C/S Increases Number of Cradle to Cradle Certified Product Offerings

Construction Specialties Inc. (C/S), a manufacturer of high-performing architectural products, has increased its number of expansion joint cover (EJC) product offerings that are third-party certified for material health and sustainability. EJC products are aluminum covers that can be used on wall and floor expansion joints for seismic and standard building movement applications, and depending on the model, accommodate joint widths up to 16 inches.

In the recent certification series, thirteen EJC models achieved Cradle to Cradle Certified Silver and six additional models earned Cradle to Cradle Certified Gold, bringing the total number of certified models in the division to 20. The company worked closely with McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) to evaluate product life cycles and assess all chemical ingredients down to 100 parts per million for impacts to human and environmental health. C/S has made a commitment to design products that contain no materials of high risk to people and the planet, and the EJC products certified at the Gold level have met that high bar.

Cradle to Cradle Certified is a multi-attribute program that assesses products for safety to human and environmental health, design for future use cycles and sustainable manufacturing processes. Products are evaluated for material health, material reutilization, renewable energy use, water stewardship and social responsibility. The program provides guidelines to help businesses implement the Cradle to Cradle framework, which focuses on using safe materials that can be disassembled and reused as technical nutrients or composted as biological nutrients.

“We are proud to offer this industry-leading product certification to our customers,” Gabe Blasi, EJC general manager says. “This is just one more step on our journey to eliminate chemicals of concern and provide for a healthier built environment.”

Adding further importance for engineers, designers and building contractors seeking green building recognition, the U.S. Green Building Council recently endorsed the Cradle to Cradle Certified program by integrating it into LEED v4. Upon implementation, projects can earn up to two LEED points for the use of products that have achieved certain Cradle to Cradle Certified levels.

C/S has manufactured expansion joint covers for more than 45 years. In 1983, it developed the first fire barrier system for expansion joints and has made continual advancements in its design ever since. The extensive line of products includes architectural expansion joint covers, as well as parking and specialty seismic joint systems. C/S partners with architects and engineers during a building’s design phase to share expertise and ensure the correct covers are chosen for every unique project.