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German Allergy and Asthma Association issues recommendation for Vorwerk carpets
New inspection insignia offers allergy-sufferers greater orientation and assurance when buying carpets in the future
Hamlin, May 2006 - It has been verified that high concentrations of fine dust particles in the air are a factor that endangers health by triggering allergies. People suffering from allergies and health-oriented consumers should therefore protect themselves better in the future against such harmful dust.
That goal is being pursued by DAAB e.V., the German Allergy and Asthma Association, which for the first time has officially voiced recommendations in favour of products that are especially effective in reducing the burden posed by fine dust particles on air indoors. A clear labelling on recommended products in the trade and in product information for consumers can take place in the future by means of an insignia supported by DAAB. Alongside the DAAB logo, the new combined insignia also contains the certification seal "suitable for those suffering from allergies" issued by the TÜV-Nord (North German Technical Certification Association) and the certification mark "effectively reduces fine dust particles indoors" issued by the GUI (German Society for the Environment and Interior Analysis).
The extensive testing of products by the TÜV-Nord for substances that trigger allergies is the prerequisite for a recommendation by the DAAB. Moreover, a thorough analysis by the GUI of the behaviour towards binding fine dust particles on a product-specific basis is also required. Only those that fulfil the strict DAAB guidelines are awarded this recommendation.
Having fulfilled all the criteria, Vorwerk Teppichwerke from Hamlin, Germany is the first carpet manufacturer among manufacturers from other industries to receive this official recommendation from the DAAB.
"Above all in light of the discussion regarding fine dust particles which had nearly been forgotten, we are glad that independent institutions have finally taken on the sensitive issue of fine-dust-particle pollution that endangers health", says Johannes Schulte, managing director of Vorwerk Teppichwerke. Schulte went on to state that: "We hope that the DAAB recommendation increases consumer awareness towards this topic, above all those who suffer from allergies. At the same time we hope that it brings both the industry and the trade a renewed impetus in the sales of more environmentally friendly and health-oriented products."
Greater protection and orientation for consumers
At Vorwerk, the production of products suited to health and the environment is a central theme of the company's philosophy. With the new combined insignia, the carpet manufacturer wants to offer a greater spectrum of orientation in the carpet business to health-oriented consumers and the allergy-prone. That applies to product information as well. Carpets from Vorwerk were already being awarded the seal "suitable for those suffering from allergies" from the TÜV (German Technical Certification Association) as far back as 1997. Before issuing its seal, the TÜV inspects carpets for the presence of any harmful emission of highly volatile organic components such as bactericides, fungicides and insecticides. All materials used are specially tested by the TÜV in terms of their sensitisation and allergenic potentials. Extensive abrasion tests continue to be carried out in order to determine the possible emission of dust by the carpet's own materials.
Since early this year manufacturers can have their products tested for fine-dust-reducing properties in a newly developed testing procedure at the GUI in Mönchengladbach, Germany. As the first company in the floor-covering industry, Vorwerk sent its carpets in for testing. The result: Carpets from Vorwerk exhibit outstanding properties for binding fine dust particles and provide for a distinct reduction of harmful concentrations of fine dust in rooms indoors: Over 50 per cent more in comparison to hard, smooth floors. A clear-cut advantage, and above all a decisive argument in favour of wall-to-wall carpets for people suffering from allergies.
The DAAB had already commissioned what became a widely acclaimed study on fine-dust-particle pollution in interiors at the environmental institute GUI in 2005. The published findings from over 100 households showed that the average fine-dust-particle pollution lay at 62.9 µg/m³ when smooth flooring was used, and thus even higher than the legal limit tolerated for fine dust particles in air outdoors, 50 µg/m³ on a maximum of 35 days a year. In contrast, the 30.4 µg/m³ measured in rooms where carpeting had been installed was equivalent to less than half the average amount of fine dust for smooth floors! This is particularly significant because people spend more than 90 per cent of their lives in walled rooms.
Current laboratory studies conducted to accompany the ongoing product test for carpets came up with identical findings, thus confirming the results from the DAAB study 100 %. According to Andrea Wallrafen, national managing director of DAAB: "As a result of these scientific findings we can finally do away with the widespread bias that wall-to-wall carpets are harmful for the allergy-prone. The results presented have given us cause to decide to recommend carpets which have been tested and certified for people suffering from allergies."
With the voluntary testing of its products in terms of their effectiveness in reducing fine dust particles and by communicating the DAAB recommendation within the trade, Vorwerk is once again displaying a greater commitment and awareness of responsibility: That sets an example for the entire industry.
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