New Evaluation Program Verifies Product Sustainability

ICC Evaluation Service (ICC-ES) has introduced SAVE - the Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation program. Manufacturers are introducing products every day that they say are green or sustainable, according to program organizers. Now they can prove their claims are verified. The Sustainable Attributes Verification and Evaluation program provides independent confirmation that evaluated building products are sustainable and may qualify for points under major green rating systems.

A SAVE evaluation involves both inspection of the manufacturer's production process and reviews of independent product testing, where required. Manufacturers that complete the evaluation process successfully receive a Verification of Attributes Report (VAR) in one or more of nine key categories: recycled content (post consumer/pre-consumer), 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 and volatile organic compound content and emissions of floor coverings.

"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 VAR (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. Code officials, designers and specifiers know to look for products evaluated under SAVE."

Manufacturers who want their construction products or systems evaluated under the SAVE program can view the Application Details at saveprogram.icc-es.org/details. ICC-ES maintains a list of products successfully evaluated under the SAVE program in a Directory of Reports available at saveprogram.icc-es.org/reports.

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