What Is a LEED Ceiling Tile?
LEED — Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design — is a globally recognized green building certification system developed by the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC). LEED ceiling tiles are products that contribute to earning LEED credits through features like recycled content, low VOC emissions, energy savings, and end-of-life recyclability.
Armstrong's SUSTAIN portfolio and Declare labels make it easy for architects and builders to identify products that qualify for LEED credits.
Why Architects Love Armstrong's LEED Tiles
1. Sustainability Without Sacrifice
Armstrong ceiling tiles contain up to 75% recycled content (metal ceilings up to 98%). Their Ceiling-2-Ceiling recycling program takes back old tiles and turns them into new ones. This contributes to LEED credits MRc4 (Recycled Content) and MRc2 (Construction Waste Management).
2. Indoor Environmental Quality
Low-VOC formulations with UL Greenguard Gold certification and plant-based binders ensure healthy indoor air. The Total Acoustics line delivers NRC 0.70+ and CAC 35+, meeting the highest standards for sound control.
3. Energy Efficiency
TEMPLOK phase-change materials can reduce energy consumption by up to 15%. High light reflectance (LR 0.83+, Ultima 0.90) reduces artificial lighting needs, cutting electricity costs.
4. Design Flexibility
Options include lay-in, tegular, concealed, and custom shapes. Specialty lines like Soundscapes and MetalWorks offer unique aesthetics. Suspension systems use 63% recycled steel.
5. Partner in Certification
Armstrong provides a LEED Calculator (via Ecomedes), Health Product Declarations (HPDs), Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs), and AIA-approved continuing education courses to support the certification process.