Kugelgarn® for LEED certified buildings.

The LEED system (“Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design”) is an internationally recognised classification system originating from the USA for buildings designed, constructed and operated under sustainability aspects.

The assessment according to LEED criteria (LEED v4) is based on eight central areas (“environmental categories”):

  1. Location and transport
  2. Building site
  3. Efficient water use
  4. Energy and atmosphere
  5. Material and resources
  6. Indoor quality (emissions)
  7. Innovation and design
  8. Regional priority

In order for a building project to receive a certificate compliant with LEED, it must fulfil some basic conditions and at least 40 defined points (credits) from these sectors. The award levels “silver”, “gold” and “platinum” can be achieved via additional points.

Our Kugelgarn® floor coverings contribute to the fulfilment of LEED criteria as follows:

Low emissions

In order for a building to achieve more than the LEED “certified” level, it is advantageous for the floor covering to comply with certain emission values with regard to volatile organic compounds (VOC) according to the criteria of the CDPH (Calif. Dep. of Public Health) or according to the German AgBB. All Fabromont floor coverings comply with the AgBB guidelines. The GuT seal (Association of environmentally friendly Carpets), which all Kugelgarn® floor coverings have, is subject to similar criteria.

All Kugelgarn® floor coverings also meet the “Blauer Engel (Blue Angel)” emission criteria [1]. The manufacture and the products are subject to emission monitoring by TFI Aachen GmbH, which is authorised for this purpose.

Efficient use of water
  • Compared to elastic or hard floor coverings, Kugelgarn® is economical in maintenance, and regular brush vacuum cleaning is sufficient. No water or cleaning agents are needed [2].
Material and resources
  • Use of regional products: Raw materials exclusively from key European suppliers who are committed to European or Swiss environmental standards.
  • Short transport distances and optimal utilisation of transport capacities.
  • Durability: The durability and long service life of Kugelgarn® contribute significantly to sustainability.
  • Reduction of construction waste: The wastage (material loss) when laying Kugelgarn® is significantly lower than with other coverings, as Kugelgarn® is direction-free and seamless.
  • EPDs (Ecological Product Declaration) issued.
Indoor quality
  • Room air: To keep the products safely free of odour problems, special low-emission, water-based binder formulations are used.
  • Thermal comfort: the use of textile floor coverings instead of hard or elastic coverings enable a reduction in room temperature due to the subjectively greater feeling of warmth. This saves on heating costs [3].

[1] According to TFI-TÜV PROFICERT certificates.

[2] A spray extraction with water and surfactant may be indicated after prolonged use and heavy soiling, at most once a year.

[3] German Carpet Research Institute 81st Technical Note “Significance of the thermal resistance of carpets with underfloor heating and with regard to the saving of heating energy”, Aachen 1981.

Find a consultant