Micro and macro considerations for sustainable specification

  •   1 November 2017

With sustainability now a top priority for architects and designers, understanding exactly what is being specified for our buildings has never been more important. This has led to a wave of green building products, which add good looks and performance to their environmental and wellbeing credentials.

On the macro level, the AEC industry is focused on design features that save water, electricity and gas while reducing waste and pollution. But the micro level is just as critical – specifically, specifying finishes that not only enhance the wellbeing of building occupants, but that were made with sustainability in mind. This cradle-to-cradle concept is particularly important if the sector is to fully embrace sustainability as a movement, and not treat it as just a buzzword.

One great case in point is Woven Image’s landmark product, Mura. The innovative, Australian-made wall covering emits low VOCs and is made using recycled materials. Approximately 60 percent of the product is produced with post-consumer recycled and recyclable content, such as PET bottles. Its base fibre is also certified to Oekotex Standard 100 for meeting “human ecological requirements”—a standard recognised by TESTex Zurich, Swiss Textile Institute.

Mura’s other more ‘traditional’ benefits add to its green credentials. After all, a well-performing product is less likely to be removed and replaced, which can lead to extra time, labor, energy and costs.

For instance, Mura is lightweight, easy to handle and install, and cost-effective. Suitable for use in a wide variety of applications, the 1.9mm-thick product is available as a continuous 25m roll, making it ideal as an acoustic floor-to-ceiling wall covering. In fact, it has been tested by RMIT to AS ISO 354–2006, achieving outstanding commercial performance results against Australian and international standards.

Its back is engineered with a texture that easily adheres to various surfaces. Importantly, the wall covering achieves a number of international fire standards, including:

  • ISO 9705: GROUP 1, AS3837 CLASSIFICATION: GROUP 1 (adhered to plasterboard)
  • BS 476 PART 7: CLASS 2 (adhered to Gyprock EC08TM Fire), and
  • ASTM E84: CLASS 1 (adhered to plasterboard).

Aesthetics have not been sacrificed in ensuring high standards of environmental, safety and health criteria are met. Mura’s face side has a smooth, clean look, and its seams are almost invisible meaning a flawless finish. To cater to an array of design needs and applications, Mura is produced and printed in several colourways and designs. The Mura Key range, metallic Mura Haku 201 and five new solid colourways were added to the wall covering collection last month.

 

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