Sustainability FAQs

1. Where does CTC come up with their published calculation of recycled content?
   Normally, this is an internal calculation compiled by the manufacturer. However, CTC has proactively engaged an independent consultant to certify the recycled content for the majority of our products.
   
   
2. Acoustic performance plays an important part as a prerequisite in LEED® 2009 for Schools (IEQ prerequisite 3). What CTC products satisfy those requirements?
   The prerequisite sets a minimum performance from the acoustic ceiling at 0.70 NRC (noise reduction coefficient). CTC has a number of products that meet or exceed that performance threshold. However, the prerequisite also allows for combining of acoustic finishes (i.e. the CTC ceiling panels and CTC Solutions wall panels) provided the performance equals or exceeds that of the total ceiling area. This design may actually be a more effective way of addressing the prerequisite’s intent of improving communication within the classroom.
   
   
3. What about LEED® 2009 for Schools credit for “Low-emitting Materials – ceiling and wall systems” (IEQ 4.6)? Does CTC have any products that satisfy those requirements?
   Products must be tested to requirements of the “California DHS Standard Practice for the Testing of Volatile Organic Emissions from Various Sources Using Small-scale Environmental Chambers”. One program that certifies the cited standard is the Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS). A majority of CTC product have passed the CHPS testing and are posted on their “Low-emitting Materials database” http://www.chps.net.
   
   
4. I understand that CTC has a program for recycling old ceiling panels. Are there any restrictions on which panels CTC will recycle?
   There are a number of very specific restrictions. However, most mineral fiber ceiling panels will be acceptable. You can see all details on our recycling program here.
   
   
5. I often hear references to a product’s “sustainability”. Can you give me an example of how this applies to some specific CTC products?
   CTC has a proprietary finish that is common to a number of products - Overtone®. This monolithic finish is unusually resilient. The Overtone finish has been tested on the “Gardner Straight Line Washability and Abrasion Machine” and it withstood over 5,000 scrub cycles. Products that employ the Overtone® finish are expected to have an unusually long life and as such should be candidates for reuse if a space is being renovated. This is the very definition of “sustainability”. LEED 2009 NC provides a credit under “Maintaining Material Non-structural Items (MR 1.2)” for the reuse of ceiling systems. CTC products using the Overtone finish are: Adagio, Symphony F, Symphony G, Symphony M and TufCore.