products and the companies that have certified products.

level has three conformance thresholds within the standard. Products can be awarded a level 1, level 2 or level 3 compliance mark based on the combined score achieved in their sustainability evaluation. level 3 is the highest award a product can achieve. The level of certification achieved is listed after the Product Line (1, 2 or 3).

(Follow the link to see the most recent and complete list of level Certified Products)

Commercial Furniture Industry Launches “level”
Certification Program for Furniture Sustainability Standard

Grand Rapids, MI  June 1, 2009 - BIFMA International, the trade association for the commercial furniture industry, representing the leading firms in the contract furniture market, today announces the premier of the product certification program, level^TM.

level will verify conformance to the first fully transparent, multi-attribute furniture sustainability standard addressing material utilization, energy and atmosphere impacts, human and ecosystem health and social responsibility. Manufacturers evaluating products to the BIFMA e3 sustainability standard and undergoing an independent, third-party certification process can achieve the level conformance mark. NSF International and Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) are the first third-party certification bodies to be recognized under the level certification program.  The standard is modeled after LEED with specific prerequisites, optional credits, and three conformance levels, with level 3 certification being the highest.

“For the past three years we have been following the ANSI process, working with stakeholders and experts from inside and outside the industry to create a standard that can be used by all furniture producers,” said Tom Reardon, BIFMA Executive Director. “We also understand the importance of an independent evaluation and conformance verification process and invite additional certification bodies to participate in the program.  We have to give our customers a simple and comprehensive way to understand how products contribute to green buildings and sustainability as a whole,” he added.

BIFMA member firms Allsteel, Gunlocke, HON Company, Herman Miller, Kimball Office, National Office Furniture and Steelcase have products that meet the standard’s requirements and have received third party certification by either NSF or SCS. Each firm will be showcasing their level certified products at NeoCon this year.

For more information, visit www.levelcertified.org

About BIFMA

Established in 1973, BIFMA’s mission is to lead, advocate, inform and develop standards for the North American office and institutional furniture industry.  As a not-for-profit organization BIFMA provides an effective forum for Members to cooperate and collaborate on appropriate industry issues.  We develop voluntary product and industry standards that support safe, healthy and sustainable environments; publish key industry statistics; advocate for legislation and government regulation that have a direct impact on the health of the industry; and facilitate meaningful dialog and education to support our core services and the industry we serve.

Media Contact:

Tom Reardon

Executive Director (BIFMA)

678 Front Ave. NW, Suite 150

Grand Rapids, MI 49504-5368

616-285-3963

treardon@bifma.org

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Two months ago Tom Reardon, Brad Miller and I traveled to DC and New York to attend seven meetings with NGOs, government agencies, trade associations and the media. At every turn and in every meeting we were not only welcomed, but asked how each group could help spread the word about level. In effect, I’m now wondering which opportunity we should pursue first.

What’s become evident is that according to everyone constituent we meet, level is being viewed as one of the most important developments in both the development of standards and in how sustainability is considered.

I think we’ll soon find ourselves asking “what shouldn’t we do” as opposed to “what should we do”.