Furniture / Furnishings
Return to Open Office AreaDesign Guidance
Overall Strategies
Seating
Desk
Casework / Millwork
Green Tips
- Use moveable, re-configurable furniture to maximizes functionality of space such as rolling/locking casters and moveable white boards.
- Select ergonomically-designed furniture to provide maximum comfort and convenience for the occupants.
- Use low-emitting furniture to protect indoor air quality.
- Select third-party certified wood to ensure extraction is from a sustainably managed forest.
- Evaluate sustainable attributes such as high recycled content and rapidly renewable materials when selecting furniture for the space.
- Select furniture constructed with metal fastenings rather than high VOC adhesives to protect indoor air quality.
- Use ENERGY STAR rated copiers, fax machines and other office equipment, they use less electricity.
- Use double sided copy setting as default on all printing equipment.
- Support recycling of toner cartridges and purchase of recycled content paper products.
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Legal Requirements
Guiding Principles
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Biobased Content ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
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.
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Low-Emitting Materials ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
Specify materials and products with low pollutant emissions, including composite wood products, adhesives, sealants, interior paints and finishes, carpet systems, and furnishings.
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Recycled Content ( Guiding Principles, Executive Order 13514 & 13423 [EB, NC])
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.
SFO
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ENVIRONMENTALLY PREFERABLE BUILDING PRODUCTS AND MATERIALS (DEC 2007) ( SFO)
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.
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WOOD PRODUCTS (AUG 2008) ( SFO)
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.
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FLOOR COVERING AND PERIMETERS (AUG 2008) ( SFO)
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.