GIGAbase is an online database of materials available to designers, part of which is open source. The database serves to prioritize ecologically responsible materials.

 

All materials within GIGAbase are rated transparently: the criteria by which they pass or fail are listed clearly for all users to see and understand.

 

All materials within GIGAbase are organized either under the GIGA-rated portion or the User-rated portion of the database.

 

Within this portion, all material manufacturers are liable to provide necessary information regarding the particular material being reviewed by GIGA and should be solely liable for the completeness, timeliness and accuracy of the information of the relevant material. In no event shall GIGA or its administrators, staff, sponsors, donors, or any other party associated with GIGA be liable for the incompleteness, obsoleteness or inaccuracy of any material information contained in this GIGA-rated portion.

 

Despite the review process, material entries may contain errors or omissions. The purpose of transparency with the process of rating materials serves to identify, investigate and correct these. Omissions and errors should be brought to the attention of GIGA.

 

GIGA reserves the right, but is not legally obliged, to notify its users, amend or remove any errors or omissions in the information contained in this website. 

 

It should be noted that material assessment is an evolving science and one in the process of expansion. For this reason, GIGA can not be held legally responsible for errors or omissions that may occur. Also for this reason, GIGA will try its best to review material entries in the GIGA-Rated portion annually. 

 

The User-rated portion of the database is open source. It allows users to review, post and edit information about materials whose manufacturers have not yet chosen to undergo a formal GIGA-rated review. In order to avoid confusion, it should be noted that once a manufacturer chooses to undergo a formal review and make the results available within the GIGA-rated portion of the database, entries for the same material are removed from the User-rated database.

 

Please be advised that available information and documents have not necessarily been reviewed by people with the expertise required to provide you with complete, accurate, current or reliable information.

 

This does not imply that the information found in the User-rated portion of GIGA is not useful or correct. In fact, much of the information is, however; GIGA cannot guarantee the validity of the site’s information. GIGA serves to foster awareness and create an active culture of sustainable design practices and practitioners. As such, verifying information is of the due diligence of designers and GIGA users. 

 

User-rated information is only informally peer reviewed. Additionally, it is not uniformly reviewed as such. Those who submit information are not legally bound to ensure that submitted information is without errors and therefore cannot be held responsible for errors. Additionally, GIGA-administrators, staff, sponsors, donors, or any other party associated with GIGA in any way CANNOT be held responsible for any inaccurate or libelous information directly found in or linked from this site and its web pages.

 

The information contained on GIGA is for information purpose only. As such, it should not be used as a substitute for consultation with professional advisers. If you need specific advice or consultation please seek an appropriate licensed or knowledgeable professional.

 

All information in this site is provided "as is", with no guarantee of completeness, accuracy, timeliness or of the results obtained from the use of this information, and without warranty of any kind, express or implied, including, but not limited to warranties of performance, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose and title and non-infringement. In no event will GIGA, its related administrators, staff, sponsors, donors, or any other party associated with GIGA in any way thereof be liable to you or anyone else for any decision made or action taken in reliance on the information in this Site or for any consequential, special or similar damages, even if advised of the possibility of such damages.

 

GIGA reserves the right to update, amend or change any information in this website at any time without notice to users.

 

Be aware that the information available on GIGA is provided at no cost to its users. No contract or agreement is implied or created between you and the administrators of this site, the owners of our server, GIGA administrators, GIGA members, GIGA sponsors, GIGA donors, GIGA volunteers, linked companies or individuals, or any other party that is in any way connected to GIGA and its website. Copied information from this site is granted under a limited license; no contractual or extracontractual liability is created or implied on behalf of GIGA or any of its administrators, members sponsors, donors, volunteers, or other users and related persons.

 

Any copyrighted material; trademarks, photographs, service marks, collective marks, design rights, or any other rights that are used, cited, or mentioned remain the property of their own respective owners. GIGA does not imply that you may use these items for purposes other than what the site is intended. Your use of such property is done at your own risk.

 

Certain links in this site connect to other websites maintained by third parties and such other web sites may or may not be presented within a frame of this Site. GIGA has not verified the contents of such third party web sites and does not endorse, warrant, promote, or recommend any contents, services or products, which may be provided or accessible through them or any person or body which may provide them. In no event shall GIGA be responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused by or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use or reliance on any contents, services or products available on or through such third party websites. 

 

Publishing information from GIGA may violate the laws of the country or jurisdiction from where you are viewing this information. GIGA’s database is stored on a server in Hong Kong; local Hong Kong laws serve as guidelines and protection for its maintenance. Your own country’s laws may differ from those of Hong Kong and Mainland China and may not protect you from or allow similar access to information or distribution. GIGA recommends you familiarize yourself and comply with your local laws and codes. GIGA cannot be held responsible for any violations of such laws from your use of this site.