Improving Indoor Air Quality in Schools for Children's Health

2. Indoor Air Quality in Schools IAQ and children’s health The source of the problem Strategies for improving indoor air LEED Issues Certified Materials

3. Education Statistics • 20% of U.S. population in schools(72 million children; 6 million adults) • 120,000 U.S. school buildings • Average age of U.S. schools = 42 yrs • 1 out of 4 schools in poor condition • New construction and renovation = $38 billion in 2008

4. Indoor Air Quality Definition: indoor airmechanically controlled air flow in enclosed spaces Thousands of chemicals and biological pollutants at elevated levels Air Pollutants 2-5x (sometimes 1,000x) higher than found outside

5. Poor IAQ Makes People Sick! AsthmaAllergies Eye IrritationHeadacheUpper Respiratory IrritationNausea, DizzinessFatigue & LethargySore/Dry ThroatNose Bleed Odor ComplaintsConcentration loss

6. Asthma and Children Rates have increased 75% in past 20 yrs Third leading cause of hospitalization Leading cause of chronic illness Leading cause of school absenteeism (14.6 million lost school days/yr) “Asthma is the #1 disease affecting school children.”American Lung Association

7. Long Term Exposure Leads to Health Consequences • Asthma and allergies • Cancer • Reproductive / developmental defects • Cardiovascular disease • Respiratory disease • Irritation • Autism • Neurological Disease

8. WHY Children? Immune and neurological systems are developing Lower body weight Inhale larger volumes of air Shorter height (closer to ground) Higher contact with dust Children are physiologically different than adults:

9. Common Indoor Air Pollutants Molds and Allergens Particles (dust) Volatile Organic Chemicals (VOCs) Pesticides Respirable Particles Dust Mites • Cockroaches • Pet Dander • Carbon Monoxide • Carbon Dioxide • Ozone

10. Pollutant Sources • Chemical Exposure • Roof Leaks • Poor HVAC Maintenance • Humidity and Temperature Control • Structural Defects • Ineffective Cleaning • Outdoor Air

11. Pollutant Sources Ventilation Two Primary Factors Control Indoor Pollution…

12. VOC Sources Are Numerous… • Wallcovering, floor covering • Paints, adhesives, sealants • Ceiling tile, office furniture • Copiers, printers, computers • Art supplies, science labs, shop class • Consumer products, cleaning/ maintenance chemicals • Mold VOCs

13. Most VOCs Related to Materials, Furnishings, and Activities • Formaldehyde: Furniture, ceilings, and textiles • Styrene: Printers and copiers • Pinene: Cleaners, cabinetry • Phenylcyclohexene: Carpet • Trimethylamine: Fiberglass insulation • Glycols: Cleaners

14. Sample: MASS SPECTRA CHROMATOGRAM – identifying airborne VOC emissions from a product that underwent air chamber testing

15. Most Common VOCs in School • Limonene • Acetaldehyde • Napthalene • Acetone • Xylene • Formaldehyde • Toluene • 1, 3 Paradichlorbenzene • Butoxyethanol • Decamethylsiloxane

18. Key Design Specifications Must Address Occupant Health and Comfort • Geographical location – hot/humid or cold/dry • Use of space • Occupancy – now and later • Ventilation – ASHRAE 62-2004 • Non toxic Materials • Construction Process • Pre-occupancy clearance • Operation and maintenance

19. IAQ Management Plan Use of SpacePotential onsite generation Moisture ManagementMold prevention VentilationIntake placement, filtration, humidity controls Walk-off matting systemsAll entrances Materials selectionLow emitting, durable, easy to clean Design Phase

20. IAQ Management Plan Construction Phase • Construction Process Proper sequencing of finish installations • Ventilation Temporary ventilation during construction • Clearance Testing Pre-occupancy in Building Commissioning

21. IAQ Management Plan Operations & Maintenance • Effective CleaningLow-emitting and non-toxic products • Preventing water intrusionDocument and repair • Humidity & temperature control • Regular HVAC Maintenance • Air quality testing 2-4x per year

22. New Guidelines forConstruction / Renovation in Green Buildings Considerations to Minimize Indoor Pollutants: • Select low emitting products / materials • Scheduling: allow wet materials to dry / cure before installing porous materials (secondary sources or “sinks”), and before re-occupancy (paints, adhesives) • Flush-out • Test Air before Occupancy

23. Indoor Air Quality and…

24. LEED: Leadership in Energy & Environmental DesignRating Systems & Application Guides LEED-NC(New Construction) Schools Campus Lodging Retail (Pilot) Healthcare Laboratories LEED-EB(Existing Building) LEED-CI(Commercial Interiors) LEED-CS(Core & Shell) LEED-H(Homes) LEED-ND(Neighborhood Development)

25. LEED-NC (New Construction) (IEQ Credits: 21.7%) Indoor Air Related Credits • Ventilation (ASHRAE 62.1-2004) • Source Control: • Tobacco Smoke Control (Zero Exposure) (Prereq.) • CO2 Monitoring(1 point) • Construction Management Plan (During construction) (1 point) • Pre-Occupancy Flush-out or Baseline testing (2 points) • Low-Emitting Materials (4 points) • Indoor Chemical & Pollutant Source Control (1 point)

26. LEED Building Clearance Levels TVOC 500 µg/m3 Formaldehyde 50 ppb Respirable Particles 50 µg/m3 4 – Phenylcyclohexene 6.5 µg/m3 Carbon Monoxide 9 ppb

27. VOC-FREE Be Aware… • Beware “VOC-Free” Products! “…does not participate in outdoor atmospheric photochemical reactions” • Does NOT mean it does not emit VOCs (most do!) • Flush-out vs bake-out • “Natural”…”Alternative”…”Generic”… • Mold Resistant

28. ExamplesNatural Products of Concern • Cellulose Insulation • Ammonia Source • Replacement • Cleaner • Limonene / Terpene Source • 50 times higher than non-fragrance product • Recycled Fiberboard • Formaldehyde • 20 times higher than original

29. Issues with VentilationEnergy Efficient Means Less Air Higher Pollutant Levels

30. Issues with EnvironmentHigher Humidity, Higher Temperature

31. To Do’s….. • Include IAQ in every project • Use IAQ Specifications in design, construction, clearance • Specify low-emitting products • Continue good maintenance and operation • Educate

32. How to Find Low-Emitting and Mold Resistant Products • Independent Third Party Certification • Provides a label to certified products for easy identification • Provides specification confidence: Products have been proven to emit minimal levels of VOCs

33. Introduction to GREENGUARD • Founded in 2001 • Pre-eminent brand in indoor air quality • Over 80,000 building products certified • GREENGUARD online guide for low emitting products • GREENGUARD Children & Schools launched in September 2005 • GREENGUARD’s CEU course reaches almost 5000 building professionals each year • Referenced standard in LEED-CI; GSA; GGHC; SBIC; NAHB; states of MA, WA, NY, etc.; and many, many, more • GREENGUARD Mold Protection Program TM launched February 2006

34. GREENGUARD Certification • All types of interior materials/processes • Product Emission Standards: GREENGUARD Indoor Air Quality Certified • Based on: SOW, EPA, & Blue Angel GREENGUARD for Children & Schools • Adds: Phthalates, ½ CRELs, and 1/100 TLV • Requires: • Chain of Custody • Annual Re-Certification with Quarterly Monitoring • Qualified Laboratories

35. GREENGUARD for Children & Schools

36. GREENGUARD Certification makes a difference: Emissions of GREENGUARD Certified Products versus Non-GREENGUARD Certified Products

37. Buildings are for People