Hard Surfacing (HSv2.0-2019)
Naturally occurring substances (e.g. clay, sand and rocks) have been quarried and used for construction work for as long as history can recall. Nowadays, manufacture of hard surfacing products is an established industry and a major part of the multi-billion dollar building industry. Ranging from the energy spent in sourcing the raw materials and the adverse effects of quarries, to air and water pollutants emitted during the finishing operations, hard surfacing products have the potential to create significant burdens on the environment.
Considering the size of this particular industry and thus the amount of sourced, finished and installed hard surfacing products, it is important that the key environmental impacts of this group of products are identified and minimised.
Quarrying, fabrication and testing of Hard Surfacing products is more sophisticated than ever before. Technical improvements have been made over the millennia, but nowadays accelerate even more. These circumstances give the clear potential to establish best practice methods to lower the environmental footprint of the stone industry sector.
This standard identifies the key environmental loads of hard surfacing products and specifies requirements to lower the impact of certified products.
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This standard is applicable to the following categories of hard surfacing products for interior or exterior use, without any structural function, and suitable for use as horizontal or vertical surfacing:
🔸 Natural stone
🔸 Agglomerated stones
🔸 Terrazzo tiles
🔸 Ceramic tiles
🔸 Clay tiles
🔸 Glass tiles
Other environmentally innovative hard surfaces that do not directly fit the above categories may be considered for certification provided the product fulfils the requirements of relevant sections of this standard.
This standard excludes roof tiles and exterior building cladding. This standard excludes hybrid and composite products and those containing materials not directly specified in the scope of this standard.
Earlier this month, the Living Future Institute of Australia announced the appointment of its first industry-lead Technical Working Group after a public call for expressions of interest. Our Standards & Technical Officer, Deepali Ghadge, is one of the 18 appointed members, representing experts from a broad range of industries, organisations and experiences.
Read More See all news| Images | Name | Green Star relevance Green Star is Australia's trusted mark of quality for the design, construction and operation of sustainable buildings, fitouts and communities. Choosing Green Star can help you save money, create a healthy place for people, minimise your environmental footprint and build a better future for us all. |
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