ThyssenKrupp Elevator America's Standard Line of U.S. Elevator Cabs Validated by UL Environment

(3BL Media / theCSRfeed) Alpharetta, GA - October 3, 2011 - ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas announced on September 30 that UL Environment has validated the environmental claims for low volatile organic compound (VOC) emitting material in its standard elevator cab line per California’s Section 01350. A strict audit was performed to test the indoor air quality of the cabs. The conclusive and independent third-party validation process is another step toward a green product line which already includes standard added urea-formaldehyde-free wood products, Microban^® antimicrobial protected pushbuttons and powder coating in lieu of traditional solvent-based paint.   “As the first manufacturer in our industry to work with UL Environment on this type of initiative, we are proud to receive an official validation of the emissions within our standard elevator cabs,” said Brad Nemeth, director of sustainability for ThyssenKrupp Elevators Americas. “Our company has taken a significant step towards evaluating and reducing the impact of our building materials on the indoor air quality of our standard elevator cabs. We hope this validation becomes a major driving force behind the entire industry creating more environmentally friendly products and overall healthier buildings.”   For more than a century, UL has helped manufacturers bolster consumer confidence in selecting better products. The Environmental Claims Validation (ECV) service launched through UL Environment builds another layer of trust for these types of product claims. Under the ECV service guidelines, each validated environmental claim is periodically reassessed to ensure consistent performance characteristics and continued compliance with the applicable standard.   “UL Environment congratulates ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas for helping to create higher quality indoor air environments,” said Stephen H. Wenc, president of UL Environment. “By completing the program, they are demonstrating a further level of commitment to transparency, which helps architects, designers and engineers identify products that deliver on their environmental health claims.”   The claim for ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas was validated using the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of Volatile Organic Chemical Emissions from Indoor Sources Using Environmental Chambers Version 1.1, Feb 2010, commonly referred to as CA Section 01350. CA 01350 is a Special Environmental Requirements standard specification developed by the State of California to cover key environmental performance issues related to the selection and handling of building materials. The key elements affecting indoor air quality are in the specification for screening building materials based on the following: emissions testing protocol, hazardous content screening, and avoiding mold and mildew from construction practices.   ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas is working hard to embed sustainability within the core operations and culture of the company. In addition to the validation, ThyssenKrupp Elevator has standardized the use of particleboard with no added urea-formaldehyde to comply with IEQ credit 4.4 and has moved to a powder-coat line for all interior coatings. The validation also helps this elevator model qualify for innovation credits referencing pilot credit 43, through the LEED program. The company continues to be a leading industry advocate for helping building owners, facility managers, elevator consultants and architects reduce the total impact of their built environment.   About ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas The ThyssenKrupp Group, based in Essen, Germany, is a global materials and technology company which consists of eight business areas. In fiscal 2009/2010 the company had annual sales of €42.6 billion ($58.3 billion) and employed over 177,000.   Globally, ThyssenKrupp Group's activities in passenger transportation systems employ 44,000 persons in 900 locations. With sales of almost 5.2 billion euros ($7.1 billion) in fiscal year 2009/2010, ThyssenKrupp Elevator is one of the world's leading elevator companies.   ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas is the largest producer of elevators in the Americas, with more than 13,500 employees, more than 200 branch and service locations, and sales of more than $2.7 billion. ThyssenKrupp Elevator Americas oversees all business for the operations in the United States, Canada, Central and South America. It is a subsidiary of ThyssenKrupp Elevator AG.   ThyssenKrupp USA, Inc. and its subsidiaries account for approximately 17,500 employees and annual sales of $6.7 billion in fiscal year 2009/2010. Through its predecessor companies, ThyssenKrupp has been part of the U.S. business landscape for more than 170 years.   BF17327