The Manufacturer With the Most GREENGUARD Gold Certified Insulation Products
Seeking to be a reference point in various aspects of sustainable development, SOPREMA is the manufacturer that offers the most GREENGUARD Gold certified insulation products in North America. Our insulation lines, SOPRA-XPS, SOPRA-SPF, SOPRA-CELLULOSE, SOPRA-ISO and SOPRA-ISO PLUS, are all GREENGUARD Gold certified. It is now even easier for building designers to choose sustainable, environmentally friendly materials that promote people’s quality of life.
SOPREMA is proud to offer efficient insulation solutions for construction professionals that also meet the expectations of owners and end users. GREENGUARD Gold is a certification that is difficult to obtain because the products must meet the stringent criteria of CDPH Standard Method for VOC Emission. The compliance process, which lasts almost a year, is also carried out in collaboration with an independent third party.
What Is GREENGUARD Gold Certification?
GREENGUARD Gold certification includes very strict selection criteria and considers the most demanding safety factors for volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. These requirements also include some sensitive groups of people (such as children and the elderly), and they ensure that a product is acceptable in high-risk environments, such as schools and healthcare facilities.
Why Is It Important?
GREENGUARD Gold certified insulation is part of the solution for improving indoor air quality. Using materials that emit little or no VOC contributes to maintaining the comfort and quality of life of occupants, which then contributes positively to their health. In fact, it is exactly this kind of initiative that allows us to continue the discussion on sustainable development in the construction industry.
You want to learn more about sustainable development in the construction industry?
Products That Meet LEED® V4 and Well Certification Requirements
In the fall of 2017, SOPREMA was the first to release independent third-party validated EPDs and HPDs. Following this logic, obtaining the GREENGUARD Gold certification was an essential initiative to complete, mainly in order to better meet the requirements of green building certifications such as LEED® v4 and WELL.
Investing in GREENGUARD Gold certified products can contribute to obtaining credits according to the various LEED® v4 and WELL programs. Here is a brief summary of requirements for each of them:
LEED V4
Criteria : Indoor environment quality – Low-emitting materials (1 to 3 credits)
This credit includes requirements for product manufacturing as well as project teams. It covers volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions in indoor air and the VOC content of materials, as well as the testing methods by which indoor VOC emissions are determined. Different materials must meet different requirements to be considered compliant with this credit.
To obtain the credits, comply with one of the options below.
Option 1. Product Category Calculations
Thresholds of compliance with emissions and content standards for seven categories of materials:
- Interior paints and coatings applied on site
- Interior adhesives and sealants applied on site (including flooring adhesive)
- Flooring
- Composite wood
- Ceilings, walls, thermal, and acoustic insulation
- Threshold: 100%
- Emissions and content requirements: general emissions evaluation, healthcare and schools only; additional insulation requirements
- Furniture (include in calculations if part of scope of work)
- Healthcare and school projects only: exterior applied products
Option 2. Budget Calculation Method
If some products in a category do not meet the criteria, project teams may use the budget calculation method.
Percentage of total
- ≥ 50% and < 70% = 1 credit
- ≥ 70% and < 90% = 2 credits
- ≥ 90% = 3 credits
The budget method organizes the building interior into five assemblies:
- Flooring;
- Ceilings;
- Walls;
- Thermal and acoustic insulation;
- Furniture
Calculate the surface area of assembly layers based on the manufacturer’s documentation for the application.
If 90% of an assembly meets the criteria, the system counts as 100% compliant. If less than 50% of an assembly meets the criteria, the assembly counts as 0% compliant.
Well Building Standard
Criteria : X10 Volatile Compound – Reduction (2 credits)
This WELL feature requires the restriction of hazardous VOCs and SVOCs, halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), urea-formaldehyde and select phthalates commonly used in building materials and products.
Management of Volatile Organic Compounds
The following requirements are met:
A. At a minimum, 20% by cost of the following newly installed components contain halogenated flame retardants at less than 100 ppm or the extent allowable by local code:
- Furniture;
- Window and waterproofing membranes, door and window frames, and siding;
- Flooring, ceiling tiles and wall coverings;
- Piping and electrical cables, conduits, and junction boxes;
- Acoustic and thermal insulation;
- Duct and pipe insulation.
B. At a minimum, 20% by cost of the following newly installed components contain urea formaldehyde at less than 100 ppm or the extent allowable by local code:
- Composite wood products;
- Laminating adhesives and resins;
- Thermal insulation.
Note: Projects can disclose or report ingredients listed here using labels approved for use in Part 1: Promote Ingredient Disclosure in Feature X14: Material Transparency to earn points toward that feature.
Criteria : XX11 Long-Term Emission – Control (1 to 2 credits)
This WELL feature requires testing and adherence to emission thresholds for newly purchased furniture and furnishings, flooring and insulation. VOCs and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) have a wide range of health effects, from nose, eye and throat irritation, headaches, and nausea to liver, kidney and central-nervous system damage. Some select VOCs and SVOCs are known or suspected carcinogens. While high levels of some VOCs are detectable by smell, others have no odour.
Solutions
Indoor sources of VOCs include materials and products such as interior furnishings, flooring, insulation, wallpapers, and composite wood products, among others. Unlike paints, adhesives, sealants and coatings, VOCs in furniture, flooring and insulation emit over a longer period of time. The use of building materials and furnishings with low-VOC emissions can help substantially improve indoor air quality, particularly over an extended period of time.
Impact
Restriction of source VOCs in building materials and products can limit their presence in indoor air and dust and help to mitigate exposure risks and health hazards.
Management of Flooring and Insulation Emissions (1 credit)
All newly installed flooring and thermal and acoustic insulation (excluding duct insulation) inside the building meet the following VOC emission thresholds:
A. California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v.1.1-2010 or any more recent version.
Note: Wherever procurement of a product or a material type is not possible, the project is permitted to submit documentation demonstrating an attempt has been made; for each listed product or material type applicable to the project, a petition or formal request is filed with at minimum three manufacturers who were unable to meet its needs.
*The recycled content varies according to the compression range. The global recycled content is made of one part of post-consumer and pre-consumer content validated by CT Consultants, and another part which accounts for the manufacturing recovery value. The specific details of the products covered by this validation can be found in the recycled content certificate.
The Manufacturer with the Most GREENGUARD-Certified Insulation Products
Striving to set the standard in multiple areas of sustainable development, SOPREMA manufactures the largest selection of GREENGUARD-certified insulation products in North America. In fact, the SOPRA-XPS, SOPRA-SPF, SOPRA-CELLULOSE, SOPRA-ISO and SOPRA-ISO PLUS insulation product lines all have various levels of GREENGUARD certification. It is now easier than ever for building designers to choose materials that contribute to a healthier indoor environment for occupants, particularly by reducing exposure to airborne pollutants.
What Is GREENGUARD Certification?
GREENGUARD certification includes very strict selection criteria and considers some of the most demanding safety factors in terms of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions. These requirements also take into account certain more vulnerable groups of people (such as children and the elderly). They ensure that a product is safe in high-risk environments, such as schools and healthcare facilities.
GREENGUARD-certified insulation products, which emit little or no VOCs, are part of the solution for improving indoor air quality in buildings. They can help not only ensure the comfort and well-being of occupants, but also make a positive contribution to health. This is precisely the kind of approach that is driving the construction industry toward safer products.
SOPREMA’s Compliance Framework
Applicable standards: All relevant SOPREMA products are tested by an external laboratory on an annual basis in accordance with the requirements of the following standards:
- California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017.
- UL 2818 – 2022 Standard for Chemical Emissions for Building Materials, Finishes and Furnishings. Building products and interior finishes are determined compliant in accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method V1.2-2017 using an Office and Classroom Environment.
Targeted substances: This test measures emissions from several substances covered by the applicable standards. These substances will vary depending on the type of insulation and its composition.
| Targeted substances | SOPRA-CELLULOSE | SOPRA-ISO | SOPRA-ISO PLUS | SOPRA-SPF | SOPRA-XPS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Volatile organic compound (VOC) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Formaldehyde | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Aldehyde | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Fine particulate matter smaller than 10 µm | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 4-Phenylcyclohexene | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
The certificates of compliance for the products in question are available in the Documentation section of the SOPREMA website.
Products Meeting LEED and WELL Certification Requirements
In the fall of 2017, SOPREMA became the first major Canadian manufacturer to release independent third-party-validated EPDs and HPDs. In line with this approach, obtaining GREENGUARD certification was a logical next step, particularly as the use of these certified products can help ensure compliance with the requirements of various LEED and WELL building certification programs.
LEED Certification
Requirements for low-emitting materials
LEED certification includes several requirements related to VOC emissions in indoor air and the VOC content of building materials. This includes testing methods for determining indoor VOC emissions, which manufacturers can use to demonstrate product compliance. Materials must meet various criteria in order to comply with the prescribed standards.
LEED v4 and v4.1
IEQ: Indoor Environmental Quality – Low-Emitting Materials (1-3 pts)
- At least 75% of all insulation materials, by value or area, must meet the VOC emission rating.
- The insulation products category includes all thermal and acoustic panels (e.g., mats, rolls, fire- and sound-blocking barriers, moulded, sprayed, blown-in and loose-fill insulation, etc.).
- Insulation intended for use on plumbing pipes and heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) ducts is excluded from this credit, although HVAC insulation may be included at the discretion of the project team [1].
LEED v5
MR: Materials and Resources – Low-Emitting Materials (1-2 pts)
- At least 90% of all insulation materials, by value or area, must meet the VOC emission rating.
- The insulation products category includes all thermal and acoustic panels (e.g., mats, rolls, fire- and sound-blocking barriers, moulded, sprayed, blown-in and loose-fill insulation, etc.).
- Insulation installed outside an air barrier is excluded from this credit [2].
California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017
- The product has been tested in accordance with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017 and complies with the VOC limits specified in Table 4-1 of that method. In addition, the total VOC range after 14 days (336 hours) was measured in accordance with the CDPH Standard Method v1.2 and is specified (total VOC ranges: 0.5 mg/m³ or less, between 0.5 and 5 mg/m³, or 5 mg/m³ or more).
- Test methods used by laboratories must be accredited for each laboratory according to ISO/IEC 17025. Products used in any environment other than schools and classrooms must be modelled according to the “private office” exposure scenario. For projects in schools, modelling based on the “office” and/or “school” scenario is permitted.
- The product compliance declaration must include the exposure scenario(s) used and the total VOC range, and must meet the product declaration guidelines set forth in the CDPH Standard Method v1.2-2017, Section 8. The manufacturer’s declarations must also include a summary laboratory report dated within the last three years and the quantity of wet-applied product, expressed as mass per unit area (if applicable) [2].
The products that may meet the LEED certification requirements for low-emitting materials are listed in SOPREMA’s LEED Index.
WELL Building Certification
Requirements for low-emitting materials
The WELL building certification includes several requirements related to VOC emissions in indoor air and the VOC content of building materials. This includes testing methods for determining indoor VOC emissions, which manufacturers can use to demonstrate product compliance. Materials must meet various criteria in order to comply with the prescribed standards. These include restrictions on hazardous VOCs and SVOCs, halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), urea-formaldehyde, and select phthalates commonly used in construction materials and products.
WELL v1
Air: 04 – Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) Reduction – Insulation (Prerequisite)
- VOC emissions from all newly installed interior thermal and acoustic insulation products (with the exception of duct insulation) must comply with the limits set by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2–2017 [3].
WELL v2
Materials: X06 – VOC Restrictions – Part 2. Restrict VOC Emissions from Furniture, Architectural and Interior Products – Insulation (1-2 pts)
- Insulation, ceiling, and wall-covering products accounting for 75% of the cost or surface area must be tested in accordance with the methods and VOC emission thresholds defined, in particular, by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.2 [4].
The products that may meet the WELL certification requirements for low-emitting materials are listed in SOPREMA’s WELL Index.
Note to readers: The potential contribution of the SOPREMA products featured in this publication relates solely to the requirements for low-emitting materials and not to the other categories of LEED and WELL certifications. These products do not automatically and/or fully guarantee compliance with the prerequisites or the earning of points, the number of which may vary depending on the project. To meet the requirements of the certifications mentioned successfully, it is worth noting that compliance may depend on the quality of the building’s design and the installation of the products. To ensure the success of your project, SOPREMA recommends that you review the relevant documentation in advance and confirm that the products will help you achieve its objectives. It is strongly recommended that you seek the assistance of a LEED or WELL Accredited Professional (AP), depending on the intended certification.
References
[1] U.S. Green Building Council (2025). LEED v4.1 Building Design and Construction. USGBC.
[2] U.S. Green Building Council (2026). LEED v5 Building Design and Construction Rating System. USGBC.
[3] International WELL Building Institute (2020). WELL Building Standard v1 with Q2 2020 addenda. IWBI.
[4] International WELL Building Institute (2022). WELL Building Standard v2. IWBI.