The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute has unveiled GREENGUARD Premier, a comprehensive product certification pilot program that uses existing indoor air quality criteria along with additional chemical emission requirements and new content requirements for critical chemicals. The new program is designed to address “primary uses of products in a home, office, healthcare or school environment,” according to the company.

“By broadening the criteria and evaluating products against use in the most critical environments, homeowners and building professionals alike will be able to make product choices that best meet their requirements and improve indoor air quality,” said Henning Bloech, GEI’s executive director.

GREENGUARD Premier combines key criteria for formaldehyde and other volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions with additional guidelines on toxic substances from nationally established public health agencies. Key elements added to the new health-based standard include guidelines for short-term exposure, assessment of reproductive and carcinogenic substances and control of critical pollutants including lead and phthalates. For more information, visit www.greenguard.org.