No More Bond Smell... Hanssem's Bold Move on 'Indoor Air Quality'

Since Last Year, GA Certification TF Formed and Certification Committee Held
GAI Certification to be Implemented in the First Half for Dealerships Completing Preliminary Training

Draft of the Indoor Air Quality (GAI) certification mark for Hanssem dealership.
[Photo by Hanssem]

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Jong-hwa] Hanssem has taken the lead in the interior and remodeling market, where Hanssem, LX Hausys, and Hyundai Livart form a three-strong competition, by promoting the concept of a "bond odor-free house."

Hanssem is making a bold move in this fiercely competitive market by introducing the ‘Indoor Air Quality (GA) Certification.’ The GA (GOOD AIR) certification is Hanssem’s strategy to minimize the emission of harmful substances such as formaldehyde and total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) at construction sites, thereby elevating the quality of rehouse construction to the highest level.

According to the furniture industry on the 2nd, since March last year, Hanssem has formed a ‘GA Certification Task Force (TF)’ with KOTITI Testing & Research Institute, a testing and inspection research organization, and the Korea Indoor Environment Association. They have been holding a GA Certification Operation Committee composed of affiliated experts once a week.

The GA Certification Committee will implement the ‘GAG (GOOD AIR GOODS)’ certification for raw materials used in rehouse construction, in accordance with the Indoor Air Quality Control Act, which specifies checking for pollutant emissions from building materials. It will also implement the ‘GAI (GOOD AIR INTERIOR)’ certification in the first half of the year for dealerships that have completed pre-education on indoor air quality and eco-friendly interior design.

Additionally, the ‘GA Certification,’ which measures indoor air quality at the construction site after the rehouse construction is completed and after performing a ‘bake-out’?a process of raising indoor temperature to ventilate the building?and evaluates whether it meets legal regulatory standards, will be implemented from the second half of the year.

Materials used in rehouse construction include those that have obtained the HB (Healthy Building) highest mark, which is the basic certification for building materials. Samples of other raw materials and auxiliary materials such as paint, adhesives, sealants, silicone, wallpaper, and putty will be collected, tested, and inspected by KOTITI, a KC mark certification institution.

KOTITI will also be responsible for air quality testing after construction. The Indoor Environment Association will issue certification based on evaluations of the results submitted by KOTITI, following standards stricter than other official certifications such as the HB mark.

A GA Certification Committee official stated, "Once GA certification is fully implemented, consumer demand is expected to increase, and other companies besides Hanssem are likely to adopt GA certification." An industry insider said, "GA certification is Hanssem’s strategic move to gain market leadership by improving interior and remodeling construction quality," adding, "Improving construction quality will also play a positive role in increasing market demand."

According to the Korea Institute of Construction Industry and Economy, the interior and remodeling market, which was around 9 trillion won in 2000, grew to 41.5 trillion won in 2020 and expanded to a scale of 60 trillion won last year.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.