SCS Global Services
Find out more about the SCS Global Services labels here.
SCS FloorScore®
SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold
SCS FloorScore®
The SCS FloorScore® is a US-American certification program for floor coverings. It evaluates the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from floor coverings and their components.
The certification helps to ensure environmentally friendly and healthy indoor air conditions.
Award criteria for the SCS FloorScore®:
VOC emissions:
- Maximum VOC emissions: Volatile organic compound emissions must be below established limits based on California Section 01350 guidelines.
- Long-term and short-term emissions: Both types of emissions are assessed to ensure that product emissions remain low over a longer period of time.
Test methods:
- Accredited laboratory tests: The products must be tested by a laboratory accredited by the SCS.
- Test standards: Tests must be conducted in accordance with established standards and methods, such as ASTM C 1537, EPA Method 24 or other relevant standards.
Product composition:
- Materials and components: All materials and components used, including adhesives, coatings and additives, must meet the emission requirements.
Product quality:
- Consistent quality: The product must remain consistent in terms of emission properties throughout the entire production series.
Labeling and documentation:
- Labeling: Products must be correctly labeled with the SCS FloorScore® logo.
- Documentation: Manufacturers must provide and maintain all relevant test results and certification documents.
Regular review:
- Certification period: The certificate is valid for a certain period of time, after which re-testing and re-certification is required.
- Quality controls: Regular quality controls and tests are carried out to ensure continuous compliance with emission requirements.
Manufacturer obligations:
- Disclosure: Manufacturers must ensure complete transparency about the product composition and the test methods used.
- Compliance: Manufacturers must ensure that their production processes and materials always meet the requirements.
The SCS FloorScore® is suitable for the following product groups:
- Cement-bound floor coverings
- Ceramics
- Cork floor coverings
- Floor covering adhesives
- Hardwood parquet and bamboo flooring
- Laminate flooring
- Linoleum
- Polymer floor coverings
- Porcelain
- Raised floor coverings
- Rubber floor coverings
- Subfloors
- Vinyl composite tiles (VCT), vinyl sheets, vinyl tiles and luxury vinyl tiles (LVT)
- Wall plinth
- Stair treads and accessories
SCS FloorScore®: Certification body
The certification body for the SCS FloorScore® is SCS Global Services. Here you can find more information about the certification process.
Costs for the SCS FloorScore®
As with most product labels, there is no exact public cost breakdown for the SCS FloorScore®.
The costs usually depend on several factors, such as the type of product to be certified, the testing effort and the size and scope of the certification (depending on the size of the company and the number of products to be certified).
It is therefore best to contact SCS Global Services directly if you have any questions about the costs of certification.
Is the SCS FloorScore® mandatory?
The SCS FloorScore® is a voluntary certification program.
While it is not a legal requirement, the FloorScore® certificate can be beneficial for manufacturers and projects that focus on sustainability and environmental friendliness.
Recognition of the SCS FloorScore® for certification systems
The SCS FloorScore® certificate is often recognized by other environmental and sustainability certification schemes, particularly in relation to indoor air quality and environmental standards.
The FloorScore® certificate meets the requirements for low emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), making it a valuable certification for projects aiming for high environmental and health standards.
SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold
The SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold certifications are American environmental certificates.
They evaluate the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor spaces and confirm that products meet the strict requirements for indoor air quality.
Award criteria for SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold
To achieve SCS Indoor Advantage™ and SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification, products must meet specific criteria for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions.
It is tested for 35 individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) according to the California Standard Method for Testing and Evaluation of VOC Emissions.
The award criteria are defined in various standards and regulations.
Here are the detailed award criteria for both certificates:
SCS Indoor Advantage™:
- VOC emission standards:
products must meet the requirements of ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 and X7.1 (furniture standards) or the relevant section of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method V1.2-2017. - Test procedure:
Emission tests are carried out in a controlled environment to ensure that VOC emissions are below the specified limits. - Inspection frequency:
The certification requires an annual inspection and retesting of the products to ensure ongoing compliance with the emission standards.
SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold:
- Stricter VOC emission limits:
In addition to the standards mentioned above, products must comply with even stricter emission limits, which are often defined in accordance with the requirements of LEED v4, WELL Building Standard, and BREEAM. - Extended test requirements:
The test procedures may include additional tests or longer test cycles to ensure that the products meet the higher air quality requirements. - Additional criteria:
Other environmental criteria may also be considered to ensure that the products contribute to a healthier indoor environment.
SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold is suitable for the following product groups:
SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold – Furniture:
- Includes all types of interior furniture for offices, healthcare and classrooms
SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold – Building materials:
Includes interior building materials used in public and commercial office buildings, schools, medical buildings, single-family homes and other building types.
These include:
- Architectural coatings
- Colors
- Sealants
- Adhesives
- Wall cladding
- Floor coverings
- Ceiling tiles
- Wall cladding
SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold: Certification body
If you wish to certify a product to SCS Indoor Advantage™ or SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold, please contact SCS Global Services directly.
They will determine the scope of the project and provide you with a timeline and cost estimate.
Upon your approval, you will be assigned an SCS Global Services auditor to guide you through the certification process.
The certification itself is performed by an SCS-approved laboratory for testing to ANSI/BIFMA M7.1 and/or CDPH Standard Method V1.2 2017 (California Section 01350).
If you are interested in the exact schedule of the certification process, you can find it here.
Costs for SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold
The costs for your certification depend on the specific scope of the products and processes to be assessed in the certification process.
As mentioned above, we will provide you with an individual schedule and cost estimate in advance.
Are the SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold certification programs mandatory?
The SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold certifications are voluntary certifications that you can use as a company to highlight your products in terms of environmental and health standards and to meet the requirements of certain environmentally conscious customers or construction projects.
Recognition of SCS Indoor Advantage™ & SCS Indoor Advantage™ Gold for certification systems
SCS has strong industry networks with leading green building experts, such as BIFMA, RFCI, ILFI, Well Building Institute and CHPS, who have provided feedback and reviews of SCS standards.
Sources: SCS Global Services