LANCASTER, PA.—Armstrong World Industries, the country’s largest manufacturer of acoustical ceilings, has introduced AirGuard, the first coating for ceiling tiles that actively removes formaldehyde and other aldehydes in indoor air. Initially available on Armstrong Ultima ceiling panels, the breakthrough, patent-pending coating technology for improving indoor air quality converts naturally occurring and man-made formaldehyde present in interiors into an inert substance permanently captured by the ceiling.
Applied to the back of ceiling tiles, the AirGuard Coating actively removes aldehydes during the commissioning and early occupancy of a building. Tests show that it eliminates more than 90 percent of formaldehyde during the first year of use, when off-gassing from new materials presents the greatest risk to occupant health. During normal occupancy, it removes more than 90 percent of formaldehyde in the first year. Over a 10-year period, the average formaldehyde reduction is 50 percent, a claim backed by UL-Environment.
The AirGuard Coating also helps reduce exposure level and time during “spike” periods. These occur when formaldehyde concentrations increase dramatically due to human activity and indoor air reactions with consumer products such as cleaning agents and office equipment.
Tests show that the performance characteristics of Ultima ceilings with AirGuard are unaffected by the coating. This includes the ceiling’s acoustic properties, light reflectance, durability, recyclability, and resistance to sag, mold/mildew, and bacterial growth.
For more information on the AirGuard Coating, visit armstrong.com/airguard.
