In 2012, the eighth consensus-based sustainability standard developed through NSF for building products went into effect — NSF/ANSI 347, Sustainability Assessment for Single Ply Roofing Membranes. It is the first standard for evaluating and certifying sustainable attributes of low-slope single-ply roofing membranes over their entire life cycle.
As products with environmental claims continue to enter the marketplace, independent, third-party certification of products to national standards can help architects and specifiers make educated decisions about product selection. Product design and manufacturing, membrane durability, corporate governance and innovation are all addressed in the standard. NSF 347 is also the first standard that addresses the building envelope, carrying with it the potential for improving building energy efficiency while positively impacting the quality of the urban environment.