The Stacks
UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories)
UL (formerly Underwriters Laboratories), founded in 1894, is an independent safety science company and standards developer that promotes the production and use of products that are physically and …
UL 723 Flammability
The UL 723 Surface Burning Characteristic of Building Materials test is a standard of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that measures the burning properties, or fire resistance, of building materials …
UL 1286
The UL 1286 Safety Standard for Office Furnishings is a test standard of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) that determines if office furnishings that incorporate an electrical distribution system meet …
Unglazed
Unglazed refers to tile that has been baked and not finished with a liquid coating on its surface. Its color is derived from mineral deposits found in the clay and runs throughout the body of the …
U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC)
The U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is a nonprofit organization committed to transforming the nation’s construction industry by promoting the values of the green building rating system Leadership …
Vegetable Tanning
Vegetable tanning uses tannins, or tanning agents, that are found naturally in plant-derived sources, including tree bark and various plant species. During this method, the tannins are placed …
Vinyl
Vinyl is a petroleum-based polyvinyl chloride (PVC) that was invented by Waldo Semon in 1926. It is one of most produced plastic polymers and can be manufactured for many different applications, such …
Viscose
Viscose is a manufactured cellulose fiber that is made from plant-based materials. It is the most commonly produced type of rayon and was patented by Charles Frederick Cross, Edward John Bevan, and …
Wastewater
Wastewater refers to any water that has been used by humans. It includes water that has been contaminated by domestic, industrial, agricultural, and commercial use, and from stormwater runoff and …
Waterjet
Waterjet refers to an industrial tool that utilizes a high-pressure stream of water, or mixture of water and an abrasive substance, to efficiently cut a variety of materials. A waterjet machine …
Wear Layer
Wear layer refers to the top layer of a heterogenous flooring product, such as luxury vinyl tile (LVT), that helps protect from scruffs, scratches, and everyday wear and tear. Made from Polyvinyl …
Woodgrain Effect
Woodgrain effect is a faux treatment that simulates the appearance of actual wood, from hand-painted finishes on ceramics or glass, to digitally printed graphics on flooring, wallcoverings, and …
Wood Plastic Composite (WPC)
Wood plastic composite (WPC), or expanded polymer core, is a type of rigid core used in vinyl flooring that is usually comprised of polyvinyl chloride, limestone, plasticizers, a foaming agent, and …
Wool
Wool is a natural protein staple fiber that is produced by sheep. As is a biodegradable fiber, wool is a renewable resource that can be reprocessed and recycled. Wool has been grown for textile for …
Woven
A woven textile is created by interlacing warp and weft (fill) yarns on a loom. Warp yarns run vertically in a loom and weft yarns run horizontally. Warp yarns are thin with a high twist, making …
