ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--

NSF International, in cooperation with Texas-based decorative surfacing product producer Wilsonart LLC, is developing a Product Category Rule (PCR) for residential countertops. This PCR will provide a science-based and internationally recognized method for reporting the environmental impact of residential countertop products and materials throughout their entire life cycle.

Product Category Rules define the elements of a life cycle assessment (LCA) for a particular product group and what to include in an Environmental Product Declaration (EPD), a third-party-verified report summarizing the data generated from a life cycle assessment into a simple format. LCAs measure inputs, outputs and environmental impacts of a product across its lifespan, from cradle to grave. The EPD is the third-party-verified report that presents and summarizes the data generated from a life cycle assessment in a simple format. This allows the user to analyze a single product and provides a basis of comparison among related products.

NSF Sustainability, a division of NSF International that provides sustainability standards development, testing, certification and claims validation for commercial and consumer green products, provides EPD third-party verification by confirming that the data was collected in accordance with the applicable PCR and meets all ISO requirements. This is important as the U.S. Green Building Councils Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) has a pilot credit that recognizes materials that have third-party verified EPDs.

The residential countertop PCR will be established in accordance with the international environmental labeling standard ISO 14025 through the NSF National Center for Sustainability Standards (NCSS). The NCSS will utilize an open consultative process to develop the PCR with participation from an expert panel of countertop manufacturers, suppliers, regulatory agencies, environmental organizations and end users. The NCSS has developed PCRs and American National Standards for sustainability for a wide range of product categories, including chemicals, commercial and institutional furniture, carpets, wallcovering, textiles, flooring, building products and materials, and is developing others for broad industries including water treatment and distribution systems.

The Product Category Rule will provide the industry a much needed standard for measuring and reporting the environmental attributes of residential countertops, providing a basis for improvement and a process that will enable reductions in environmental impacts over time. We look forward to the positive impact this will make on the industry and those that seek more sustainable building and furnishing materials for their homes, said Steve Lubowinski, Research Fellow, Wilsonart LLC, who is leading their LCA activities.

The residential countertop PCR will enable interior designers and architects to source countertops with environmentally preferable attributes using comparative data that has been gathered and reported in a standardized fashion. This is crucial in helping homebuilders and remodelers source products that meet their customers environmental goals, said Tom Bruursema, General Manager of NSF Internationals Sustainability division. For more information on NSF Sustainability, visit nsfsustainability.org or contact Dennis Gillan at 734-476-2543 or sustainability@nsf.org.

Editors note: To schedule an interview with NSF Sustainability General Manager Tom Bruursema, contact Greta Houlahan at houlahan@nsf.org or 734-913-5723.

About NSF International

NSF International is an independent global organization that writes standards, and tests and certifies products for the commercial goods, food, water and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment.

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NSF International and Wilsonart LLC Developing Science–Based Product Category Rule (PCR) for Residential Countertops ...

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Designers, Artists and Architects are Called to Participate in the "Bad Design Awards".

Como, Italy (PRWEB) January 21, 2013

Bad Design Awards platform has especially been founded to collect observations, insights and ideas from participants who had sour experiences with various design awards, idea competitions and innovation contests.

Utilizing the Bad Design Awards platform, participants are able to report unethical competitions, misconducts in contests, issues in awards, cheating participants, competition organizers and sponsors. Participants and organizers are also able to provide their constructive suggestions and feedbacks regarding design competitions. Registered complaints will not be made visible to public; however competition organizers are given chance to log in and view all complaints made against them.

Bad Design Awards platform also publishes an annual white paper, presenting the most controversial issues regarding design contests without pin-pointing any of the competition organizers or participants. Within this white-paper, submitted complaints are de-identified and competition names are anonymized. The white paper includes four headings: 1. Policy suggestions for award organizers and competition hosts. 2. Guidelines for participants. 3. Latest trends in design competitions. 4. Statistics on most controversial issues regarding design competitions.

It is aimed that policy suggestions and guidelines included in the Bad Design Awards white paper could be used for organizing better design contests that not only respects designers rights, but provide more value to contestants.

Bad Design Awards platform does not provide or assign any ratings for the reported competitions in order not to encourage submission of false reports. Bad Design Awards platform does not publicly share any of the submitted comments. Comments are kept confidential to avoid bashing or incorrect submissions. However, competitions that have been reported multiple times are directly contacted and made aware of the submitted reports, so that solutions could be found or improvements could be made.

Designers and organizers could submit their insights on any of the design competitions by filling the "Report a Competition" form at http://www.baddesignaward.com

Bad Design Awards platform is supported by DesignCompetition.com which provides a listing of all design competitions and contests organized around the globe.

About DesignCompetition.com

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Designers, Artists and Architects are Called to Participate

After plenty of time spent reviewing architect resumes and visiting facilities built by prospective architect firms, the Galesburg Public Library Board of Trustees on Monday will finally get to see preliminary designs of what a new library could look like.

The library board has been progressing its effort to build a new library facility in town so that it might be in position to qualify for state money in the spring. To do so, preliminary design plans have to be in place, and the board hopes to have an architect and a rough sketch picked out soon after Monday.

A design competition between the three architects vying for the librarys business will take place Monday at the library, 40 E. Simmons St. An open house will begin at 6 p.m., where residents will be allowed to inspect the plans close up and talk to the architects. Formal presentations will begin at 7 p.m. Board members have said there will be ample opportunity for the public to vet the finalists.

As long as someones a local stakeholder, they will be given the chance to ask questions, said Mike Kroll, the librarys Construction Committee chair before his death in December.

Nine architect firms sent in their qualifications to the library in October, hoping to get the new building project that could cost $15 million. Board members were impressed with the caliber of firms that applied, with some having completed modern staples like the Modern Wing of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Nobel Peace Center in Oslo, Norway.

Site visits were conducted for four finalists, where board members were able to inspect previous designs and in turn get a better idea of what the Galesburg library should look like. Their verdict? It should be an exciting and unique addition to the community, but it should fit within the citys more prairie setting.

Some of the libraries visited in the more affluent Chicago suburbs would prove to be too expensive or too modern.

And while the designs presented Monday will surely garner passionate opinions both ways, it is important to remember the designs presented are just sketches, board members said.

We dont want them to think these designs are hard and fast, said member Mary Phillips. Throughout the evening, we need to reassure the public that theres going to be a working relationship, and there will be many opportunities for public input.

jward@register-mail.com

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Architects compete Monday for library project

Klingner & Associates, based in Quincy, recently bought a Trimble TX5 Laser Scanning System. The company has a branch here, Klingner/Metzger Johnson Architects.

According to a news release, the new scanner is a data collection system that processes and analyzes large datasets quickly and accurately. The scanner has the capacity to capture millions of 3D data points within industry standard formats, which is helpful when measuring stockpile volumes, surveying underground storage facilities and when doing topographic surveys.

Robert Johnson, branch manager in Galesburg, is looking at opportunities to collect 3D building data from building facades and difficult to access areas of building interiors in order to expedite designs for building renovations. The new technology will give architects a mold to enhance design efficiency while reducing design time. The new scanner was put to use Saturday at the Knox County Courthouse.

According to the company, Johnson feels the new technology will help with a multitude of projects, from as-built condition scans, historic structure documentation both inside and out to even unique needs, such as accident scene documentation.

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Architects use laser scanner on courthouse

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