Materials and Sustainability Flashcards

What is LEED certification in interior design?

Answer: A green building rating system that evaluates environmental performance across categories like energy, water, and materials

LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rates buildings and interiors on sustainable practices across categories including energy efficiency, water conservation, materials selection, indoor environmental quality, and innovation.

What does VOC stand for and why is it important in interior design?

Answer: Volatile Organic Compounds — harmful chemicals emitted from paints, finishes, and materials that affect indoor air quality

VOCs are chemicals that evaporate from building materials, paints, adhesives, and furnishings into indoor air, potentially causing health problems. Low-VOC and zero-VOC products improve indoor air quality.

What factors should be considered when selecting upholstery fabric for commercial use?

Answer: Durability (Wyzenbeek or Martindale abrasion rating), fire resistance, stain resistance, colorfastness, and cleaning requirements

Commercial upholstery selection considers abrasion resistance ratings, fire code compliance (CAL 117 or CAL 133), stain and moisture resistance, colorfastness to light and cleaning, and ease of maintenance.

What is the difference between hardwood and engineered wood flooring?

Answer: Hardwood is solid wood throughout; engineered has a real wood veneer over layers of plywood or HDF

Solid hardwood is milled from a single piece of wood and can be refinished multiple times. Engineered wood has a real wood top layer bonded to a stable core of plywood or HDF, offering better moisture resistance and dimensional stability.

What is cradle-to-cradle design in sustainable interior design?

Answer: Designing products and materials to be fully recyclable or biodegradable, creating no waste at end of life

Cradle-to-cradle design envisions products where all materials are either biological nutrients (safely biodegradable) or technical nutrients (fully recyclable), eliminating the concept of waste.

What is a finish schedule in interior design documentation?

Answer: A document listing all surface finishes (paint, wallcovering, flooring, ceiling) for every room in the project

A finish schedule is a comprehensive document or spreadsheet listing all surface materials and finishes for each room, including paint colors, wallcoverings, flooring, base trim, ceiling, and special finishes with product specifications.