INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY

OBJECTIVES – Learn the basics Indoor Environmental

Quality: Why is IEQ important? What are Indoor Pollutants? What are VOCs? Strategies to Improve IAQ Materials Selection Attributes for Occupant Health LEED and GreenPoint credits related to materials &

indoor health Third-Party Product Certifications Ventilation, HVAC Systems, and IAQ

Why IAQ Is Important On average, Americans

spend 90% of their time indoors.

Indoor air is often more than 10 times (and sometimes more than 100 times) more polluted than outdoor air.

Indoor air pollutants contribute to asthma, as well as other immediate and long-term health problems.

More than $60 billion per year in medical costs can be attributed to poor indoor air quality.

IAQ improvements could reduce health care costs and work losses from allergies and asthma by 18-25%. (Source: EPA)

Indoor Pollutants VOCs (volatile organic compounds) from building

materials, finishes, and furnishings Various toxic chemicals from cleaning products,

solvents, pesticides, herbicides, fertilizers, “air fresheners,” dry-cleaned clothes, perfumes, etc.

Mold and mildew, biological/microbial pollutants Carbon monoxide and NO2 (from combustion equip.) Particulates (from wood-burning fireplace, outdoor air

pollutants from automobiles, etc.) Tobacco smoke Radon Asbestos, lead (in existing buildings)

VOCs Volatile organic compounds contribute

to ground-level ozone (smog) and to indoor pollution. They can off gas from materials for years after installation.

Types of VOCs include: formaldehyde, benzene, xylene, and toluene.

Formaldehyde

VOCs VOCs can cause respiratory, skin, and

eye irritation; headaches, nausea, muscle weakness, dizziness, fatigue; and more serious ailments and long-term diseases. Some VOCs are known carcinogens.

EPA’s VOC limit rules were created to reduce emissions of VOCs that cause smog. Other types of VOCs, which can compromise indoor air quality, are not measured under these rules.

EPA Indoor Air PLUS

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“Specifications were developed based on best available science and information about risks associated with indoor air quality problems, and balanced with practical issues of cost, builder production process compatibility, and enforceability” epa.gov/iaq/indoorairplus

Finish Measures

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Paints, sealants, adhesives

Cabinetry & furnishings Flooring Appliances

Invoices, MSDS, cut sheets as documentation

Watch for switch-outs during construction (but it’s in the specs!)

Finishes

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Design Entryways to Reduce Contaminants SF/MF - Provide Hard Surface & Permanently Installed Shoe Storage System at Home Entrances

MF - Permanent Walk-Off Systems are Provided at All Main Entrances & in Common Areas

SF MFSF MFE2K1

Manual: Built-in cubby or shelf is req’d, bench isn’t

Finishes

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Use Low/No-VOC Paint

Field: Documentation is key. Finding cans in field is often difficult and not necessarily indicative of which paint was applied where.

Finishes

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Use Environmentally Preferable Materials for Interior Finish A) FSC Certified Wood, B) Reclaimed, C) Rapidly Renewable D) Recycled-Content or E) Finger-Jointed or Local

SF MFSF MFE7K6

PK1

Certification of Products

Low/no-VOC adhesives reduce toxic gasses like aromatic hydrocarbons

Can be used for all interior applications Flooring Countertops Wall coverings Paneling Tub/shower enclosures

Low & No-VOC Adhesives

For slab-on-grade additions or basements

Great for radiant, in-floor heating systems

Durable and easy to clean

Exposed Concrete

Replaces vinyl flooringContains petroleum-based

products or chlorinated chemicals such as PVC which off gases VOCs

Lasts only 7-10 years Manufactured from

natural materials like flax seed, jute, and linseed oil

Can last up to 40 years

Install natural linoleum

Engineered sheet goods (particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF) typically uses adhesives that contain urea formaldehyde

Alternative sheet goods include materials made without formaldehyde

“Better” Engineered Sheet Goods

Conventional solvent-based wood finishes can off-gas for months

Low VOC finishes are lower in toxic compounds

Can be used in most applications

Low VOC, Water-Based Wood Finishes

Low/no-VOC products are manufactured without: Mercury or mercury

compoundsPigments of lead, cadmium,

chromium or their oxides

Low & No VOC Paint

Low/no-VOC paints are readily available

Flush out prior to occupancyIf solvent-based wood finishes must be

used, they should be left to off-gas for 3 to 4 weeks prior to occupancy

Strategies to Improve IAQ

1. Source control / pollution prevention2. Improved ventilation3. Air filtering

Materials Selection Attributesfor Occupant Health

Low-VOC / Zero-VOC products (e.g., paints, stains,sealants/coatings, adhesives, solvents, carpeting andpadding, upholstery, etc.) Formaldehyde-free, or no added urea-formaldehyde(e.g., in binders for pressed wood products such as particleboard and MDF; insulation) Mold/moisture resistant, or naturally mold inhibiting Free of hazardous substances, e.g., mercury, arsenic,chromium, lead, BFRs, HFRs, PBDE flame retardants, etc. Naturally fire resistant

Materials Selection Attributes forPublic/Environmental Health PVC-free materials Free of hazardous substances Made of natural materials (e.g., renewable, biodegradable, non-

petrochemical) Organically grown materials Low-pollution and/or carbon-neutral manufacturing process Clean-burning fireplace insert and woodstoves Note: The selection of energy-saving products also helps

protect public/environmental health (and thereby also indoor health). Reducing fossil fuel consumption reduces air pollution and the

emission of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

Third-Party Product Certifications

Greenguard Indoor Air Quality Certified /Children and Schools Green Seal Scientific Certification Systems:Indoor Advantage, FloorScore,calCOMPliant, etc.

Other Product Certifications MBDC Cradle to Cradle CRI (Carpet and Rug

Institute) Green Label Plus

Ventilation, HVAC Systems, and IAQ

Natural ventilation (intentional vs. infiltration) Mechanical ventilation (whole-house fans,

ventilation systems, exhaust vents, etc.) Heating systems and equipment (sealed-

combustion or power-vented equip., high-efficiency filters, radiant heating, etc.)

Construction/RenovationPractices and IAQ Construction IAQ Management (e.g., protectingducts; proper timing for the installation of porous materials; flush-out) Minimizing equipment and vehicle emissions in

and around building Proper ventilation and safety procedures duringinstallation/application of finishes (or polyurethane products), to protect workers as well as occupants Proper disposal of hazardous materials

Operations & Maintenanceissues related to IAQ Cleaning products and equipment Pesticides / pest management HVAC air filter replacement Moisture/humidity control Entryway grates, mats Storage and disposal of hazardous products Automobile and lawn maintenance equipment emissions Adequate ventilation during repair/maint./renov. work

Other IEQ Issues, Beyond IAQ Factors that affect occupant comfort,well-being, and productivity/performance:•Thermal comfort• Daylighting/lighting (ample natural/warm light)• Controllability of lighting, windows, HVAC• Views of the outside/landscape• Acoustics

Productivity/Performance Stats IEQ strategies can result in a 6-26 percent improvement in

occupant performance. (Rocky Mountain Institute) A study at Herman Miller showed up to a 7% increase in

worker productivity following a move to a green, daylit facility. Over a 30-year period, more than 90% of a building

owner’s total costs are personnel-related (vs. only 6% for the cost of designing and constructing the building), so small increases in employee productivity can lead to significant savings.

U.S. businesses could save $200 billion in worker performance from IAQ improvements. (LBNL study)

Kidder, Peabody & Co. circa 1865

Bertsch & Cooper, Chicago, 1921

Wright’s Studio Taliesin West Work Spaces 1932

Action Office Herman Miller

Office Cubicles

Environmental experience - Productivity Impact Thermal comfort - Performance decrease when too hot

or too cold Air quality - Performance decrease in polluted air Circulation of air, air vent location - Performance

decrease in stuffy rooms, or when air blows directly on worker

Noise - Performance decrease in noisy rooms Mechanical vibrations - Performance decrease by

noise and distraction Personal control of temperature, air circulation -

Performance decrease with no control, perceived or real.

Personal control of temperature, air circulation

Suggested Practices IAQ Management Program Reduce Particulates in Air Distribution Green Cleaning Policy High-Performance Green Cleaning Program Custodial Effectiveness Assessment Purchase of Sustainable Cleaning Products and

Materials Sustainable Cleaning Equipment Indoor Integrated Pest Management Occupant Comfort Survey

More GreenPoint credits related to IEQ

Construction IAQ Management Plan Operable Windows/Skylights Placed for Cross-

Ventilation Ventless Natural Gas Clothes Dryers Two-week Whole Building Flush-Out Furniture with Environmentally Preferable

Attributes

Operable skylights and windows

More GreenPoint credits (Existing Home only) related to IEQ

Moisture Source Verification and Correction Retrofit Crawlspace to Control Moisture Radon Testing and Correction Carbon Monoxide Testing and Correction Lead and Asbestos Testing and Remediation Gas Shut-Off Valve

Retrofit Crawlspace to Control Moisture

Here we go……

Here we go……

Humid Air Caused This Problem Because Of Open Vents.

Poor Air Quality Due To Mold And Moisture.

A Cellar That Needed  A Clean Space.

Getting it done!

Water intrusion in crawl space

Moisture in Crawl Spaces is…

…one of the main sources of mold in the home.

Sump Pumps

Under a basement slab…

Set at lowest point in crawlspace

Sump pump with sealed lid

Discharge pipe & Power cord

12 mil to Encapsulate The Walls

Keep Moister Out Of The Home.

Review Objectives Learn the basics Indoor Environmental Quality: Why is IEQ important? What are Indoor Pollutants? What are VOCs? Strategies to Improve IAQ Materials Selection Attributes for Occupant Health LEED and GreenPoint credits related to materials &

indoor health Third-Party Product Certifications Ventilation, HVAC Systems, and IAQ

We did not inherit the Earth from our parents. We are borrowing it from our children.

Chief Seattle