Breathing Easier

Sustainable design isn't only about developing buildings and spaces that respect earth's fragile nature and limited resources.  It's also about making our indoor environments safer and less toxic for us.  As U.S. residents, we spend more than half of our day indoors, yet studies have shown that the indoor air we breathe is 2 to 5 times more polluted than the air outside.  According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), indoor air pollution is one of the top five risks to human health responsible for spikes in the incidents of asthma, allergies, cancer, and reproductive and developmental disorders.  The EPA also estimates that illness and lost productivity resulting from poor indoor air, also known as "sick building syndrome," costs U.S. businesses around $60 billion dollars per year.

Almost all of the products used indoors emit chemicals and particles that may, at some point, have a negative effect on human health.  In the case of high-pressure decorative laminate, the strength of the finished material is the result of a combination of paper and a phenolic resin containing formaldehyde.  While formaldehyde has been identified as a cancer-causing agent in humans, the emissions from a finished piece of laminate are well below the permissible limits that have been established by organizations such as the EPA and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.  Lamin-Art's GREENGUARD certification validates that our high-pressure decorative laminates are a low-emitting product and are suitable for specification in projects looking to achieve superior indoor air quality.

Keep in mind, building materials are just one of the factors that can contribute to indoor air pollution.  Insufficient ventilation, poor building maintenance and construction processes also play a key role.  These issues should also be addressed during the design phase of a building project to ensure the best possible indoor air quality.

For more information on Lamin-Art's GREENGUARD certification or on our commitment to sustainability, click here.

Lamin-Art Offers New CEU Course

Lamin-Art is pleased to offer our clients a new one hour educational presentation, "Creative Advancements in the Manufacture and Application of HPL", which is eligible for CEU credits through the Interior Design Continuing Education Council.
 

The objective of this CEU course is to educate interior designers, architects and all specifiers on the versatility of high-pressure decorative laminate as both a design-statement and a functional surfacing material.  Instructors will explain the manufacturing process of high-pressure decorative laminate, and how technological advances in that process have resulted in an improved range of lively colors, complex patterns and realistic interpretations of natural materials such as wood and stone.  This course will also discuss how texture is being employed in high-pressure decorative laminate to add even more visual interest to the product and to its finished installation.  In addition, you'll be inspired by actual installations of HPL in very creative, high-impact designs.  Credits earned through this presentation can be applied to the membership requirements for a host of organizations including IIDA, ASID, and AIA.
 

To schedule this presentation at your firm, contact your local Architectural Representative today.

Making the Grade

An important factor to consider when specifying high-pressure decorative laminate is the "grade" of the laminate you are choosing.  We're often asked what the difference is between Standard Grade and Vertical Grade laminate.
 

"Grade" actually refers to the thickness of the laminate sheet.  Standard Grade sheets have a thickness of 0.048" (as measured by a micrometer), while Lamin-Art's Vertical Grade material has a thickness of 0.028".  Standard Grade is the most commonly used grade of laminate.  It is suitable for all surfaces, horizontal or vertical, and should be used when the application calls for maximum durability and impact resistance.  Counter and table tops, store fixtures, architectural doors, and most casework are good examples of applications requiring Standard Grade material.

Vertical Grade material is a much thinner, more pliable sheet. It is primarily recommended for light-duty vertical and horizontal applications where impact resistance isn't as critical. You would also want to specify Vertical Grade material if you were thinking of wrapping, bending, or forming the sheet in any particular manner. While Standard Grade material can be bent, Vertical Grade material can allow you to achieve much tighter radiuses, down to 5/8 of an inch when heat is applied. Read more information on How to Bend HPL.