This report reviews how floor finishes have been assessed within The Green Guide to Specification, including the application of the Environmental Profiles methodology which underlies The Green Guide data. The way in which floor finishes are addressed within building-level environmental assessment schemes such as BREEAM and the Code for Sustainable Homes is also explained. The final section gives detailed The Green Guide ratings for more than 180 floor finish specifications. The report will give manufacturers and specifiers a general understanding of the significant benefits and impacts of floor finish products over their whole life cycle and help to identify opportunities for improvements to their environmental performance. It is part of a series that provides comparable information on cladding, floor finishes, insulation, masonry and concrete, metals, timber and windows to assess the environmental impact of specific construction materials.

 

Contents

PART 1. Lessons in life-cycle assessment from BRE's Environmental Profiles and the Green Guide

1 Introduction

2 Floor finishes and the Green Guide

3 Sector overview

4 Historical changes

5 Life cycle assessment, Environmental profiles and The Green Guide

6 How the updated Environmental Profiles methodology has been applied to floor finishes

7 The importance of floor finishes

8 Key impacts for the sector

9 Key opportunities for the sector

10 Where more data are required

11 Links with BREEAM 2008 and the Code for Sustainable Homes/EcoHomes

12 Conclusions

PART 2. Green Guide ratings for floor finishes

13 Life cycle assessment in The Green Guide to Specification

14 How The Green Guide to Specification and Green Guide ratings for floor finishes were compiled

15 How to use The Green Guide to Specification

16 The Green Guide ratings for floor finishes

17 References and further sources of information

A4 56pp

This title will be available on or after 30th November, 2011.