Intertek, an independent quality assurance verifier and SFIA member, and the Intertek Assuris network recently announced the launch of Intertek Green R&D, a holistic quality assurance (QA) solution that enables clients to communicate the environmental impact of their building materials products. The QA solution ensures the quality, safety and performance attributes of a sustainable product throughout its lifecycle.
Growing Demand for Sustainable Products
Sales of eco-friendly products are increasing as consumers demand goods created with minimal impact to the environment.
However, developing a product with sustainability in mind is complex.
“Consumers want more sustainable products, supply chain simplicity, visibility and traceability of goods, as well as lower carbon emissions,” said Wesley Chen, vice president of sustainability, quality and safety at Intertek Assuris.
Chen describes Green R&D is a bespoke solution. It’s designed to provide brands with “a holistic view of product development,” he says, “to better understand the trade-offs between environmental impact, quality, safety and performance that occur throughout the value chain.”
Intertek Green R&D takes a science-based approach that helps companies mitigate risk and protect their brands. The approach balances quality, safety and performance, attributes often overlooked when developing and marketing sustainable products.
Intertek has more than 20 years of experience in safety prevention and risk-based quality assessment, and Green R&D puts that experience to work.
Chen says the company’s “comprehensive regulatory, testing, life cycle assessment and sustainability expertise” can help clients navigate the challenges of developing and marketing eco-friendly products in both local and global markets.
Steel Framing QA Solutions
The Steel Framing Industry Association offers manufacturer quality assurance programs, administered by Intertek, that ensure building professionals have code compliant cold-formed steel (CFS) on their projects.
- The SFIA Code Compliance Certification Program for Cold-Formed Steel Stud and Track requires the manufacturer to have a documented QA program that defines the controls and procedures used during manufacturing.
- The SFIA Connector Manufacturing Compliance Certification Program certifies the coating weights and mechanical property requirements of manufactured connectors. The program is also administered by Intertek.
Intertek makes unannounced visits to SFIA member plants to audit procedures and test samples, ensuring the integrity of the programs.
Free Webinar: Bringing Sustainable Products to Market
A free webinar from Intertek Assuris discusses how to mitigate risk and protect brands by striking the right balance among quality, safety and performance attributes often overlooked during sustainable product development.
Download the free webinar, “Green R&D: Bringing sustainable products to market that meet brand quality, safety and performance.”
About Intertek
Intertek is a Total Quality Assurance provider to industries worldwide. The company’s network of over 1,000 laboratories and offices in more than 100 countries, delivers innovative and bespoke assurance, testing, inspection and certification solutions for its customers.
Additional Resources
- Cold-Formed Steel Framing Quality Assurance and Quality Control
- SFIA Releases Updated Cold-Formed Steel Guide Specs
- Framing Contractors: Keep an Eye on Project Specs Before You Place Bids