b'BUSINESS Initialindustryeffortsfocusedand easy to maintain. Often just oneducatingdesignersaboutwater alone is an effective clean-theinapplicabilityofvariouser for tile but when more is need-greenbuildingVOCemissioned, the ability to use mild, VOC-criteria to ceramic tile. The argu- freecleanersfortileeliminates ment was simpleit was impos- introducing harsh chemicals into sible for an inherently-inorganicdaily living areas, contributing to building product to emit organica healthier environment. compounds(muchless,volatile Ceramic tile provides an inher-organic compounds) into the airent thermal mass that facilitates webreathe.Slowly,butsurely,themoderationofindoortem-LEED, building codes, and majorperatureswingsandinsome greenschoolandofficegreencasesthepossibilityofnatu-constructionprogramsimple- ral conditioning to create more mented VOC testing exemptionsstableandcomfortableindoor for mineral-based inorganic sur- environments.ASHRAEcriteria facecoverings.Now,manyofaddressing thermal comfort con-theseprogramsacknowledgeditions for human occupancy, as products such as ceramic tile aswell as ISO and CEN standards positive contributors to VOC-freefor ergonomics of thermal envi-interior spaces.ronments(bothreferencedbyGreenbuildingspecificationsLEED), include compliance paths foreco-friendlycleaningarefor natural conditioning through also relevant to the tile industry.whichtheuseoftilecanhelp Ceramictileisstainresistantmeet pertinent requirements. Greenbuildings focusonindoor comfort doesnt only pertaintoairqual-ity;lightingcondi-tionsarealsocom-monly referenced by greenbuildingstan-dards.Forexample, aLEEDcriterionfor interiorlightingto promoteoccupants productivity,comfort andwell-beingby Ceramic tile test methods and standards are often speci- providinghigh-qual-fied by designers as a LEED criterion for interior lighting that quantifies light reflectance for interior surfaces. itylightingquanti-30TileLetter | August 2020'