California tests conventional and green products for emissions Presented By: Magda Badr Ahmed By: Ted Smalley Bowen Deborah Snoonian Web Address: 406dgnews-1.asp Topic Number: 44 Date: 6 / 2002

Weighing the health and environmental effects of building products typically means sifting through incomplete, mismatched, or out-of-date manufacturers’ literature, government documents, and lab data. Weighing the health and environmental effects of building products typically means sifting through incomplete, mismatched, or out-of-date manufacturers’ literature, government documents, and lab data. Officials in California, perennially the green-building trendsetter among states, recently stepped into the breach by publishing the results of emissions tests on paint, ceiling panels, carpeting, wall components, flooring, and other indoor products that are manufactured both conventionally and with recycled content. Their work will make it easier for designers to compare available products and anticipate their impact on indoor air quality (IAQ). Officials in California, perennially the green-building trendsetter among states, recently stepped into the breach by publishing the results of emissions tests on paint, ceiling panels, carpeting, wall components, flooring, and other indoor products that are manufactured both conventionally and with recycled content. Their work will make it easier for designers to compare available products and anticipate their impact on 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 specifications (Section 01350) for sustainable building projects. The tests screened for more than 70 substances, including ammonia, benzene, chlorine, and toluene. To establish the limits in the specifications, researchers drew up a list of chemical compounds typically found in indoor air, calculated safe exposure levels for a 20-year period, and halved those figures to establish maximum allowable emissions They were based on the state’s special environmental requirements specifications (Section 01350) for sustainable building projects. The tests screened for more than 70 substances, including ammonia, benzene, chlorine, and toluene. To establish the limits in the specifications, researchers drew up a list of chemical compounds typically found in indoor air, calculated safe exposure levels for a 20-year period, and halved those figures to establish maximum allowable emissions The tests were coordinated by two different groups 1) a state agency, the California Integrated Waste Management Board (CIWMB). 2) t he nonprofit Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS).

So far, the data suggest that conventionally manufactured products and those that contain recycled content have roughly similar emissions profiles. 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 to officials. Big chemical offenders included naphthalene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, which are tied to respiratory and eye problems. So far, the data suggest that conventionally manufactured products and those that contain recycled content have roughly similar emissions profiles. 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 to officials. Big chemical offenders included naphthalene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde, which are tied to respiratory and eye problems. The tests helped counter the perception that products containing significant recycled content are worse for IAQ than standard products, according to Tom Estes, manager of the waste management board’s sustainable building program. “Emissions are really dependent on what you put into the material, regardless of whether it’s virgin or recycled,” says Anthony Bernheim, FAIA, managing principal and head of green design at SMWM in San Francisco and an adviser for the state’s research efforts. The tests helped counter the perception that products containing significant recycled content are worse for IAQ than standard products, according to Tom Estes, manager of the waste management board’s sustainable building program. “Emissions are really dependent on what you put into the material, regardless of whether it’s virgin or recycled,” says Anthony Bernheim, FAIA, managing principal and head of green design at 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 been omitted from the most detailed results, but the testing is yielding useful data. In a concession to manufacturers, vendor and product names have been omitted from the most detailed results, but the testing is yielding useful data. “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 the level is based on health,” says Bernheim. “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 the level is based on health,” says Bernheim. ASTM officials are considering adopting the test protocols as standards. In some cases, the California studies have led manufacturers to reformulate their products or pay closer attention to contributions from raw-material providers and supply-chain partners, something that the green-building community has encouraged for many years. ASTM officials are considering adopting the test protocols as standards. In some cases, the California studies have led manufacturers to reformulate their products or pay closer attention to contributions from raw-material providers and supply-chain partners, something that the green-building community has encouraged for many years.

The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) initiative, which is ongoing, relies on independent lab tests arranged by manufacturers. The Collaborative for High Performance Schools (CHPS) initiative, which is ongoing, relies on independent lab tests arranged by manufacturers. IAQ is an optional but commonly addressed category of CHPS’s green school guidelines. The testing program stems from efforts by the Los Angeles Unified School District to list products that meet Section standard IAQ is an optional but commonly addressed category of CHPS’s green school guidelines. The testing program stems from efforts by the Los Angeles Unified School District to list products that meet Section 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 organizations, government agencies, and software companies assembled at the AIA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to explore opportunities to promote the adoption of open standards for digital data exchange in the design and construction community. In late April, more than 30 industry associations, professional organizations, government agencies, and software companies assembled at the AIA’s headquarters in Washington, D.C., to explore opportunities to promote the adoption of open standards for digital data exchange in the design and construction community. By the end of the meeting, each attendee had signed a pledge to work across organizational boundaries toward the so-far-elusive goal of interoperability—in which hardware and software made by different vendors work together seamlessly, so that users in disparate groups can exchange digital design information effortlessly throughout the life of building and design projects. Achieving this goal, industry leaders say, will allow buildings to be erected faster and cheaper, as well as operated more effectively and efficiently. By the end of the meeting, each attendee had signed a pledge to work across organizational boundaries toward the so-far-elusive goal of interoperability—in which hardware and software made by different vendors work together seamlessly, so that users in disparate groups can exchange digital design information effortlessly throughout the life of building and design projects. Achieving this goal, industry leaders say, will allow buildings to be erected faster and cheaper, as well as operated more effectively and efficiently. Building industry professionals gather to pledge commitment to interoperability ( By Deborah Snoonian )

The gathering differed from past efforts in that organizers emphasized what the participating groups could do as a whole to promote open standards and interoperability, instead of focusing on individual efforts by a single group or company in particular. The gathering differed from past efforts in that organizers emphasized what the participating groups could do as a whole to promote open standards and interoperability, instead of focusing on individual efforts by a single group or company in particular. “These groups are competing within a small community: No one gets sufficient funding or attention to be effective. And up to now, efforts to develop standards have been fragmented and uncoordinated, and the value of interoperability has not been effectively ‘sold’ to the professional user community,” says of one of the conference’s organizers, Jonathan Cohen, FAIA, the former head of the AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice Committee (TAP). “These groups are competing within a small community: No one gets sufficient funding or attention to be effective. And up to now, efforts to develop standards have been fragmented and uncoordinated, and the value of interoperability has not been effectively ‘sold’ to the professional user community,” says of one of the conference’s organizers, Jonathan Cohen, FAIA, the former head of the AIA’s Technology in Architectural Practice Committee (TAP). To avoid duplication of effort, two disparate groups that have been working to develop open standards agreed to coordinate their efforts To avoid duplication of effort, two disparate groups that have been working to develop open standards agreed to coordinate their efforts 1)t he National Institute of Building Science (NIBS). 2) t he Open Standards Consortium for Real Estate (OSCRE).