Page        CSI  CATEGORY            
             
2 *** 02480 - MARINE WORK *** (Piers, docking)        
2 *** 02600 - DRAINAGE & SEWER SYSTEMS (piping)*** see 15100 for full discussion of pipes      
3 *** 02810 - IRRIGATION (piping & fittings) *** (note many of these companies make both PE & PVC products)
4 *** 02820 - FENCING ***            
4 *** 06150 - DECKING & RAILING (see full HBN report on plastic lumber at www.healthybuilding.net) ***      
4 *** 07100 - WATERPROOFING (Water stops) ***          
5 *** 07450 - SIDING ***          
7 *** 07530 - ROOF MEMBRANES for low slope roofs***          
7 *** 07712 – GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS ***          
8 *** 08000 - DOORS & WINDOW FRAMES ***          
9 *** 08800 - GLAZING ACCESSORIES - TAPE ***          
10 *** 09510 - ACOUSTICAL CEILING TILE ***          
11 *** 09640 - WOOD FLOORING (incl bamboo)*** (as substitute for 09650 vinyl resilient floor)      
11 *** 09650 - RESILIENT FLOORING *** (see resilient flooring chart at www.healthybuilding.net for more detail)
13 *** 09680 - CARPET (PVC is used for backing) *** (See carpet chart for more detail)      
15 *** 09700 - 09900 - WALL COVERINGS ***          
16 *** 10260 - DOOR and WALL PROTECTION ***          
17 *** 10400 - SIGNAGE ***          
17 *** 10800 - BATH (shower curtains) ***          
18 *** 12490 - WINDOW TREATMENTS *** See 9700 wall coverings for more discussion of fabrics      
19 *** 12500 - FURNITURE ***         
19 *** 12500 - FURNITURE/UPHOLSTERY *** See 9700 wall coverings for more discussion of fabrics      
20 *** 15100 & 15400 - BUILDING SERVICES PIPING & PLUMBING (pipes)***        
21 *** 15100 & 15400 - BUILDING SERVICES PIPING & PLUMBING (corrosion wrap) ***      
21 *** 15450 - FUEL OIL AND GASOLINE SYSTEMS ***          
22 *** 16100 - ELECTRICAL CABLES ***          
23 *** 16000 - CONDUIT, DUCT & EMT & JUNCTION BOXES ***        
  For a San Francisico Bay Area version of this database with local distributors, click on:       
  www.sfgov.org/sfenvironment/aboutus/greenbldg/pvc_alternatives.pdf        
This list surveys many of the primary categories of building materials where PVC is commonly used and is organized by the CSI numbering system commonly used in commercial building specifications. While there are products for all building types represented here, the emphasis is on  materials suitable for commercial/institutional buildings. It is intended to provide a representative sampling of products and materials that do not contain PVC and are commercially available for a variety of applications. It is not intended to be comprehensive. In a rapidly changing market, the completeness and accuracy of this information cannot be guaranteed.

Inclusion on this list does not imply endorsement of any product or manufacturer, nor any warranty of the appropriateness of listed products for a particular application.

Replication of this information for educational purposes is permitted with credit and the inclusion of these disclaimers.
3/31/2006 update              
Material Brands Description Characteristics Impacts Cost Manufacturer   Bay area Web links References
    application, composition features, installation, use, maintenance, performance /durability use & life cycle buy, install, maintain contact info   contact info   References
*** 02480 - MARINE WORK *** (Piers, docking)  
FSC certified wood Sylvania Massaranduba FSC certified decking and marine wood       Sylvania, Sante Fe, NM, 800-468-6139   Earthsource, Berkeley, CA 866-549-9663 www.certifiedwood.com  
  Greenheart  Tropical wood. Check for FSC certification of sustainable harvest                
Concrete                    
Coated Steel                    
*** 02600 - DRAINAGE & SEWER SYSTEMS (piping)*** see 15100 for full discussion of pipes  
HDPE (High Density Polyethylene) ADS Drainage       Advanced Drain-age Systems, Hilliard, OH 800-821-6710     www.ads-pipe.com  
Recycled HDPE EcoFirst minimum 50% recycled (30% post consumer) for drainage performance exceeds AASHTO M294 requirements     Hancor, Inc., Findlay, OH      888-FOR PIPE   Santa Rosa CA, Doug Allard, 707-524-8181 www.hancor.com  
EcoFlo Post industrial recycled for drainage       Prinsco, Prinsburg, MN 800-992-1725     www.prinsco.com  
Wisconsin Plastic Drain Tile Post industrial recycled for drainage       Plastic Drain Tile, Jefferson WI 800-362-6642   Direct from manufacturer only  www.draintile.com  
Copper                    
Ductile Iron                    
Concrete                    
*** 02810 - IRRIGATION (piping & fittings) *** (note many of these companies make both PE & PVC products)  
Copper many         widely available   any plumbing supply    
HDPE Jain pipe & fittings       Jain Irrigation, Columbus, OH 888-473-7539     www.jains.com  
Antelco PE pipe and acetal fittings       Antelco, Longwood FL 800-869-7597, Berry Hill Irrigation     www.berryhilldrip.com/PolyPg.htm  
Drip Rite pipe & fittings       DripRite Irrigation Roseville, CA 916-797-8707     www.dripirr.com  
Isco pipe & fittings       Isoc Industries, Louisville, KY 800-345-ISCO     www.isco-pipe.com  
Pepco pipe and low flow fittings       Pepco, Fresno CA 800-695-7171     www.pepcoirrigation.com  
Freedom Plastics PE pipe only. Also make PVC       Freedom Plastics 800-356-9432     www.freedomplastics.com  
Netafin PE pipe only. Also make PVC       Netafim Fersno, CA 559 453 6800     www.Netafim-usa.com  
Star irrigation supplies       Star Nursery, Henderson, NV     www.yardsupply.com  
Oxford PE Pipe only        Oxford Plastics Embro, ON 800.263.0502      www.oxfordplasticsinc.com  
Dig complete irrigation kits       DigCorp Vista CA (760) 727-0914      www.digcorp.com  
Recycled Tire Rubber & HDPE Aquapour PE Soaker hose             Many web distributors  
HDPE & Aluminum Irriline         Irriline, Vancouver, BC, (604) 608-4315     www.irriline.com  
*** 02820 - FENCING ***  
Galvanized steel/Polyolefin Permafused II alternative to vinyl clad galvanized chain link Claims to outlast PVC, have better UV resistance. In black, green, tan, brown     Master Halco, 888-MHFENCE, Orange CA   Direct from manufacturer only  www.fenceonline.com  
*** 06150 - DECKING & RAILING (see full HBN report on plastic lumber at www.healthybuilding.net) ***  
*** 07100 - WATERPROOFING (Water stops) ***  
TPV (Thermo-plastic vulcanizite) JPS Earth Shield elastomeric rubber ribbed center bulb preformed fittings *Pro: withstands high temperatures     JPS Earth Shield, Lk Elsinore, CA, 800-821-3859   Direct from manufacturer only  www.jpspecialties.com  
Bitumen asphalt Henry Synkoflex non swelling preformed adhesive       Henry, Huntington Park, CA, 323-583-5000   Home Depot www.henry.com  
Butyl rubber/ clay Henry Hydroflex expands with water contact       Henry, Huntington Park, CA, 323-583-5000   Home Depot www.henry.com  
Butyl Rubber/ Bentonite CETCO RX expands with water contact       Cetco, Arlington Heights, Ill, 800-527-9948   Construction Resource, Oakland, 510-729-6300 www.cetco.com  
Butyl rubber/ clay MME Hydrotite expands with water contact       MME, Miss-issauga, Ontario, 800-663-6633   Direct from manufacturer only  www.multiurethanes.com  
Butyl rubber/ clay Green Streak SwellStop expands with water contact, for non moving joints Beware: Green Streak also makes & sells PVC  and  chlorinated rubber stops     Ontario, CA, 800-325-9504 White Cap, San Leandro, CA, 510-729-6464 White Cap, San Leandro, CA, 510-729-6464 www.greenstreak.com
*** 07450 - SIDING ***  
     Note that PVC siding has been connected with mold problems due to entrapment of moisture  
FSC Certified Sustainably harvested wood       Pro: Third party verification of sustainable forestry   Forest Ethics database of suppliers     www.forestethics.org/html/eng/468.shtml  
Maibec??                  
ForestChoice, Cedar Pro         ForestChoice, Stockton, CA, 866-473-6245 (number didn't work/emailed), (209) 932-5008     www.forestchoice.com  
Almquist Lumber flooring, plywood, molding laminates, some siding , melamine; not all FSC.  FSC certified woods are the redwood, tan, oak, and madrone.       Almquist Lumber, Blue Lake, CA, 707-668-5652      Direct from Blue Lake www.almquistlumber.com  
Big Creek FSC redwood; they do flooring, siding, framing.       Big Creek Lumber, Davenport, CA, 800-464-2770   Direct from Davenport www.big-creek.com  
CedarPro FSC cedar siding - T&G, bevel & log cabin       ForestChoice, Stockton, CA, (209) 932-5008   Direct from Stockton www.forestchoice.com  
Menominee Tribal Enterprises FSC multiple species, siding, decking.       Menominee, Neopit, WI, 715-756-2314   Direct from manufacturer only  www.menominee.edu/mte  
Windfall Lumber FSC certified and salvaged flooring, cedar and fir siding       Windfall, Olympia, WA, 360-352-2250   Direct from manufacturer only  www.windfalllumber.com
 
Engineered wood CollinsWood TruWood Lap board siding   *Pro: SCS certified 50% recycled/reclaimed wood FSC certified available   Collins Company, Portland, OR, 800-329-1219   Home Depot; Golden St Lumber, American Cnyn, 707-648-7000 www.collinswood.com  
OSB (Oriented Strand Board) Louisiana Pacific Board siding of aspen and pine and MDI binder 25 year warranty (prorated after 5 yrs) *Pro: no formaldehyde binder, uses fast growing species instead of old growth *Con: MDI hazardous in manufacture   Louisiana Pacific,  Portland, OR, 800-648-6893     Sierra Pt Lumber, So SF, 415-468-5620; Western Plywood, SF 415-431-3600 http://www.lpcorp.com/  
Textured plywood APA T1-11 Board siding   *Pro: combined sheathing & siding = less material use *Con: needs higher quality logs than OSB. Uses phenol formaldehyde binder one of lowest cost alternatives Tacoma, WA, 253-565-6600    many lumber yards www.apawood.org  
Stucco Many Coating with cement and lime or polymer (acrylic or butyl) or combination Integral color can make painting unnecessary *Con: cement has high embodied energy, polymers release toxins in manufacture less than brick, more than others Many. Stucco Manufacturers Assoc or yellow pages under stucco for local contractor   Yellow pages  under Stucco www.stuccomfgassoc.com  
Brick Many Masonry facing Durable low maintenance   Most $$, but longest lasting, least maintenance Many. Brick Industry Assoc   check yellow pages under masonry www.bia.org  
Fiber cement James Hardie, Hardie Board Board or shingle siding of wood waste and cement Durable (50 year warranty) low maintenance *Pro: wood process waste fiber *Con: high embodied energy in cement competitive w/metal, plastics, OSB, hard board James Hardie Building Products, 800-942-7343   many lumber yards, Home Depot www.jameshardie.com  
Polyethyelene/ wood Boise HomePlate Board siding of PE (PC) and  wood waste (PC & PI+C70) Durable, 3 yr unlimited, 2 owner 50 yr prorated warranty, 16' lengths, wood heft & look *Pro: all waste materials, no formaldehyde or other binders similar w/metal, fiber cement, OSB, hardboard Boise Cascade 866-274-6758     www.bc.com/homeplate/  
Polypropylene Nailite Board or shingle siding. Low maintenance, 8yr to life prorated warranty     Miami, FL Nailite, 888-300-0070   DLH Dstrb., Rancho Cordova, CA, 916-638-2156 www.nailiteinternational.com  
Certainteed Cedar Impressions Board or shingle siding. Note  Certainteed also makes vinyl siding as well.   Low maintenance, 50 year failure warranty, 7 year "excessive fade"     CertainTeed, 800-233-8990;   DLH Dstrb., Rancho Cordova, CA, 916-638-2156 www.certainteed.com  
Alcoa Mastic Cedar Discovery Beware: Alcoa makes many vinyl sidings as well       Alcoa Home Exteriors,  Pittsburgh, PA, 800-962-6973    Rocky Mntn Wholesale, Alameda, 510-522-2700; www.mastic.com  
Louisiana Pacific Beware: LP makes many vinyl sidings as well       Louisiana Pacific,  Portland, OR, 800-648-6893     www.lpcorp.com  
Alside Pelican Bay         Alside, Akron, Ohio, 800-922-6009   Alside, Sacramento, 1-800-468-3401 www.alside.com  
*** 07530 - ROOF MEMBRANES for low slope roofs***  
     Most membranes listed here are available as Energy Star surfaces  
TPO (Thermoplastic Polyolefin) Stevens EP Commercial / residential polyester reinforced membrane White, gray, colors or black, heat weldable, weather like EPDM w/o the seam failure issues. Use 60mm or thicker for durability *Pro: white for cool roofs, can be down-cycled competitive or less than PVC Stevens Roofing, Holyoke, MA 800-621-ROOF   Davey Roofing, Hayward, CA 877-321-7663 www.stevensroofing.com  
 Firestone UltraPly         Firestone, Carmel, IN, 800-428-4442   Construction Resource, Oakland, 510-729-6300 www.firestonebpco.com  
many more         Carlisle, GAF, Genflex, Johns Mansville, Mule Hide, more        
EPDM (Ethylene Propylene Diene
Monomer)
Firestone Rubbergard MaxFR Commercial / residential membrane Black, White Energy Star now available     Firestone, Carmel, IN, 800-428-4442   Construction Resource, Oakland, 510-729-6300 www.firestonebpco.com  
FPO (Flexible Polyolefin Alloy) Sarnafil T Commercial membrane White, heat weldable *Pro: white color for cool roofs, can be down-cycled (NOTE: most Sarnafil products are PVC and poorly labeled)   Sarna, Canton, MA 800-576-2358     www.sarnafilus.com  
MBM (Modified Bitumen) SBS (Styrene Butadiene Styrene) Conglas, MB Technology,  Commercial / residential asphaltic rubber membrane of styrene-butadiene styrene added to asphalt torch applied * Con: asphalt & styrene butadiene manufacture have significant toxic emissions   Consolidated Fiberglas Products     http://conglas.com  
MBM (Modified Bitumen) APP (Acstatic polypropylene) Firestone and others Commercial / residential asphaltic rubber membrane (atactic polypropylene added to asphalt)  hot asphalt, torch or cold applied *Con: high emissions from hot asphalt application   Firestone, Carmel, IN, 800-428-4442 and many other manufacturers   Construction Resource, Oakland, 510-729-6300 www.firestonebpco.com  
Metal Many Commercial / residential rigid                
*** 07712 – GUTTERS AND DOWNSPOUTS ***  
Aluminum Many             Yellow pages  under Stucco    
Copper Not recommended     Con: toxic to aquatic life            
*** 08000 - DOORS & WINDOW FRAMES ***  
     Note: PVC windows have been susceptible to excess expansion and shrinkage under temperature changes, causing leaks between frame and wall. Note that many composite windows are part PVC and that PVC jamb liners and other parts are included in many "non PVC" windows  
Wood (FSC certified) Andersen Residential and light commercial *Pro:Low thermal expansion coef *Con: requires more maintenance than PVC but if maintained should last longer. Clad products or engineered wood products will require less.  Seek recycled, reclaimed and/or FSC certified sustainably harvested wood. Companies listed give pref to FSC. Note many wood windows have PVC jamb liners.   Andersen Window, Bayport, MN 612-439-5150   Collier Warehouse, Inc, 415-920-9720; Truit & White, Berkeley 510-644-2671; Alexander Co, 650-583-0860. www.andersenwindows.com  
H Window H Window, Ashland, WI 715-685-2793     www.hwindow.com  
Wood/ clad with aluminum or fiberglass Milgard, Weathershield, Marvin, Sierra Pacific, Kolbe, Cara-daco, Fibertec, Andersen & more Residential and light commercial. Wood with thin protective cladding  of aluminum or fiberglass *Pro:Much lower thermal expansion coefficient, maintenance free and generally more durable than PVC.  *Con: Fiberglass & aluminum processing emits significant air pollution. Fiberglass difficult to recycle, no recycled content   Milgard, 1-800-MILGARD and many more   look in yellow pages under 'glass', 'window', or 'doors' www.milgard.com  
Fiberglass Pella Impervia Commercial / residential, polyester resins and glass fibers mixed and extruded. Carado uses Timberstrand eng wood core. *Pro: Much lower thermal expansion coefficients and generally more durable than PVC. Low maintenance *Con: Fiberglass processing emits significant air pollution. Difficult to recycle, no recycled content Less than custom wood frames but more than other standard types Pella, Murray, Ky      www.pellaimpervia.com/  
Fibertec, Inline and others Fibertec / Inline, Ontario, Canada, 888-232-4956 / 416-679-1171   Wilson & Wells, San Leandro, CA, 510-667-0162 www.inlinefiberglass.com  
Recycled HDPE (high density polyethylene) Center Industries   *Pro: Much lower thermal expansion coefficients and generally more durable than PVC. Low maintenance *Pro: 90% recycled HDPE   Center Industries Sioux Center, IA 800-281-4049  866-722-1488   direct from manufacturer www.center-industries.com  
ABS (acrylonitrile-butadien-styrene)/ ASA (acrylic-styrene-acrylonitrile) Thermal Line Window frame made from Compozit™ C/G, a coextruded composite based on Cycolac™ ABS with a UV resistant exterior coating of Geloy™ ASA both from GE Plastics   *Con: ABS has significant toxic problems in manufacture    Mandan, ND 800-662-1832     www.tlwindows.com