[Skip to Content]

Flooring

Return to Tenant Restroom

Design Guidance

Overall Strategies

Flooring is the area of the office subject to the most physical abuse from both heavy objects and people alike, therefore making its durability a vital characteristic. Since flooring is not easily adaptable after installation the service life of the system should be as long as possible - taking the production, installation, use, and disposal into consideration.

Green Tips

  • Use underfloor air distribution for reconfigurable technology ready space as power, voice, and data services are easily accessible with access floors.
  • Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and low VOC''s to determine the most appropriate sustainable product for the space.
  • Prevent stains by cleaning up spills promptly, starting with cold water and blotting cloths.
  • Select durable and easy to clean floor surfaces such as rubber or linoleum as break rooms are prone to high traffic and frequent spills.
  • Dry vacuum regularly and follow with a wet vacuum water extraction machine when necessary to protect indoor air quality.
  • Keep extra carpet tiles on hand to replace stained or damaged tiles.
  • Use carpet to absorb sound and reduce noise pollution.
  • Look for CRI Green Label and Green Label Plus certified carpet which emits fewer emissions than standard carpet.
  • Select flooring options that naturally compress and absorb pressure such as cork and rubber to help alleviate foot and back pain.
  • Consider installing entryway mats to effectively capture dust, dirt and other pollutants.
  • Keep extra carpet tiles on hand to replace stained or damaged tiles.
  • Use Green Seal certified chemicals and solutions when cleaning to protect indoor air quality.
  • Select materials that are extremely durable to withstand high load applications.
  • Promote a low static environment with use of rubber flooring

Compare Flooring Options

EB = Existing BuildingsNC = New Construction and Major Renovation

Legal Requirements

Guiding Principles

  • [recycled content] ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Orders 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: V. Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

    Per Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (PDF), for EPA-designated products, specify products meeting or exceeding EPA's recycled content recommendations. For other products, specify materials with recycled content when practicable. If EPA-designated products meet performance requirements and are available at a reasonable cost, a preference for purchasing them shall be included in all solicitations relevant to construction, operation, maintenance of or use in the building. EPA's recycled content product designations and recycled content recommendations are available on EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guideline website.

    FHPSB Construction Waste | Whole Building Design Guide US EPA | Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines

  • Low-Emitting Materials ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Orders 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: IV. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality

    Specify materials and products with low pollutant emissions, including composite wood products, adhesives, sealants, interior paints and finishes, carpet systems, and furnishings.

    FHPSB Low Emitting Materials

  • Recycled Content ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Orders 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: V. Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

    Per Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (PDF), for EPA-designated products, specify products meeting or exceeding EPA's recycled content recommendations. For other products, specify materials with recycled content when practicable. If EPA-designated products meet performance requirements and are available at a reasonable cost, a preference for purchasing them shall be included in all solicitations relevant to construction, operation, maintenance of or use in the building. EPA's recycled content product designations and [recycled content] recommendations are available on EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guideline website.

    FHPSB Construction Waste | Whole Building Design Guide US EPA | Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines

  • Recycled Content ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: V. Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

    Per Section 6002 of the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act (RCRA) (PDF), for EPA-designated products, specify products meeting or exceeding EPA's recycled content recommendations. For other products, specify materials with recycled content when practicable. If EPA-designated products meet performance requirements and are available at a reasonable cost, a preference for purchasing them shall be included in all solicitations relevant to construction, operation, maintenance of or use in the building. EPA's recycled content product designations and [recycled content] recommendations are available on EPA's Comprehensive Procurement Guideline website.

    FHPSB Construction Waste | Whole Building Design Guide US EPA | Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines

  • Low-emitting Materials ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: IV. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality

    Specify materials and products with low pollutant emissions, including composite wood products, adhesives, sealants, interior paints and finishes, carpet systems, and furnishings.

    FHPSB Low Emitting Materials

  • Biobased Content ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: V. Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

    Per Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA), for USDA-designated products, specify products with the highest content level per USDA's biobased content recommendations. For other products, specify biobased products made from rapidly renewable resources and certified sustainable wood products. If these designated products meet performance requirements and are available at a reasonable cost, a preference for purchasing them shall be included in all solicitations relevant to construction, operation, maintenance of or use in the building. USDA's biobased product designations and biobased content recommendations are available on USDA's BioPreferred website.

    FHPSB Biobased Content FSRIA and BioPreferred Guidelines Proposed and Final Regulations

  • Low-Emitting Materials ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: IV. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality

    Specify materials and products with low pollutant emissions, including composite wood products, adhesives, sealants, interior paints and finishes, carpet systems, and furnishings.

    FHPSB Low Emitting Materials

  • Biobased Content ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: V. Reduce Environmental Impact of Materials

    Per Section 9002 of the Farm Security and Rural Investment Act (FSRIA), for USDA-designated products, specify products with the highest content level per USDA's biobased content recommendations. For other products, specify biobased products made from rapidly renewable resources and certified sustainable wood products. If these designated products meet performance requirements and are available at a reasonable cost, a preference for purchasing them shall be included in all solicitations relevant to construction, operation, maintenance of or use in the building. USDA's biobased product designations and biobased content recommendations are available on USDA's BioPreferred website.

    FHPSB Biobased Content FSRIA and BioPreferred Guidelines Proposed and Final Regulations

  • Low-Emitting Materials ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
    Section: IV. Enhance Indoor Environmental Quality

    Specify materials and products with low pollutant emissions, including composite wood products, adhesives, sealants, interior paints and finishes, carpet systems, and furnishings.

    FHPSB Low Emitting Materials

SFO

  • ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE BUILDING PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS (DEC 2007) ( SFO)
    Section:

    A. The Lessor shall use environmentally preferable products and materials. The Lessor is encouraged to consider the lifecycle analysis of the product in addition to the initial cost. B. Refer to EPA's environmentally preferable purchasing web site, www.epa.gov/epp and USDA BioPreferred products web site biobased.oce.usda.gov/fb4p/. In general, environmentally preferable products and materials do one or more of the following: 1. Contain recycled material, are biobased, are rapidly renewable (10-year or shorter growth cycle), or have other positive environmental attributes; 2. Minimize the consumption of resources, energy, and water; 3. Prevent the creation of solid waste, air pollution, or water pollution; or 4. Promote the use of nontoxic substances and avoid toxic materials or processes. C. The Lessor is encouraged to use products that are extracted and manufactured regionally.

  • WOOD PRODUCTS (AUG 2008) ( SFO)
    Section:

    A. For all new installations of wood products, the Lessor is encouraged to use independently certified forest products. For information on certification and certified wood products, refer to the Forest Certification Resource Center (www.certifiedwood.org), the Forest Stewardship Council United States (www.fscus.org), or the Sustainable Forestry Initiative (www.aboutsfi.org). B. New installations of wood products used under this contract shall not contain wood from endangered wood species, as listed by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species. The list of species can be found at the following web site: www.certifiedwood.orglResources/CITES/CITESContent, html. C. Particle board, strawboard, and plywood materials shall comply with Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) standards for formaldehyde emission controls. Plywood materials shall not emit formaldehyde in excess of 0.2 parts per million (ppm), and particleboard materials shall not emit formaldehyde in excess of 0.3 ppm.

  • PAINTING (SEP 2009) ( SFO)
    Section:

    2. The Lessor shall provide interior paints and coatings that meet or are equivalent to the following standards for volatile organic compound (VOC) off gassing: a. Topcoat paints: Green Seal Standard GS-11, Paints, First Edition, May 20, 1993. b. All other architectural coatings, primers, and undercoats: South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 11 13,

  • FLOOR COVERING AND PERIMETERS (AUG 2008) ( SFO)
    Section:

    A. BUILDING SHELL: 1. Exposed interior floors in primary entrances and lobbies shall be marble, granite or terrazzo. Exposed interior floors in secondary entrances, elevator lobbies, and primary interior corridors shall be high grade carpet, marble, granite, or terrazzo. Resilient flooring shall be used in telecommunications rooms. Floor perimeters at partitions shall have wood, rubber, vinyl, marble or carpet base. 2. Terrazzo, unglazed ceramic tile, recycled glass tile, and/or quarry tile shall be used in all toilet and service areas. 3. Any alternate flooring must be pre-approved by the Contracting Officer.