Furniture Certifications, Ratings & Compliance Terms

When shopping for school furniture, office furniture, daycare furnishings, healthcare furniture, classroom rugs, or other products for shared spaces, you may notice certifications and compliance terms listed as product features. These labels can help identify furniture that has been tested for indoor air quality, durability, safety, country-of-origin requirements, or other important standards.

This glossary is designed to help explain some of the most common certifications, ratings, and compliance terms you may see while browsing furniture and furnishings for classrooms, offices, libraries, waiting rooms, preschools, healthcare spaces, and other high-use environments.

UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification

UL GREENGUARD Gold Certification identifies products that have been tested for low chemical emissions to help support healthier indoor air quality. This certification sets strict limits on VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that can be released from materials used in furniture, finishes, and other products found indoors. GREENGUARD Gold includes even lower emission limits than standard GREENGUARD Certification and is often used for products intended for schools, healthcare facilities, offices, nurseries, homes, and other spaces where children or sensitive individuals may spend time. In addition to limiting emissions from hundreds of VOCs and total chemical emissions, GREENGUARD Gold Certified products must also meet requirements based on the California Department of Public Health Standard Method, also known as California Section 01350.

MAS Certified Green

MAS Certified Green identifies products that have been independently tested and certified for low chemical emissions, helping support healthier indoor air quality. This certification focuses on VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that can be released from materials used in furniture, building products, and finishes. Products with MAS Certified Green certification have met strict emissions standards used in commercial, educational, healthcare, and other indoor environments. For customers, it is a helpful indicator that the product has been evaluated for low VOC emissions and may be a better choice for classrooms, offices, waiting rooms, libraries, daycares, preschools, and other spaces where people spend a lot of time indoors. Rather than indicating a product is completely chemical-free, this certification shows that the item has passed recognized testing requirements designed to limit indoor air pollutants.

SCS Indoor Advantage Gold Certified

SCS Indoor Advantage Gold Certified identifies furniture and interior products that have been tested and certified for low chemical emissions. This certification is issued by SCS Global Services and focuses on VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, which are chemicals that can be released from materials used in furniture, finishes, seating, storage, flooring, and other products found indoors. Products with this certification have met strict indoor air quality standards used for commercial, educational, healthcare, office, and residential spaces. For customers, SCS Indoor Advantage Gold is a helpful indicator that a product has been evaluated for low VOC emissions and may support healthier indoor environments in classrooms, offices, waiting rooms, libraries, daycares, preschools, homes, and other shared spaces. This certification does not mean a product has no emissions, but it does show that the item has passed recognized testing requirements designed to limit indoor air pollutants and support better indoor air quality.

Green Label Plus Certified

Green Label Plus Certified applies to carpet, carpet cushion, and carpet adhesive products that have been independently tested and certified to meet strict standards for low chemical emissions. Managed by The Carpet and Rug Institute, this certification helps customers identify carpet products that release very low levels of VOCs, or volatile organic compounds, into the air. VOCs are chemicals that can come from certain materials and may affect indoor air quality. For schools, offices, daycares, preschools, healthcare offices, libraries, and other shared spaces, Green Label Plus Certified products can be a helpful choice when selecting carpet for areas where people spend a lot of time indoors. While this certification does not mean a product is completely free of chemicals, it does show that the product has met recognized testing requirements for low emissions and has been evaluated with indoor air quality in mind.

BIFMA Compliant

A BIFMA Compliant product has been tested to meet applicable safety, durability, and performance standards developed by BIFMA, the Business and Institutional Furniture Manufacturers Association. These standards are widely used in the school, office, healthcare, and commercial furniture industries to help evaluate how well furniture holds up to everyday use. For customers, BIFMA compliance is a helpful indicator that a product has been designed and tested for important factors such as strength, stability, structural performance, and long-term durability. This can be especially important in busy classrooms, offices, waiting rooms, libraries, daycares, and other high-use spaces where furniture needs to perform reliably day after day. While BIFMA Compliant does not mean a product is indestructible, it does provide added confidence that the item meets recognized industry standards for commercial furniture quality and performance.

TAA Compliant

TAA Compliant refers to products that meet the requirements of the Trade Agreements Act, a federal procurement rule that applies to many government contracts. For school and office furniture, this generally indicates that the product is made in the United States or in a country approved under U.S. trade agreements, or that it has been substantially transformed in one of those approved countries. TAA Compliance is often important for government agencies, public institutions, and organizations purchasing through certain federal contracts, including GSA Schedule contracts. For customers, this designation can help identify furniture, fixtures, and equipment that may meet specific purchasing requirements for government-funded projects. While TAA Compliance does not describe the quality, safety, durability, or environmental performance of a product, it does provide important country-of-origin information for buyers who must follow federal procurement guidelines.