Environmental Commitment SAS International is committed to ensuring environmental best practice throughout the life of its products to ensuring minimum impact upon the global environment. As a business we have taken the decision to focus on metal products to achieve the highest performance, long term value and sustainability demanded today. Through better design, responsible sourcing of materials and innovative manufacturing techniques, we are able to provide our clients with solution that help their buildings achieve global environmental standards. Aspects such as the gauge of the metal, the grade of steel or aluminium, the method of painting, the thickness of paint coating and the final surface performance are critical factors to both the aesthetic appearance and long-term performance of the installation and therefore sustainability considerations. Our paint coatings for example can be guaranteed for up to 40 years. In addition to ISO 9001 and OH SAS 18001 all our manufacturing facilities are accredited by BSI to ISO 14001 (Environmental Quality System), this ensures that we reduce the environmental impact of our manufacturing processes with regular management reviews. Compliance Areas: Our interior products contribute to a number of GSAS / QSAS manuals and criteria. Many of these measures we contribute to are assessed across the whole project and where required we can provide test data or information to support these measures. This document looks at compliance for all our interior products including suspended Metal Ceilings, Partitioning Systems and Doors across: M.1: M.2: M.3: M.6: M.7: IE.2: IE.8: IE.9: IE.10: Regional materials Responsible sourcing of materials Recycled content Design for disassembly Life cycle assessment Low-emitting materials Illumination levels Acoustic quality Daylight SAS Commitment to GSAS / QSAS As part of our commitment to supply long term sustainable materials to GSAS / QSAS projects we are registered affiliate members with the Gulf Organisation for Research and Development, member no AM0128 All information and details are correct at time of publication, E&OE.
February 2013. Materials [M] M.1: Regional Materials: Encourage the use of regionally extracted and manufactured building elements and materials. M.1: Contribution SAS International Metal Ceiling systems are shipped from our warehouse in Dubai Investment Park to projects across the GCC. All container shipments into the Middle East are maximised to ensure our impact to the environment is reduced. M.2: Responsible Sourcing of Materials Encourage the use of responsibly sourced materials for primary building elements in order to minimize the depletion of nonrenewable materials. Use responsibly sourced materials for key building elements to conserve natural resources and to reduce the environmental impact of extracting and processing non-renewable materials. Materials that have achieved certification as a responsibly sourced material by their supplier or manufacturer are qualified for consideration in this credit. Demonstration of responsible sourcing must be through a third-party certification scheme. The over-harvesting of forests has led to the extinction of many tree species and the depletion of wood as a natural resource. Any timber used in the project should come from a responsible source. M.2: Contribution ISO14001 accreditation: All SAS International factories are assessed by BSi and have achieved ISO 14001 accreditation. Copies of the ISO 14001 certificates are available on request. Timber sourcing: SAS International purchases all timber and wood based products for both our manufactured products and packaging from sources that have a commitment to supply material which originates from sources which offer either FSC (Forestry Stewardship Council) chain of custody, PEFC (Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification schemes) chain of custody or complies with the FSC standard for Non FSC Certified Controlled wood. It is our policy to avoid using any timber based materials that have been improperly harvested or derived from genetically modified trees, or from uncertified high conservation value old-growth forests. As holders of both FSC and PEFC certification, with supply of the appropriate materials, we are able to provide full chain of custody upon request. LCA / EPDs: All our ceiling systems and acoustic backing options have environmental product declarations assessed by Atkins Ltd to ISO14025. Responsible Sourcing: As part of ISO 14001 we maintain a responsible sourcing code of practice for all suppliers, a copy is available on request.
M.5: Recycled Content Encourage the use of building elements and materials made from recycled content in order to reduce the need for virgin materials. Use materials with recycled content to reduce the environmental impact of extracting and processing nonrenewable and virgin materials. Materials, products and furnishings made with recycled content can contain postconsumer or pre-consumer content. Post-consumer waste is content that is recycled after the product has been used by a consumer. It may include construction/demolition debris such as recycled aggregate, steel and aluminum building elements, materials sorted for recycling purposes such as aluminum cans and glass bottles and landscaping waste such as branches and leaves. Pre-consumer waste is raw material that has never been used by a consumer such as wood chips and sawdust. Preconsumer materials are oftentimes by-products of manufacturing processes that can be recycled and reused. Identify the recycled materials that are available and their respective suppliers. Ensure that the recycled materials selected for the project are of a high quality, have no detrimental environmental impacts and will not hinder construction in any way. Determine which of these materials can be used and purchased, and run budget calculations to set a target for the specific project. These considerations should take place early in the design process to assess which recycled materials will be most appropriate and feasible in terms of the project design and budget. Verify and document the post- and pre-consumer content of each selected recycled material through manufacturer or supplier specifications. M.5: Contribution SAS International works with all its suppliers to ensure maximum recycled content is achieved. All SAS products incorporate recycled content materials, thereby reducing impacts resulting from extraction and processing of virgin materials. All SAS Manufacturing plants operate an ISO 14001 programme that actively reduces production waste. Any manufacturing waste is minimised and diverted away from landfill waste being recycled into new virgin raw materials. Preconsumer recycling rates vary depending on manufacturing processes completed. SAS Metal Ceiling Systems: Our steel is sourced from a number of manufacturing facilities including BOF (Basic Oxygen Furnace) and EAF (Electric Arc Furnace) providing 25% or 100% recycled content subject to scrap availability. Due to its closed material loop all new steel could be manufactured from recycled scrap steel. However, the increasing demand for steel, which is 50% greater today than it was 10 years ago, and the long life of products made from steel, delays it availability as scrap. Across Europe all steel contains an average of 60% recycled content, 40% globally, with the recycled content varying from one steel product to another. High recycled content in some steel products limits the recycled content in another due to global levels of scrap. On average demand for new steel outstrips scrap supply by 2 to 1. Individual recycled content figures for each of our ceiling systems vary depending on the acoustic backing material. We have a minimum 25% recycled content; specific figures are available for individual systems on request. SAS Partitioning Systems & Aluminium Products: Our aluminium is sourced from manufacturers who use a minimum of 75% recycled content. Re-smelt aluminium uses approx. 5% of the energy required to manufacture one tonne compared to virgin aluminium.
M.6: Design for Disassembly Design building elements and materials for ease of disassembly in order to facilitate future re-use or recycling. Design the building to facilitate future disassembly of components for reuse or recycling to extend the life of materials and conserve natural resources. Building elements and components including structure, finishing materials and equipment should have the ability to be easily separated and disassembled. Measures to facilitate disassembly include the use of modular components, movable partitions and bolted connections or fastening systems for the structure and/or building envelope. Avoid composite or bonded materials that cannot be separated or reused. Interior finishes and equipment should be designed to be easily removable to allow for refurbishment and remodeling. Select durable and lowmaintenance building materials, components and assemblies, and design for adaptability to ensure longevity. M.6: Contribution All SAS International systems are designed to be disassembled for either re-sue or for recycling. Our steel and aluminium Metal Ceiling systems are fully recyclable at the end of life. Both metals have a closed material loop and are recycled back into new steel or aluminium instead of a tertiary product. Our partitioning systems are fully relocatable during their service life and therefore can be fully disassembled at end of life for recycling. For over 30 years, recyclability and waste management have been an integral part of our manufacturing processes as well as part of the build solution we offer. Our metal ceiling solutions have a lifespan in excess of 25 years with only very basic maintenance. Using approved architectural powder coatings the paint finish can be guaranteed for 40 years; providing the durability and longevity required. M.7: Life Cycle Assessment Encourage the use of materials and products which have the lowest life cycle environmental impact and embodied energy. Embodied energy includes the total amount of energy used to extract, transport, manufacture, distribute, install, maintain, and disassemble, deconstruct or recycle a particular material. Select materials that have a low life cycle environmental impact and embodied energy to minimize overall impact to the environment. Identify materials that have the lowest Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) values, are available to the region and are appropriate for the building elements of the proposed project. Evaluate the design options and determine which of these materials can be used for the project. Run budget calculations to set a target for the specific project. These considerations should take place early in the design process to assess which materials will be most appropriate and feasible in terms of the project design and budget. M.7: Contribution LCA / EPDs: Due to the number of different materials available suspended ceiling systems are not part of the Green Guide to Specification. All our ceiling systems and acoustic backing options have Life Cycle Assessments and Environmental Product Declarations completed by Atkins Ltd to ISO14025. It is important to consider the service life / durability of a ceiling system when comparing EPD results, some materials may have a lower environmental impact but with a far shorter product life cycle and may not be recyclable at end of life. Please refer to M.6.
Indoor Environment [IE] IE.2: Low-Emitting Materials Meet minimum emissions targets for indoor materials and finishes to ensure the comfort and health of occupants and installers. Indoor air contaminants are harmful to the environment and to the health and comfort of installers and building occupants. Minimize the health risks associated with indoor air contaminants by selecting indoor materials that have zero or minimal rates of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. Indoor materials to be considered are the following: paints, coatings, primers, finishes, stains, sealants, caulking, adhesives, carpets and composite wood products. Avoid composite wood and agrifiber products that contain ureaformaldehyde resins. Any material that can affect the indoor air quality through its emissions should be selected carefully taking into account its potential for harmful emissions. Materials used for any indoor surfaces such as flooring, walls and ceilings, and those used within wall cavities, above suspended ceilings and below finished floors should have low-voc emissions. Materials used for indoor furnishings, mechanical system components and any other systems or components within the building that may emit harmful contaminants into the indoor environment should be avoided. Product manufacturers can provide Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) to help assess the potential health risks associated with certain materials. MSDSs are not completely comprehensive in terms of impacts on indoor air quality, but include information on relevant factors such as: hazardous components, chemical identification, chemical characteristics, reactivity data, health hazard data, fire/explosion hazard data, etc. Additionally, acquire emissions test data from manufacturers for each indoor material and finish. Reports should include information on material origins, test methods and results, and VOC emission rates. IE.2: Contribution SAS International metal ceiling systems are all manufactured and supplied to BS EN 1394:2004. A copy of our EC Declaration of Conformity can be downloaded from our website www.sasint.ae. SAS International metal ceiling systems are finished with an electrostatically applied powder coat finish. Unlike liquid based paints this process is well documented to show that it produces zero or near zero VOCs during manufacture or use. Anti -- corrosive paint applied to our metal grid do not exceed the VOC content limits established in Green Seal Standard GS- 11, Paints, First Edition, May 20, 1993. SAS wood finishes do not exceed the VOC content limits established in South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD) Rule 1113, Architectural Coatings. IE.8: Illumination Levels Ensure light levels that have been designed in line with best practices for visual performance and comfort. IE.8: Contribution SAS International metal ceiling systems help contribute towards this credit. Our powder coated ceilings finished in white provide up to 86.07% light reflectance. For full details of individual paint finishes please contact a member of our technical team.
IE.9: Acoustic Quality Meet minimum requirements for acoustic quality within the building. IE.10: Daylight Maximize the exposure of daylight for interior spaces in order to improve light quality for building occupants and reduce the need for artificial lighting. IE.9: Contribution SAS International metal ceiling systems may contribute towards this credit. Our range of ceiling systems provide up to 0.90 αω / Class A acoustic absorption and up to 49dB acoustic attenuation. IE.10: Contribution SAS International metal ceiling systems help contribute towards this credit. Our powder coated ceilings finished in white provide up to 86.07% light reflectance. For full details of individual paint finishes please contact a member of our technical team.