CertainTeed® AirRenew™ Gypsum Board Greatly Reduces VOCs Circulating Indoors, Contributes to Healthier Living and Working Environments

TAMPA, Fla., Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire/ -- Recent testing of CertainTeed's AirRenew™ gypsum board demonstrates this ground-breaking new product's ability to improve indoor air quality (IAQ).  AirRenew significantly reduces, for up to 75 years, harmful volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that circulate indoors. The findings are being released in conjunction with the official product launch at Greenbuild 2010.

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Built on a patent-pending, innovative technology, AirRenew is a first-of-its-kind product that uses two technologies to actively improve IAQ. First, AirRenew helps clean the air by capturing VOCs, specifically formaldehyde and other aldehydes, and converting them into inert compounds that safely remain within the board. The effectiveness of this technology was validated using ISO16000-23, an indoor air performance test for evaluating the reduction of formaldehyde concentration by sorptive building materials.  Additionally, AirRenew features M2Tech® technology, which is specially engineered to provide enhanced protection against moisture and mold. 

"The average American spends more than 90 percent of his or her time indoors, and studies show that air pollution levels can be up to 100 times higher indoors than outdoors," explains John Donaldson, president of CertainTeed Gypsum. "AirRenew will absorb VOCs for up to 75 years, improving indoor air quality for generations."

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, sources of VOCs inside a building include pressed wood products that are made using adhesives, such as sub-flooring, shelving, cabinets and furniture, as well as carpets, cleaning materials, paints, and many other household items. Other factors, such as mold and mildew, particulates, ventilation rate, temperature, and humidity can also impact indoor air quality.

"Replacing carpeting, cabinets, shelving or furniture in a renovation project often introduces new sources of VOCs into indoor environments well after initial construction," adds Donaldson. "AirRenew is an especially good choice for buildings with stringent air quality requirements, such as hospitals, schools and offices buildings, because it provides a healthier environment."  

CertainTeed's AirRenew features a wide range of performance and installation benefits. It can be finished with water-based acrylic and epoxy paints or breathable wallpaper, and can ultimately be recycled just as regular gypsum board. AirRenew, also designed for fire resistance, is lightweight, does not require special tools and is easy to cut and install.  AirRenew helps building and design professionals meet the VOC concentration limits, mold resistance and recycled content criteria recognized by the U.S. Green Building Council's LEED® certification program.

AirRenew is available for sale across the U.S. and Canada. For more information, visit www.AirRenew.com.

Offering a broad range of gypsum and finishing products for interior and exterior needs, CertainTeed Gypsum has served the North American building industry for more than 80 years and is a subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world's leading producer of gypsum products. This, in combination with the full range of affiliated CertainTeed Corporation building products, provides architects, contractors, builders and dealers one partner to provide service and support for commercial and residential building projects.

About CertainTeed

Through the responsible development of innovative and sustainable building products, CertainTeed has helped shape the building products industry for more than 100 years. Founded in 1904 as General Roofing Manufacturing Company, the firm's slogan "Quality Made Certain, Satisfaction Guaranteed," quickly inspired the name CertainTeed. Today, CertainTeed® is North America's leading brand of exterior and interior building products, including roofing, siding, windows, fence, decking, railing, trim, foundations, pipe, insulation, gypsum, ceilings and access covers.

A subsidiary of Saint-Gobain, the world's largest building products company, CertainTeed and its affiliates, including CertainTeed Gypsum, have more than 6,000 employees and more than 65 manufacturing facilities throughout the United States and Canada. In 2009 and 2010, CertainTeed, which is headquartered in Valley Forge, Pa., was named ENERGY STAR Partner of the Year by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, a national award that recognizes environmentally responsible corporations. The group had total sales of approximately $3 billion in 2009. www.certainteed.com

SOURCE CertainTeed