Indoor air quality has become increasingly important for building owners and occupants alike in recent years. With more information available to the public on air quality issues—including the potential negative effects of off-gassing, the evaporation of volatile chemicals and other emissions—it is imperative for building product manufacturers to focus on eliminating issues associated with their goods.
Symptoms of Poor Indoor Air Quality
To better understand indoor air quality issues, it is beneficial to have some background on how it relates to buildings and building occupants. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) has been studied for the last few decades and can be detrimental to the health of building occupants. Anyone can be affected by SBS, but office workers are most at risk because they usually do not have control over their work environments. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines Sick Building Syndrome as follows: “Situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified. The complaints may be localized in a particular room or zone, or may be widespread throughout the building.”
Some common complaints related to indoor air quality and SBS include headaches, eye, nose and throat irritation, dizziness, nausea, fatigue, skin problems and difficulty concentrating. Most cases of SBS occur in offices and widely agreed upon contributing factors include inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor sources like carpet or paint, chemical contaminants from outdoor sources like vehicle exhaust or plumbing vents and biological contaminants like mold, bacteria and viruses.
One of the main culprits behind decreased indoor air quality and SBS are Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). VOCs are emitted as gas from various solid and liquid products. Many materials that surround us have the potential to emit VOCs, including paints, carpet, furniture, wood products and adhesives, as well as indoor maintenance agents, such as pesticides, cleaning products, office equipment and even permanent markers. Some of the effects associated with the emission of VOCs mirror those found in SBS cases. It is important to note that not all organic chemicals contribute to adverse health effects; it is contingent upon the toxicity level of the substance and the concentrations and exposure for humans. It is no secret that Americans spend a majority of their time indoors. Unfortunately, EPA studies have shown that VOC levels can be two to five times higher indoors than outdoors. As a result, the EPA has developed many resources, such as the Building Air Quality Action Plan, available to building owners who want an easy-to-understand path for transforming the air quality of their properties.
The Responsibility of Manufacturers
As more becomes known about the adverse effects of poor indoor air quality on tenant health, productivity and attendance, it is clear that some responsibility lies with the construction and leasing industry. Building product manufacturers act as the first line of defense on this issue and therefore are in a unique position to make positive changes. Forward-thinking companies have begun to utilize tools like life-cycle assessments to help them identify potential issues with their products. Some of those issues include product emissions or off-gassing that can continue after a product’s installation. The life-cycle assessment technique allows companies to assess environmental impacts associated with all the stages of a product’s life, from cradle to grave.
In the past, it was acceptable for manufacturers to claim responsibility only for what occurred within their own facilities. Today, however, that is no longer the case. Manufacturing companies are now expected to not only be aware of all that happens within their own walls, but to hold their suppliers accountable as well. To this end, quite a few companies and organizations have begun working to identify and create “chemicals of concern” lists. To date, there are more than 20 such lists compiled by states, corporations, the EPA, and the European Union. This data has made it easier for manufacturers to gradually phase out or replace these chemicals. In the past, finding alternative materials or products could be a challenge. However, with the growing global emphasis on sustainability and green construction, more and more companies are now offering healthier products at the same or only slightly increased pricing.
Once a manufacturer has found an appropriate replacement product, it is necessary to rely on reputable third parties to test and validate any indoor air quality claims. Long-established product certification services, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), have entered the environmental certification arena. Products can now be submitted to UL for placement within their testing chambers to evaluate emissions, off-gassing, toxicity, indoor air quality and more.
Environmental claims can vary based on applicable product standards. For instance, the state of California has set strict standards for buildings’ indoor air quality, commonly referenced as Section 01350. Section 01350 covers public health and environmental considerations for building projects, including indoor air quality goals and procedures. These goals include limits on VOC levels and procedures for how to test building products for VOC emission rates. Such standards allow testing and certification bodies like UL to validate and certify against them. This makes it is possible for product manufacturers to provide not only an environmental claim, but also a third-party reviewed and validated label for their claim.
Making the Smart Choice
In the case of elevators, indoor air quality can be easily diminished in several places within the cab and the machine room. Products responsible for decreased air quality can include paints, coatings, adhesives and sealants used by the manufacturer and wood or agrifiber products in the floor, walls or ceiling. Some important questions to ask when accessing potential indoor air quality would be the following:
- Does the manufacturer utilize powder coat processing or traditional solvent-based paints for its cab interiors?
- Do wood-based products, such as particleboard or plywood, contain added urea-formaldehyde?
- What kind of sealants and adhesives are used to attach interiors items?
Standards like the U.S Green Building Council’s (USGBC) Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) rating system contain details and limit levels for indoor-source contaminants like the ones listed above. In particular, the Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) section on low-emitting materials can provide detailed information. For instance, IEQ credit 4.1 specifically identifies the VOC limit in grams per liter less water for a variety of adhesives. Additionally, IEQ credit 4.2, which pertains to paints and coatings, identifies standard VOC limits for paints in various forms. By following strict guidelines established by commonly accepted standards like LEED, the EPA or California’s Section 01350, it is easy to ensure optimum indoor air quality attributes in specified products for all new construction or renovation projects.
When selecting products, always ask the manufacturer to provide a Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) and a product attribute information sheet. This documentation can be used to substantiate indoor environmental quality or low-emissions claims beyond what is found in traditional brochures. By including the request for such documentation, instances of “greenwashing,” or misleading claims by companies overestimating how environmentally friendly their products are, can be avoided and the burden of proof relies on the product manufacturer rather than the organization responsible for specifying or purchasing the product. By working together, building owners and product manufacturers have the opportunity to make significant positive changes in the buildings that we live, work and play in. Seeking qualified and educated partners in product decisions means relying on manufacturers who can provide fact-based technical data. Through educated industry partnerships, the health and wellness of building occupants will continue to improve in the coming years.
