No single certification tells you whether a floor is "safe" — because the three certifications shoppers see most often don't test the same thing. CARB2 and TSCA Title VI test only formaldehyde emissions from a composite wood core. FloorScore tests a finished flooring product for 35 individual VOCs. GREENGUARD Gold tests 360-plus VOCs across many categories of building product, not flooring alone, to a stricter standard. All three are real, legitimate programs run by real organizations — but a product can pass one and simply never have been submitted to another, and none of them alone means "no VOCs." This guide decodes exactly what each one covers, where the VOCs in a new floor actually come from, how phthalates in vinyl are — and aren't — regulated, and precisely what to ask a supplier for before you buy.
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The three certifications, decoded — never treat them as interchangeable
Three names get used almost interchangeably: CARB2, FloorScore, GREENGUARD Gold. They're issued by three different organizations, test three different things, and cover three different scopes. Here is the precise comparison:
| Certification | Developed / administered by | What it tests | Scope | Does NOT cover |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CARB2 / TSCA Title VI | California Air Resources Board (CARB2); US EPA (TSCA Title VI) — identical limits | Formaldehyde emissions only | The composite wood core (hardwood plywood, particleboard, MDF) inside some flooring products | Any other VOC; the adhesive; a site-applied finish; the finished, assembled product as a whole |
| FloorScore | Developed by RFCI (Resilient Floor Covering Institute); certified by SCS Global Services | 35 individual VOCs, including formaldehyde, via the CDPH Standard Method (Section 01350) | The finished flooring product — and flooring adhesives can be certified separately | Furniture, paint, insulation, or other non-flooring products; a narrower VOC list than GREENGUARD Gold |
| GREENGUARD Gold | UL | 360+ VOCs plus total chemical emissions, also built on the CDPH Standard Method, to stricter thresholds | Cross-category — flooring, furniture, insulation, paint and other building products; often specified for schools & healthcare | Is not a single-chemical (e.g. "formaldehyde-free") claim — it is a broader, stricter, but still defined-list test |
- CARB2 / TSCA Title VI — formaldehyde, and only the composite wood core. The California Air Resources Board's Airborne Toxic Control Measure Phase 2 (CARB2) sets formaldehyde-emission limits for composite wood cores: 0.05 ppm for hardwood plywood, 0.09 ppm for particleboard, 0.11 ppm for medium-density fiberboard (MDF), and 0.13 ppm for thin MDF (8mm or less). The federal TSCA Title VI rule, enforced by the US EPA, sets identical limits. Since March 22, 2019, CARB's reciprocity arrangement ended and composite wood products sold in the US must certify to TSCA Title VI specifically — but the underlying numbers didn't change, so "CARB2 compliant" and "TSCA Title VI compliant" describe the same standard today. This pair of standards tests formaldehyde only, and only in the core — not other VOCs, not the adhesive used to install the floor, not a site-applied finish, and not the finished, assembled product as a whole.
- FloorScore — the finished product, 35 VOCs. FloorScore was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) and is certified by SCS Global Services. It tests the finished flooring product — and can separately certify flooring adhesives — against 35 individual VOCs, including formaldehyde, using the CDPH Standard Method (California's chamber-test protocol, also known as Section 01350). That's a meaningfully broader scope than CARB2/TSCA Title VI, since it covers the whole product rather than just a wood core — but it is still a defined list of 35 compounds, not every VOC that could theoretically exist.
- GREENGUARD Gold — cross-category, 360+ VOCs, the stricter tier. GREENGUARD Gold is administered by UL and also builds on the CDPH Standard Method, but tests for more than 360 VOCs plus total chemical emissions, against stricter thresholds than the base GREENGUARD tier. It's a cross-category program — furniture, insulation, paint, and other building products can all carry it, not just flooring — part of why it's frequently specified for schools and healthcare facilities, where total indoor chemical load matters most. It is a stricter, broader test than FloorScore, but the two aren't a simple superset of one another: a product can hold either, both, or neither.
The takeaway: state precisely which certification a specific product actually holds. Don't let "CARB2 compliant" answer a question about a floor's whole-product VOC profile, and don't let "FloorScore certified" answer a question specific to formaldehyde in a composite core. They are not synonyms for "safe" or for each other.
The confusion is understandable, because in the real world these claims often appear stacked on the same spec sheet or showroom sign — "CARB2 compliant, Low-VOC, FloorScore Certified" reads like one reassurance, when it's actually three separate, narrower claims layered together. A product can genuinely hold all three and still not have been tested against GREENGUARD Gold's broader chemical list, simply because it was never submitted for that program. Absence of a certification is not evidence the product fails it — it may just mean it was never tested to that particular standard.
Where the VOCs in a new floor actually come from
"VOCs from flooring" is really three separate sources — and a certification on the plank itself doesn't automatically cover the other two.
- The flooring product itself. A composite wood core bonded with formaldehyde-based resin — hardwood plywood, particleboard, MDF — is the source CARB2/TSCA Title VI specifically targets. Vinyl's plasticizers and stabilizers are a separate, unrelated source, covered under phthalates below rather than formaldehyde limits.
- The adhesive. A glue-down installation introduces its own VOC source, and in some installations the adhesive contributes more to indoor air at install time than the flooring material itself does. Adhesives can carry their own FloorScore certification, separate from the plank or tile above them — worth asking about specifically on any glue-down job.
- The finish. A site-applied finish — polyurethane or oil-based coatings on solid hardwood, for instance — is typically the most noticeable VOC source at install time, both by concentration and by odor, because it's curing in place rather than having already off-gassed at the factory before delivery. A factory-finished (prefinished) product has generally already gone through most of its finish off-gassing before it reaches the home.
Ask about all three separately — the core or base material, the adhesive, and the finish. A product certified on one of them doesn't tell you anything about the other two.
Off-gassing timeline: what to expect, and how to ventilate
Per US EPA guidance on indoor air quality, VOC concentrations from newly installed interior materials, adhesives, and finishes are typically highest in the first few days to weeks after installation and decline gradually after that — though the exact curve varies by product, adhesive, and finish, and some materials continue emitting at low levels for longer. Treat any single "it's safe after X days" figure you encounter in marketing as a rough approximation, not a guarantee, and follow the specific adhesive or finish manufacturer's own re-occupancy guidance.
What actually helps, per that same guidance: increase ventilation during installation and for as long as practical afterward — open windows, run exhaust fans, and keep HVAC circulating rather than sealing the room up immediately. This matters most for glue-down and site-finished installations, where an adhesive or finish is curing in place, and least for a fully factory-finished, floating-installed product built on a certified low-formaldehyde core.
Phthalates in vinyl: regulated vs. marketing
Ortho-phthalates are a family of plasticizer chemicals historically used to keep vinyl flexible. The federal CPSIA ban on several specific ortho-phthalates is real — but it applies to children's toys and child-care articles, not to flooring as a category. There is no equivalent federal law banning phthalates in residential or commercial vinyl flooring generally.
What is real: most reputable vinyl flooring sold in North America today is manufactured without ortho-phthalate plasticizers, a shift the industry made largely voluntarily over roughly the past decade, and manufacturers commonly highlight it as a phthalate-free selling point. That's a genuine, checkable claim worth asking for in writing — but for flooring specifically, it reflects industry practice and marketing today, not a legal requirement the way the CPSIA ban is for children's items. Ask for the specific product's phthalate-free documentation rather than assuming every vinyl floor on the market qualifies.
Flexible vinyl still needs some plasticizer to stay flexible — removing ortho-phthalates doesn't mean removing plasticizer altogether. Non-ortho-phthalate substitutes such as DINCH (diisononyl cyclohexane-1,2-dicarboxylate) are now widely used in flooring and other consumer products in place of older ortho-phthalates, and are generally presented by manufacturers as the lower-concern option. That's a fair, verifiable substitution — but "phthalate-free" describes what a product was not made with, not a certification of the substitute's own long-term safety profile, so treat it as one honest data point among several rather than the whole answer on vinyl's indoor-air profile.
What to actually ask a supplier for
- Ask for the certification by name. "Low-VOC," "eco-friendly," and "safe for your home" are marketing phrases with no fixed technical meaning. "CARB2 / TSCA Title VI compliant," "FloorScore certified," and "GREENGUARD Gold certified" are specific, checkable claims.
- Ask for that specific product's documentation — not a brand-wide claim. Certification is granted product by product, often SKU by SKU, not automatically to everything a manufacturer sells. A retailer saying "our vinyl is FloorScore certified" should be able to produce the certificate, or point to a listing, for the exact product you're buying.
- Ask what's actually covered. "CARB2 compliant" is a formaldehyde-in-the-core claim; ask about the finish and adhesive separately if whole-product VOCs matter to you.
- Ask about the adhesive and finish, not just the flooring. As above, these are frequently the larger VOC contributor in a glue-down or site-finished installation, and each carries its own certification status independent of the flooring product itself.
- Verify, don't just trust the logo. A certification mark printed on a box or a brochure is only as good as the product it's actually attached to. Where the certifying body publishes a searchable product directory, use it to confirm the specific product you're buying is currently listed — a faster, independent check than taking a salesperson's word alone.
Myths & mistakes
- Myth: "Low-VOC means no VOCs." No finished flooring product, adhesive, or finish we're aware of is entirely free of volatile organic compounds. "Low-VOC," and certifications like FloorScore and GREENGUARD Gold, mean tested emissions fall under a defined threshold for a defined list of compounds — not zero.
- Myth: "CARB2 (or TSCA Title VI) compliance means the whole floor is safe." It means the composite wood core's formaldehyde emissions meet a specific limit — nothing about the adhesive, the finish, or any VOC other than formaldehyde.
- Myth: "Natural materials are automatically safer." Solid hardwood still needs a finish; cork and bamboo still use resin adhesives; natural stone still needs a sealer. "Natural" describes the raw material, not the adhesive or coating bonded to it — ask for the same documentation you'd ask for on any other floor.
- Myth: "A certification on the box covers everything that brand sells." Certification is granted product by product, not brand-wide. A certified line from a manufacturer doesn't mean every other product they sell carries the same certification.
Frequently asked questions
Does CARB2 or TSCA Title VI mean my floor has no VOCs?
No. CARB2 (the California Air Resources Board's Phase 2 rule) and the identical federal TSCA Title VI rule test formaldehyde emissions only, and only from a composite wood core — hardwood plywood, particleboard, or MDF — against specific limits: 0.05 ppm for hardwood plywood, 0.09 ppm for particleboard, 0.11 ppm for MDF, and 0.13 ppm for thin MDF (8mm or less). They say nothing about any other VOC, the adhesive used to install the floor, or a site-applied finish. See "the three certifications, decoded" above.
What's the real difference between FloorScore and GREENGUARD Gold?
FloorScore was developed by the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI) and is certified by SCS Global Services; it tests a finished flooring product (and can separately certify adhesives) for 35 individual VOCs, including formaldehyde, using the CDPH Standard Method. GREENGUARD Gold is administered by UL, also builds on the CDPH Standard Method, but tests for more than 360 VOCs and total chemical emissions, to stricter thresholds, across many categories of building product beyond flooring — furniture and insulation can carry it too, which is part of why it's frequently specified for schools and healthcare. A product can hold either, both, or neither; they aren't a simple superset of each other.
Is "low-VOC" flooring completely free of VOCs?
No. No finished flooring product, adhesive, or finish we're aware of is entirely free of volatile organic compounds. "Low-VOC" and every certification in this guide describe tested emissions falling under a defined threshold for a defined list of compounds — not zero. Treat "low-VOC" as a comparative, tested claim, not an absolute one.
How long should I ventilate after installing a new floor?
There's no single universal safe number, but the direction is clear: the US EPA notes that VOC concentrations from newly installed interior materials, adhesives, and finishes are typically highest in the first few days to weeks after installation and decline gradually after that, with the exact curve varying by product. Ventilate as much as practical during installation and for as long afterward as you reasonably can — open windows, run exhaust fans, keep HVAC circulating — and follow the specific adhesive or finish manufacturer's own re-occupancy guidance rather than a generic rule of thumb.
Is the phthalate content of vinyl flooring regulated by law?
Only narrowly. The federal CPSIA ban on several specific ortho-phthalates applies to children's toys and child-care articles — not to flooring as a category. Most reputable vinyl flooring sold in North America today is manufactured without ortho-phthalate plasticizers, but that shift has largely been a voluntary industry practice over the past decade or so, and a phthalate-free claim on a flooring product is a marketing point worth verifying, not evidence of a legal mandate the way the CPSIA ban is for children's items.
What's the single most useful thing to ask a flooring supplier about VOCs?
Ask for the certification by name — CARB2/TSCA Title VI, FloorScore, or GREENGUARD Gold — and the documentation for that exact product, not a general "eco-friendly" or "low-VOC" claim applied to the brand as a whole. Then ask what it actually covers: a core-only formaldehyde claim answers a different question than a whole-product VOC certification. See "what to actually ask a supplier for" above.
Sources
This guide explains certifications and standards defined by the bodies below; we are not affiliated with any of them.
- RFCI / FloorScore — the Resilient Floor Covering Institute developed the FloorScore indoor-air-quality certification; SCS Global Services is the certifying body. It tests finished flooring products, and adhesives, for 35 individual VOCs, including formaldehyde, against the CDPH Standard Method (Section 01350).
- UL / GREENGUARD — UL administers the GREENGUARD and GREENGUARD Gold certifications, testing for 360-plus VOCs and total chemical emissions across categories of building products, to standards stricter than the base GREENGUARD tier.
- CARB / US EPA — the California Air Resources Board's Phase 2 rule (CARB2) and the federal TSCA Title VI rule set identical formaldehyde-emission limits for composite wood cores; since March 22, 2019, US composite wood products must certify to TSCA Title VI specifically.
- CDPH — the California Department of Public Health's Standard Method (Section 01350) is the underlying chamber-test protocol that both FloorScore and GREENGUARD Gold are built on.
Keep going: see how this applies specifically to resilient flooring in luxury vinyl (LVP/LVT) explained; check laminate's formaldehyde-and-NALFA angle in laminate flooring explained; see the same core standards applied to engineered wood in engineered hardwood explained; or start from room needs with the how-to-choose framework.
Educational information — not professional advice. Ask for the specific product's certification documentation, and consult a qualified professional if indoor air quality is a health concern for your household. Last verified: 23 July 2026. See our Disclaimer & Terms.