The Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program, a unique partnership between Allergy Standards Limited (ASL) and the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA), tests and certifies products and services against strict standards to earn the Certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly® mark, helping people make informed purchases for a healthier home.
The idea for the certification was born when founder and CEO of ASL, Dr. John McKeon, was working in the ER and realized that people impacted by asthma and allergies needed science-backed guidance on household products that would support healthier indoor air.
But today the Certification Program is much more than this.
In recent years, the trend for healthy interiors in homes, schools and office buildings has gained serious momentum but lack of regulation around health claims on household products and building materials has led to “well-washing”. This problem highlights the need for trusted sources and the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Mark has become a clear signpost for designers, architects and building professionals looking for products that support healthier indoor air for everyone.
As this consumer demand for products that support health and wellbeing continues to grow, it is more crucial than ever that product health claims are backed by 
science. Because of its strict scientific standards, the Asthma & Allergy Friendly® Certification Program provides credibility and reassurance to consumers. Furthermore, Certified paint, resilient and textile flooring, and insulation products align with USGBC LEED credit requirements for low-emitting materials.
The program takes a whole-of-home approach to healthier indoor air, and its suite of more than 50 certification standards assess products as diverse as paint, insulation, cleaning products, air cleaners, HVAC systems, washers and dryers, flooring and bedding. Big name clients include Trane, LG, Tarkett, Benjamin Moore, True Value and 3M. Clients are provided with promotional and marketing support, findings from research, and access to extensive educational material, including videos and webinars and an exclusive “Knowledge Café” available through a tailored client portal.
Allergy Standards has expanded since its initial inception and is now encompassed in the wider Indoor Air Innovation and Research Institute (iAIR Institute), whose mission is to help create the healthiest possible indoor environments through science, education and collaborative research. The Indoor Air Innovation and Research Academy, part of the iAIR Institute, offers educational courses to designers, facility managers, building owners, architects and building professionals that cover various aspects of indoor air quality relating to the built environment.
Finally, an aspect of the program that cannot be underestimated: demonstration of ESG values. The building industry, like any industry, has clear ESG responsibilities, and becoming a Certified client is a great step to maximize benefits to society while staying focused on creating business and increasing brand value. The disproportionate effect of respiratory illnesses on vulnerable and underserved communities has emphasized the importance of a holistic approach when choosing products and building materials to ensure social equity. Having Certified products has facilitated clients of the program to become involved in projects that target health disparities in underserved communities and allows them to contribute in a meaningful way.
Read more information or take the first step to having your product Certified, by contacting ASL.
by Anna O’Donovan