California tests conventional and California tests conventional and green products for emissionsgreen products for emissions

Presented By:Presented By:

Magda Badr AhmedMagda Badr Ahmed

By: Ted Smalley BowenBy: Ted Smalley Bowen

Deborah Snoonian Deborah Snoonian

Web Address:Web Address:

www.archrecored.construction.com/features/digital/archives/www.archrecored.construction.com/features/digital/archives/0406dgnews-1.asp0406dgnews-1.asp

Topic Number: 44 Topic Number: 44

Date: 6 / 2002Date: 6 / 2002

Weighing the health and Weighing the health and environmental effects of building environmental effects of building products typically means sifting through products typically means sifting through incomplete, mismatched, or out-of-date incomplete, mismatched, or out-of-date manufacturers’ literature, government manufacturers’ literature, government documents, and lab data. documents, and lab data. Officials in California, perennially Officials in California, perennially the green-building trendsetter among the green-building trendsetter among states, recently stepped into the breach states, recently stepped into the breach by publishing the results of emissions by publishing the results of emissions tests on paint, ceiling panels, carpeting, tests on paint, ceiling panels, carpeting, wall components, flooring, and other wall components, flooring, and other indoor products that are manufactured indoor products that are manufactured both conventionally and with recycled both conventionally and with recycled content. Their work will make it easier content. Their work will make it easier for designers to compare available for designers to compare available products and anticipate their impact on products and anticipate their impact on indoor air quality (IAQ).indoor air quality (IAQ).

By measuring emissions of paint, furniture, and finishes, California officials aim to develop a list of acceptable products for use in public buildings, such as libraries.

They were based on the state’s special environmental requirements They were based on the state’s special environmental requirements

specifications (Section 01350) for sustainable building projects. The tests specifications (Section 01350) for sustainable building projects. The tests

screened for more than 70 substances, including ammonia, benzene, screened for more than 70 substances, including ammonia, benzene,

chlorine, and toluene. To establish the limits in the specifications, chlorine, and toluene. To establish the limits in the specifications,

researchers drew up a list of chemical compounds typically found in researchers drew up a list of chemical compounds typically found in

indoor air, calculated safe exposure levels for a 20-year period, and indoor air, calculated safe exposure levels for a 20-year period, and

halved those figures to establish maximum allowable emissions halved those figures to establish maximum allowable emissions

The tests were coordinated by two different groupsThe tests were coordinated by two different groups

1)1) a state agency, the California Integrated Waste a state agency, the California Integrated Waste

Management Board (CIWMB) .Management Board (CIWMB) .

2)2) the nonprofit Collaborative for High Performance the nonprofit Collaborative for High Performance

Schools (CHPS). Schools (CHPS).

So far, the data suggest that conventionally manufactured products and So far, the data suggest that conventionally manufactured products and

those that contain recycled content have roughly similar emissions profiles. those that contain recycled content have roughly similar emissions profiles.

Many of the products failed to meet the state’s public health emissions Many of the products failed to meet the state’s public health emissions

standards for this criterion, most on the basis of a single chemical, according standards for this criterion, most on the basis of a single chemical, according

to officials. Big chemical offenders included naphthalene, formaldehyde, and to officials. Big chemical offenders included naphthalene, formaldehyde, and

acetaldehyde, which are tied to respiratory and eye problems. acetaldehyde, which are tied to respiratory and eye problems.

The 01350 tests helped counter the perception that products containing The 01350 tests helped counter the perception that products containing

significant recycled content are worse for IAQ than standard products, significant recycled content are worse for IAQ than standard products,

according to Tom Estes, manager of the waste management board’s according to Tom Estes, manager of the waste management board’s

sustainable building program. “Emissions are really dependent on what you sustainable building program. “Emissions are really dependent on what you

put into the material, regardless of whether it’s virgin or recycled,” says put into the material, regardless of whether it’s virgin or recycled,” says

Anthony Bernheim, FAIA, managing principal and head of green design at Anthony Bernheim, FAIA, managing principal and head of green design at

SMWM in San Francisco and an adviser for the state’s research efforts. SMWM in San Francisco and an adviser for the state’s research efforts.

For emissions testing, products like office chairs (above) are sealed in a chamber where offgasses are tested.

The tests funded by ( CIWMB ),

which evaluated 77 samples of

interior building products.

After a 10-day airing-out

period, products were prepared as

they would be for assembly or

installation (e.g., adhesives applied

to carpets) and tested for 96 hours

in a sealed chamber.

The measured concentrations

are used to model estimated

concentrations in typical

classrooms or offices, based on

assumed spatial dimensions and

ventilation rates.

In a concession to manufacturers, vendor and product names have In a concession to manufacturers, vendor and product names have

been omitted from the most detailed results, but the testing is yielding been omitted from the most detailed results, but the testing is yielding

useful data.useful data.

“ “It’s the first time as architect that I have a tool I can take to the It’s the first time as architect that I have a tool I can take to the

manufacturer and say, ‘If you don’t exceed this level, you’re okay,’ where manufacturer and say, ‘If you don’t exceed this level, you’re okay,’ where

the level is based on health,” says Bernheim. the level is based on health,” says Bernheim.

ASTM officials are considering adopting the test protocols as ASTM officials are considering adopting the test protocols as

standards. In some cases, the California studies have led manufacturers standards. In some cases, the California studies have led manufacturers

to reformulate their products or pay closer attention to contributions from to reformulate their products or pay closer attention to contributions from

raw-material providers and supply-chain partners, something that the raw-material providers and supply-chain partners, something that the

green-building community has encouraged for many years.green-building community has encouraged for many years.

The Collaborative for High The Collaborative for High

Performance Schools (CHPS) initiative, Performance Schools (CHPS) initiative,

which is ongoing, relies on independent which is ongoing, relies on independent

lab tests arranged by manufacturers. lab tests arranged by manufacturers.

IAQ is an optional but commonly IAQ is an optional but commonly

addressed category of CHPS’s green addressed category of CHPS’s green

school guidelines. The testing program school guidelines. The testing program

stems from efforts by the Los Angeles stems from efforts by the Los Angeles

Unified School District to list products Unified School District to list products

that meet Section 01350 standardthat meet Section 01350 standard

Officials stressed that the specifications note only emissions levels for products, not other environmental measures, such as embodied energy and pollution generated during manufacturing and distribution.

California’s push to improve indoor air quality has strong support by the school districts

In late April, more than 30 industry associations, professional In late April, more than 30 industry associations, professional

organizations, government agencies, and software companies assembled at organizations, government agencies, and software companies assembled at

the AIA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to explore opportunities to the AIA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to explore opportunities to

promote the adoption of open standards for digital data exchange in the promote the adoption of open standards for digital data exchange in the

design and construction community. design and construction community.

By the end of the meeting, each attendee had signed a pledge to work By the end of the meeting, each attendee had signed a pledge to work

across organizational boundaries toward the so-far-elusive goal of across organizational boundaries toward the so-far-elusive goal of

interoperability—in which hardware and software made by different vendors interoperability—in which hardware and software made by different vendors

work together seamlessly, so that users in disparate groups can exchange work together seamlessly, so that users in disparate groups can exchange

digital design information effortlessly throughout the life of building and digital design information effortlessly throughout the life of building and

design projects. Achieving this goal, industry leaders say, will allow buildings design projects. Achieving this goal, industry leaders say, will allow buildings

to be erected faster and cheaper, as well as operated more effectively and to be erected faster and cheaper, as well as operated more effectively and

efficiently.efficiently.

Building industry professionals gather to pledge Building industry professionals gather to pledge

commitment to interoperabilitycommitment to interoperability( By Deborah Snoonian )( By Deborah Snoonian )

The gathering differed from past efforts in that organizers emphasized The gathering differed from past efforts in that organizers emphasized

what the participating groups could do as a whole to promote open what the participating groups could do as a whole to promote open

standards and interoperability, instead of focusing on individual efforts by a standards and interoperability, instead of focusing on individual efforts by a

single group or company in particular. single group or company in particular.

“ “These groups are competing within a small community: No one gets These groups are competing within a small community: No one gets

sufficient funding or attention to be effective. And up to now, efforts to sufficient funding or attention to be effective. And up to now, efforts to

develop standards have been fragmented and uncoordinated, and the value develop standards have been fragmented and uncoordinated, and the value

of interoperability has not been effectively ‘sold’ to the professional user of interoperability has not been effectively ‘sold’ to the professional user

community,” says of one of the conference’s organizers, Jonathan Cohen, community,” says of one of the conference’s organizers, Jonathan Cohen,

FAIA, the former head of the AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice FAIA, the former head of the AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice

Committee (TAP). Committee (TAP).

To avoid duplication of effort, two disparate groups that have been To avoid duplication of effort, two disparate groups that have been

working to develop open standards agreed to coordinate their effortsworking to develop open standards agreed to coordinate their efforts

1)1) the National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) .the National Institute of Building Science (NIBS) .

2)2) the Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate (OSCRE).the Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate (OSCRE).