NewslineVolume VI, Issue 13 - June 17, 2005The Carpet and Rug Institute news for industry executives
In This Issue: Legislative Activities Across The CountryIn Vermont, the House recently passed an act relating to chemical sensitivities in buildings. This legislation specifically references looking into "whether and under what circumstances carpet should continue to be installed in state-owned and state-leased buildings." Now that it has passed the House, it will head to the Senate. CRI is working to see if there is a state senator we can work with to stop it in the Senate. If it moves through the Senate we'll work to get it vetoed by Governor Douglas. In New Jersey, Governor Codey's fiscal budget proposal would "modernize" the sales tax base (which would include a tax on flooring installation costs). The bill has been filed, but there is no text for the bill available on the NJ legislative website. This will move quickly as the Governor's budget needs to be approved by July 1. CRI is engaged. And finally, in New York, a bill introduced on June 8 requires the use of environmentally sensitive cleaning and maintenance products in schools. CRI is looking at this legislation as an opportunity to promote carpet and the ease of maintenance, including the lack of chemicals necessary for carpet cleaning. Contact Jenn Mendez at 703.875.0634. Braun Continues To Pound PavementCRI President Werner Braun was a featured presenter at NeoCon in Chicago where he talked about CRI's new signature programs and some of CRI's upcoming initiatives. His presentation was well-received and all the immediate feedback from the group of architects and interior designers was good. Braun will continue to be a busy man in the next couple of weeks, visiting with former Michigan Governor John Engler, who heads up the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) to talk about ISO standards and trade barriers, and then hosting Georgia Governor Sonny Purdue at CRI later this month. He will also address various carpet and cleaning industry stakeholders at Georgia Tech, at an Industry Forum regarding CRI's testing programs for carpet cleaning products. If you would like to schedule Braun as a speaker please get in touch with James Beach at CRI. Contact James Beach at 706.428.2116. German Publication Cites Positive Carpet StudyA recent article in a German publication cited a study done by the German Institute Stiftung Warentest which addressed the question of whether or not parquets or laminate was better than carpet for people with allergies. The study said: "It is often advised to remove carpets when residents are affected by dustmite allergy. However, many experts are now changing their minds. Smooth floorcoverings may be easier to clean, but the allergen carrying dust will whirl up more easily. Thanks to its unique trapping properties, carpet has the ability to retain particles in its pile, keeping them out of the breathing zone." Contact James Beach at 706.428.2116. Allergy-Stop Network Using CRI VideosSteve Gunn, a member of the Allergy-Stop network, contacted CRI about using CRI's video, "Carpet for Cleaner Air," a 3-minute audio-visual presentation highlighting studies confirming that well- maintained carpet helps to reduce the likelihood of breathing problems related to indoor environments.. The Allergy-Stop network is making CRI's video available on their website as a way to explain to consumers the benefits of having carpets. Contact James Beach at 706.428.2116. Sweden Proposes Global Ban on PFOSSweden plans on a proposal for a global ban on perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS) saying the chemical may cause liver damage and is used by a number of industries including semiconductor makers, the country's Environment Ministry said on Tuesday. PFOS has been investigated as a potentially hazardous chemical by several countries because it does not biodegrade in the environment, posing a potential health risk to both animals and humans. Sweden said it would propose a ban to the United Nations under the Stockholm Convention to eliminate so-called persistent organic pollutants. It also filed a national ban on PFOS to the European Commission, which will review the legislation before it can come into effect. Britain also has a ban pending approval by the EU. Contact Frank Hurd at 706.428.2136. Question of the WeekCRI receives many questions about carpet. Most often we are able to respond; however, sometimes we think there are probably solutions available of which we are not aware. If you happen to have first- hand knowledge, a great solution or can just share some general insight to a question, we would like to hear from you. Here is this week's question from a facilities manager: "We use rubber-backed carpet mats at all the entryways to our buildings to keep our personnel from tracking dirt into the office. However, the mats 'scoot' across the floor with the heavy traffic usage and then bunch up causing a tripping hazard. We've tried double-sided tape but when the cleaning crew comes in they lift the mats to clean and in the process weakens the adhesive properties of the tape. Can you suggest a product we might use or another solution to our problem? Thank you in advance for any advice you can provide." Contact James Beach at 706.428.2116. CRI Meetings
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CRI Cleaning & Maintenance Subcommittee, June 21, 9:00 - 1:00 pm CRI Participation in Upcoming Events
* EcoBuild Conference, June 21-23, Orlando If you are aware of other events that present significant opportunities to deliver our messages to our critical audiences, please contact Joan Seelaus at 706.428.2123. Check our website calendar for other industry related events |
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