Foam Products Corp. and TORLYS Underlayments Earn NALFA Certification Seal

All of us at NALFA are pleased to announce that two laminate underlayment manufacturers have earned the NALFA Certification Seal. The Silencer™ from Foam Products Corp. and TORLYS Safe & Sound underlayment brands have successfully passed ANSI product testing and may now display the NALFA certification seal as testament to their quality.

“Underlayment quality is a major issue in today’s industry,” says Erik Arnold with Foam Products Corp. “NALFA certification gives great credibility and upholding to our product’s reputation and track record for unparalleled performance.”

Tino Couto from TORLYS added, “TORLYS laminate flooring is already certified by NALFA. It is a valued certification and was a logical step for us to pursue for our underlayment. It gives our customers peace of mind and assurance when buying our state-of-the-art products.”

In order to earn the NALFA Certification Seal and the quality that it represents, a laminate underlayment product must pass two tiers of demanding tests designed to evaluate its performance. Tests include but are not limited to impact sound, airborne sound transmission, compression deflection, thickness, and moisture vapor transmission. Underlayment products that successfully pass testing are outfitted with the NALFA Certification Seal. Builders and homeowners can identify the seal and rest assured the product they are choosing meets and/or exceeds the highest level of industry standards set forth by NALFA.

“It is great to see the constant support from top manufacturers in the laminate underlayment industry,” said E. C. “Bill” Dearing, president of NALFA. “By continually submitting product lines for the rigorous testing conducted by NALFA, Foam Products Corp. and TORLYS are not only showing their support for industry standards, they are also showcasing the quality of their brands. We applaud them for their efforts to seek NALFA Certification on their products.”

The NALFA Certification Seal can be located on the manufacturer’s Web site, marketing materials or promotional materials as well as the product packaging itself. By identifying the seal, builders and homeowners will know they are selecting a product that is long- lasting, durable and capable of meeting the highest level of standards within the laminate flooring industry.

Meet our New Associate Member - Selit North America!

Selit North America, Inc. has recently joined the North American Laminate Flooring Association (NALFA) as an Associate Member. NALFA Associate Members are corporations, partnerships, proprietorships or other entities that are regularly engaged in the business of selling goods or services to a NALFA Regular Member. (Regular Members are manufacturers, marketers or importers of laminate flooring for the North American market.)

“Becoming a NALFA associate member was a key priority for us in 2010,” says Neil Duggan, President of Selit North America. “We are looking forward to working closely with NALFA’s members as we continue to develop underlayment products that meet our customer’s high expectations.”

Bill Dearing, President of NALFA adds, “We are always happy to welcome new members and associate members. They are our diving force as we continue to develop standards and drive quality changes in the laminate segment.”

Selit North America is a leading supplier of high-quality foam underlayment products for use in the laminate flooring industry and its applications. Selit provides products to both manufacturers and distributors and their customers. For more information, call 404-363-6680 or email info@selit.com.

Wilsonart Receives GREENGUARD Children and School Certification!

NALFA proudly congratulates one of its members on its GREENGUARD certification! Press release below:

Wilsonart Flooring's Estate Plus, Red Label, Professional Studio, Contract and BlueFusion® Flooring Seam Adhesive products have been awarded GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification – another indication of how Wilsonart places sustainability first for its High Pressure Laminate (HPL) Flooring products. Said Wilsonart Flooring Marketing Communications Manager Tammy Weadock, "We are proud to say that our High Pressure Laminate Flooring products made the grade under the strict GREENGUARD Children & Schools criteria." The second–generation label follows the GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certification already received by the HPL leader from the most thorough third–party indoor air quality certification program available.

The GREENGUARD Children & Schools Certification joins other accolades for the company’s stewardship in environmental sustainability:

Low Emitting Materials – Flooring Systems: Wilsonart Flooring already exceeds the industry’s highest standards for Indoor Air Quality, with GREENGUARD Certification on all High Pressure Laminate collections. The BlueFusion Flooring Seam Adhesive is also GREENGUARD Certified. In addition to meeting strict GREENGUARD standards, Wilsonart Flooring offers other important benefits associated with hardsurface flooring: it does not harbor dust, dirt or odors, and is easy to maintain with Wilsonart Laminate Flooring Cleaner, which is 100% biodegradable and VOC–free.

• California Air Resources Board (CARB) Phase I Compliant (Classic)
• California 93120 NAF Compliant ~ No Added Formaldehyde (Estate Plus, Red Label, Professional Studio, Contract)

Wilsonart Flooring’s total recycled content by weight is a minimum of 70% pre–consumer recycled wood fiber, as independently certified by Scientific Certification Systems, SCS–MC–00209, www.SCScertified.com.

Wilsonart Flooring is the first North American laminate flooring manufacturer to receive Forest Stewardship Council&tread; Certification Registration, ensuring that products marked with the recognizable FSC “checkmark and tree” ecologo were sourced from responsibly managed forests.

"There are many benefits of this certification for Wilsonart and its dealers," said Weadock. "Our HPL products now have more relevance than ever for specification in the education arena – especially day care centers – as well as multi–housing and healthcare. Distributors and dealers alike can provide their clients with added incentive to choose Wilsonart Flooring." Separately, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) announced that it achieved ISO/IEC Guide 65:1996 accreditation, the world’s most prestigious endorsement of a product certification program as developed by the International Organization for Standardization. This globally recognized, voluntary accreditation assures that organizations operating product certifications are credible, reliable, objective, and high–quality. Achieving ISO Guide 65 accreditation ensures that GEI operates fairly and objectively.

For more information, call the Wilsonart Customer Service Hotline at 800–435–9109. Customers can also visit Sustain.Wilsonart.com.

Wilsonart International was founded in 1956 and has since grown to become the leading producer of High Pressure Decorative Laminate in North America. The company has achieved success through a combination of outstanding service, high–quality products and a focus on continuously redefining the laminate surface through improved performance and aesthetics. Wilsonart Flooring was introduced in 1995 and has continuously earned top honors for quality by floor covering retailers. All Wilsonart Flooring products are manufactured in the USA in Temple, Texas.

About GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute is an industry–independent, not–for–profit organization that aims to protect human health and improve quality of life by reducing people’s exposure to chemicals and other pollutants. As an ISO–IEC Guide 65:1996 accredited, third party certifying body, the GREENGUARD Environmental Institute certifies products and materials for low chemical emissions and provides consumers with a resource for choosing healthier products and materials for indoor environments. All certified products must meet stringent standards for low chemical emissions based on established criteria from key public health agencies. GREENGUARD Certification is broadly recognized and accepted by sustainable building programs and building codes worldwide. For more information and a complete listing of certified products, visit www.greenguard.org.