Building Healthy Indoor Environments for Present and Future Climates

1. Building Healthy Indoor Environmentsfor Present and Future Climates Bill Long US EPA, Indoor Environments Division

2. Objectives • Describe impacts climate may have on indoor air quality and health, particularly with regard to moisture issues. • Discuss how moisture damage in buildings can create indoor air quality and structural problems. • Identify building techniques and resources to help protect buildings and occupants from the adverse impacts of moisture related changes in environmental conditions.

3. More Frequent Extreme Weather Events • Many places have seen changes in rainfall, resulting in more floods, droughts, or intense rain, as well as more frequent and severe heat waves.

4. Potential Impact of Climate Change on the Indoor Environment • Increased time spent indoors as refuge from climate changes • Greater demand for energy conservation  decreased ventilation • Potential impactson Indoor Air Quality • Increased levels of chemical, biological pollutants • Infiltration of outdoor pollutants (ozone, PM) with decrease exfiltration; potential for increased interactions with indoor contaminants • More/different insects, vermin  more pesticides indoors

5. Potential Impact of Climate Change on the Indoor Environment • More/different molds, bacteria, and microbes more sanitation efforts  more/different indoor exposures to antimicrobials, consumer products • Increase in moisture related weather events  increase flooding, water intrusions building structural damage, dampness and wet materials  breakdown of materials/chemical emissions; more indoor biologicals (mold)

6. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health To better understand the potential impacts of climate change on indoor air, EPA requested the National Academy of Sciences to conduct a study of climate change impacts on indoor environments. Charge: Summarize the current state of scientific understanding with respect to the impact of climate change on indoor air and public health.

7. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health cont’d Topics covered in the report: • Governments & Climate Change Efforts • Air Quality (Chemicals, PM) • Dampness, Moisture, Flooding (Mold, Bacteria) • Infectious Agents & Pests • Thermal Stress • Building Ventilation, Weatherization, & Energy Use Available from IOM at: • http://www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Climate-Change-the-Indoor- Environment-and-Health.aspx

8. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health cont’d Key Questions Posed to the Committee: • What are the likely impacts of climate change in the U.S. on human exposure to chemical and biological contaminants inside buildings, and what are the likely public health consequences? • What are the likely impacts of climate change on moisture and dampness conditions in buildings, and what are the likely public health consequences? • What are priority issues for action?

9. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health cont’d • The committee concluded that “alterations in indoor environmental quality induced by climate change are an important public-health problem that deserves attention and action”.

10. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health cont’d “The committee based its conclusion on 3 key findings: Poor indoor environmental quality is creating health problems today and impairs the ability of occupants to work and learn.

11. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health Key Findings cont’d • There is inadequate evidence to determine whether an association exists between climate-change-induced alteration in the indoor environment and any specific adverse health outcomes. However, available research indicates that climate change may make existing indoor environmental problems worse and introduce new problems by: • Altering the frequency and severity of adverse outdoor conditions that affect the indoor environment • Creating outdoor conditions that are more hospitable to pests, infectious agents, and disease vectors that can penetrate the indoor environment. • Leading to mitigation or adaptation measures and changes in occupant behavior that cause or exacerbate harmful indoor environmental conditions

12. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health Key Findings cont’d Opportunities exist to improve public health while mitigating or adapting to alterations in indoor environmental quality induced by climate change

13. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health cont’d The report also underscores the importance of addressing moisture problems in buildings.

14. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health cont’d • Indoor Moisture Related Impacts of Climate Change: • “ Extreme weather and flooding events that penetrate buildings which may become more frequent or severe in the future – increase the number of people at risk for health conditions related to standing water, wet building materials and sustained high indoor humidity.” • “Current buildings and building design construction operation and maintenance practices may not be appropriate for managing indoor dampness or flooding problems due to outdoor environmental conditions that could result form climate change. New, flexible approaches that anticipate potential problems and take measure to prevent them or minimize their adverse consequences are needed. “

15. Adapt or construct your building to suit the climate you’re in! Adaptation to changes in climate is nothing new. Throughout history, human societies have repeatedly demonstrated a strong capacity for adapting to different climates and environmental changes--whether by migration to new areas, changing the crops we cultivate, or building different types of shelter. [1]

16. EPA’s New Guidance • EPA’s Office of Radiation and Indoor Air, Indoor Environments Division, published the Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance in December 2013. • This voluntary guidance is available without charge at: www.epa.gov/iaq/moisture

17. Audience for the Moisture Control Guidance: • Professionals who design buildings and produce drawings, specifications and contracts for construction or renovation. • Professionals who erect buildings from the construction documents. • Professionals who operate and maintain buildings, conducting preventive maintenance, inspecting the landscape, building interior and exterior equipment and finishes, and performing maintenance and repairs.

18. Controlling Moisture “Controlling moisture is important to protect occupants from adverse health effects and to protect the building, its mechanical systems and its contents from physical or chemical damage. Yet, moisture problems are so common in buildings, many people consider them inevitable.”

19. The Moisture Control Guidance Presents: • Principles of Moisture Control: how water moves into and within a building and why the movement of water should be controlled or managed. • Profession-Specific Guidance:for the design, construction and maintenance phases of a building’s life. • Hyperlinks:to relevant principles, graphic figures, photographs, checklists, references and other useful material.

20. Chapter 1 - Moisture Control In Buildings Chapter 2 - Designing for Moisture Control Chapter 3 - Constructing to Prevent Moisture Problems Chapter 4 - Operating and Maintaining Moisture-Controlled Environments Appendix A - The “Pen Test” Appendix B - Roof Inspection Checklist Appendix C - Testing Moisture During Construction Appendix D - Air Pressure Mapping Appendix E - HVAC Inspection Checklist Appendix F - Site Drainage Maintenance Appendix G - Dampness & Mold Evaluation Glossary

21. For More Information • General IAQ • www.epa.gov/iaq • National Academy of Sciences (NAS) , Institute of Medicine (IOM) Report • Climate Change, The Indoor Environment and Health Report, IOM of the National Academies 2011 www.iom.edu/Reports/2011/Climate-Change-the-Indoor-Environment-and-Health.aspx • Moisture Guidance • Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance www.epa.gov/iaq/moisture • IAQ and mold • www.epa.gov/mold • Sarany Singer singer.sarany@epa.gov • Laureen Burton burton.laureen@epa.gov THANK YOU