New Armstrong Coating for Ceilings Removes Formaldehyde from Indoor Air

LANCASTER, Pa., June 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Armstrong World Industries (NYSE: AWI), the country's largest manufacturer of acoustical ceilings, has introduced AirGuard™, the first coating for ceiling tiles that actively removes formaldehyde and other aldehydes in indoor air.  

Initially available on Armstrong Ultima® ceiling panels, the breakthrough, patent-pending coating technology for improving indoor air quality converts naturally occurring and man-made formaldehyde present in interiors into an inert substance permanently captured by the ceiling.

Clean indoor air is especially important to the elderly and immune-compromised patients in healthcare settings, elementary-aged children in educational facilities, and those who spend 90% of their time in office buildings.

Applied to the back of ceiling tiles, the AirGuard Coating actively removes aldehydes during the commissioning and early occupancy of a building.  Tests show that it eliminates over 90% of formaldehyde during the first year of use, when off-gassing from new materials presents the greatest risk to occupant health.  

During normal occupancy, it removes over 90% of formaldehyde in the first year. Over a 10-year period, the average formaldehyde reduction is 50%, a claim backed by UL-Environment™.

The AirGuard Coating also helps reduce exposure level and time during "spike" periods.  These occur when formaldehyde concentrations increase dramatically due to human activity and indoor air reactions with consumer products such as cleaning agents and office equipment.

Independent tests validate the performance of AirGuard Coating.  It is a UL-Environment Certified Product and listed in the UL Database of Validated and Certified Products.  UL provides independent testing and evaluation of claims and reassesses them through the UL Conformity Integrity Service to assure ongoing compliance.

Tests also show that the performance characteristics of Ultima ceilings with AirGuard are unaffected by the coating.  This includes the ceiling's acoustic properties, light reflectance, durability, recyclability, and resistance to sag, mold/mildew, and bacterial growth.  

For more information on the AirGuard Coating, visit armstrong.com/airguard.

Armstrong World Industries, Inc. is a global leader in the design and manufacture of floors, ceilings and cabinets.  In 2010, Armstrong consolidated net sales totaled $2.8 billion.  Based in Lancaster, PA, Armstrong operates 33 plants in eight countries and has 9,500 employees worldwide.  

To download Ultima with AirGuard visual:click here

To download Ultima with AirGuard brochure: click here

SOURCE Armstrong World Industries, Inc.