The document outlines an upcoming presentation on material transparency. It will cover identifying health risks in building materials using databases and chemical group classifications. It will also discuss recognizing healthy material alternatives and being able to specify them in projects. The presentation will focus on navigating material databases and having transparency conversations with industry. Attendees will learn to identify risks, sources of healthy materials, and documentation requirements for LEED credits involving environmental product declarations and material ingredients.
2. 1. IDENTIFY HEALTH RISKS in MATERIALS Participants will be able to
identify potential health risks in building materials utilizing the RED LIST,
and through the introduction of the 6 major chemical groups found in
building materials
2. RECOGNIZE HEALTHY MATERIALS Participants will be able to
recognize healthy material alternatives using the provide resources
discussed
3. DATABASES Participants will be able to navigate the numerous
material databases and specify healthy building material alternatives
4. TRANSPARENCY Participants will be able to conduct conversations
with building materials industry to ask for disclosure of the ingredients of
their products, and utilize Healthy building product datasheets in their
specifications.
AIA Learning Objectives
3. 1. IDENTIFY HEALTH RISKS in MATERIALS Participants will be able to
identify potential health risks in building materials utilizing the RED LIST,
and through the introduction of the 6 major chemical groups found in
building materials
2. RECOGNIZE HEALTHY MATERIALS Participants will be able to recog-
nize healthy material alternatives using the provide resources discussed.
3. DATABASES- Participants will be able to navigate the numerous mate-
rial databases and specify healthy building material alternatives
4. TRANSPARENCY – Participants will be able to conduct conversations
with building materials industry to ask for disclosure of the ingredients of
their products, and utilize Healthy building product datasheets in their
specifications.
5. Articulate the requirements of specific MR LEED v4 BD+C/ID+C credits
6. Document MR LEED v4 BD+C/ID+C credits using available resources
7. Identify best practices of successful LEED v4 BD+C/ID+C projects
GBCI Learning Objectives
1. IDENTIFY HEALTH RISKS in MATERIALS Participants will be able to
identify potential health risks in building materials through the introduction
of the 6 major chemical groups found in building materials.
2. RECOGNIZE HEALTHY MATERIALS Participants will be able to recognize
healthy material alternatives using th provided resources discussed that can
contribute to Indoor Air Quality performance and Materials & Resources
credits.
3. ENVIRONMENTAL PRODUCT DECLARATION DOCUMENTATION
Articulate the Healthy Building product datasheet requirements for
documentation of MRLEED v4 BD+C/ID+C credit MRC2.
4. MATERIAL INGREDIENT DOCUMENTATION Articulate the Material
Ingredient requirements for documentation of MRLEED v4 BD+C/ID+C credit
MRC4.
5. “It is impossible for Tesla to build electric cars fast
enough to address the carbon crisis.”
- Elon Musk comments on releasing Tesla Battery Patent
Why does Healthy Materials & Transparency matter?
In the case of Materials, its not
just environmental concerns,
but health concerns .
Why do Healthy Materials & Transparency matter?
6. We expect Ingredient lists & Nutrition Facts in Food
FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy and security of
human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics,
and products that emit radiation.
FDA Mission Statement http://www.fda.gov/downloads/aboutfda/reportsmanualsforms/reports/budgetreports/ucm298331.pdf
7. We expect to know what’s in our consumer products
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (“CPSC”) is an independent federal regulatory agency
with a public health and safety mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and
death from consumer products. The CPSC was created in 1972 by the Consumer Product Safety Act
(“CPSA”).
CPSC Mission Statement https://www.cpsc.gov/Global/About-CPSC/Strategic-Plan/DraftCPSC20162020StrategicPlan.pdf?epslanguage=en
9. Chemicals in Production Today
85,000 Existing chemicals
- 5 Chemical groups Banned
- 3,600 Reduced Risks
= 80,000 unregulated chemicals
+ 2,00 New Chemicals Annually
from SERA Shortee presentation 02.03.16_ presented at PMTC meeting
Chemistry Regulations 101:
http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/19/congress-reforms-tsca/
10. Table 3-1.Selected U.S.laws related to environmental and health impacts of building materials
LAW* SUMMARY
Environmental protection
Clean Air Act Requires EPA to set and enforce air quality regulations,
including ambient standards, emission permits, and
industry-specific contaminant emission standards
Clean Water Act Requires EPA to set and enforce water quality
regulations, including guidelines for water quality,
discharge permits, and national industry-specific
wastewater discharge standards
Resource Conservation and Recovery Act Authorizes EPA to regulate generation, transportation,
treatment, storage, and disposal of hazardous waste,
and to set provisions for solid waste management,
including materials recycling
Lacey Act Prohibits importation of illegally harvested wood
Chemicals production and use
Toxic Substances Control Act Establishes conditional authorities for testing, reporting,
regulating, or restricting certain chemicals
Federal Insecticide, Fungicide, and Rodenticide Act Establishes system for registration and review of
pesticides, including antimicrobials
Federal Hazardous Substances Act Authorizes regulations and restrictions of certain
household hazardous substances meeting criteria
Formaldehyde Standards for Composite Wood Act Requires EPA to set standards for formaldehyde
emissions from composite wood products
Emergency Planning and Community Right-to-Know
Act
Requires covered companies to report certain
information on hazardous and toxic chemicals at
facility level, including releases to environment above
thresholds; resulted in Toxics Release Inventory
Worker protection
Occupational Safety and Health Act Authorizes standards for workplace health and safety,
including chemical exposure
Consumer products safety
Consumer Product Safety Act Authorizes safety standards for certain consumer
products on commercial market
Flammable Fabrics Act Restricts sale of highly flammable fabrics in furnishings,
among other things
*References to laws are as amended From Building Better Materials. USGBC
11. TSCA (toss-ka)
Toxic Substances Control Act. Passed in 1976 under President Gerald Ford, the
nation’s main law aimed at regulating chemicals used in every day products.
TSCA encourages companies to volunteer information in what is in their products,
but it is not a mandate.
http://ecowatch.com/2016/02/19/congress-reforms-tsca/
12. Until last month... 40 years later
TSCA Modernization Act 2016
The bill amends TSCA of 1976 to revise process of evaluating & determining
regulatory control of chemicals in consumer products and make EPA responsible
to:
1. Request safety data from manufacturers & process
2. Prioritize Existing Chemicals & Evaluate Environmental & Health Risks
3. Review New Chemicals
4. Conduct Safety Assessments & Testing
13. Periodic table of elements
2
Periodic Table Of Elements:
from Six Classes Series. Green Science Policy Institute
http://greensciencepolicy.org/topics/six-classes/
14. Periodic Table Of Elements:
Six classes
5. Organic solvents
benzene, methylene chloride...
6. Certain metals
lead, mercury, chromium, cadmium, arsenic…
4. Bisphenols and phthalates
plastic additives…
3
1. Highly fluorinated chemicals
water and oil repellants, surfactants…
2. Antimicrobials
triclosan, triclocarban…
3. Flame retardants
brominated, chlorinated, phosphate
9
F
17
Cl
35
Br
17
Cl
35
9
F
17
from Six Classes Series. Green Science Policy Institute
http://greensciencepolicy.org/topics/six-classes/
6 Chemical Groups that pose Health Risk
20. CHAPTER 2. Environmental and Human Health Consequences of Building Materials 57
REPRODUCTIVE AND DEVELOPMENTAL TOXICANTS
DEFINITION AND HEALTH EFFECTS. Reproductive and developmental toxicants adversely affect
fertility, sexual function, and normal prenatal or early childhood development. Exposure to these
substances can affect the reproductive capacity of both women and men and can cause birth
defects, low birth weight, and developmental delays, such as impaired cognition.
EXAMPLES IN BUILDING MATERIALS. Some plastics contain chemical additives to enhance
functional qualities, such as color and malleability. Ortho-phthalate plasticizers (described above)
are classified as both developmental toxicants and endocrine disruptors. In wood and fiber
composites, soy-based binders have emerged as attractive alternatives to formaldehyde-based
glues, though their feedstocks include a resin manufactured from epichlorohydrin, which has been
identified as a reproductive toxicant and probable human carcinogen.22
PIPING
- dioxin and vinyl chloride
monomer (PVC manu.
and disposal)
- lead/antimony solder
WIRE AND CABLE JACKETING
- heavy metals
- HFRs
- ortho-phthalates (PVC)
INSULATION
- HFRs (spray foam and rigid foam)
- isocyanates (spray foam)
- respirable fibers (fiberglass/
mineral wool)
PAINTS AND
EXTERIOR FINISHES
- BPA
- heavy metals
- VOCs
WINDOWS
- HFRs (attachments)
- PFCs (attachment coatings)
- ortho-phthalates
(PVC-based attachments) CARPET
- benzene and other
VOCs (adhesives)
- ortho-phthalates (PVC backing)
- PFCs (stain repellant coatings)
FURNISHINGS
- HFRs (foam cushions)
- PFCs and heavy metals
(upholstery materials)
- VOCs (wood binders/adhesives)
FLOORING
- benzene and other
VOCs (adhesives)
- formaldehyde and other
VOCs (engineered wood)
WALLBOARD
- heavy metals (recycled gypsum)
ROOFING AND FLASHING
- dioxin and vinyl chloride
monomer (PVC manu.
and disposal)
- lead
- VOCs (adhesives)
LIGHTING
- mercury (fluorescent lamps)
Figure 2-5.Examples of building material ingredients and byproducts that may be harmful during one or multiple stages of the materials life cycle
A typical structure can contain many substances that pose a hazard during the manufacturing phase,use phase,or other stage of the life cycle.Building professionals should be aware of
these,and other examples,and evaluate trade-offs between alternative materials.
22 Healthy Building Network, Alternative resin binders for particleboard, medium density fiberboard (MDF), and wheatboard (May 2008), http://
news.bio-based.eu/media/news-images/20090216-02/Alternative_Resin_Binders.pdf.
21. CHAPTER 2. Environmental and Human Health Consequences of Building Materials 59
The surge in demand for these fixtures led to the reopening of long-shuttered mercury mines in
eastern provinces of China, where the majority of CFLs are manufactured.23
Operation of those
mines has caused mercury poisoning among workers and polluted the surrounding environment.24
Awareness of this issue can inform selection of safer alternatives, such as light-emitting diode
(LED) bulbs, and help avoid shifting the risk from climate change to workers and communities
exposed to heavy metals.
TRANSPORTATION
Materials are transported from one process site to another throughout the life cycle of the
product. Although selecting lighter-weight materials can decrease the overall impact of the
transportation phase of the materials life cycle, attention should be paid to transportation of
hazardous feedstocks. Materials that depend on highly hazardous feedstocks perpetuate the
potential for accidents that could jeopardize the health of large numbers of people near roads,
railways, or ports.
RAW MATERIAL
EXTRACTION
& PROCESSING
DISPOSAL
TRANSPORTTRAN
SPORTTRA
NSPORTTRANS
PORT CONSTRUCTION
&
INSTALLATION
USE&
MAI
NTENANCERECYCLIN
G
OR
REUSEMANUFA
CTURING Raw material extraction:
- Petroleum and byproducts
Construction and installation:
- Monomers (e.g., vinyl chloride and BPA)
- Additives (e.g., phthalates)
- Polymer dust
Use and maintenance:
- Leaching
- Additives (e.g., phthalates)
- Flame retardants
- UV stabilizers
Recycling or reuse:
- Monomers (e.g., vinyl chloride and BPA)
- Additives (e.g., phthalates)
Disposal:
- Dioxins, furans, hydrochloric acid (by fire)
- Leaching
- Monomer after disposal
POTENTIAL EXPOSURE
Figure 2-6.Life cycle of plastics
The materials that make a building can have complex life cycles that stretch far beyond the use phase.Plastics,for example,are built from petrochemical
starting blocks,and undergo manufacturing and installation before we see them in buildings.At the end of their useful life,the materials are recycled or
disposed of.Each phase of the life cycle could expose workers,building occupants,or surrounding communities to chemicals.
23 http://www.scmp.com/article/715102/toxic-mercury-mines-reopen-price-soars.
24 http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/world/deadly-cost-of-green-light-bulbs/story-e6frg6so-1225708008534.
22. # of Declare
products /
# of manufacturers
per Division
DECLAREDECLARE
FlouroChemicals
23. # of Declare
products /
# of manufacturers
per Division
DECLAREDECLARE
Anti Microbials
31. “The AIA recognizes that building materials impact the
environment and human health before, during, and after
their use. Knowledge of the lifecycle impacts of building
materials is integral to improving the craft, science, and
art of architecture. The AIA encourages architects to
promote transparency in materials’ contents and in their
environmental and human health impacts.”
AIA Board of Directors Position Statement
AIA - Materials Matter Group
32. 5 things all architects
should know about
materials transparency
Transparency is the new normal. There is a growing expectation that
everyone involved in a building project—from initial design to occupancy—
should have access to information on the potential health and environ-
mental impacts relating to those products.
Materials transparency represents opportunities for architects. These
opportunities include competitive advantage, thought leadership, design
innovation, and environmental and human health leadership.
New practices and procedures inherently present potential risks. We
accept that there is some risk in advocating for materials transparency
and sharing composition information with our clients. This white paper
explores those risks in detail.
It will be important to manage potential risks with increased trans-
parency. Although the risks associated with materials transparency are
new, architects are familiar with risk management. This white paper offers
several strategies for effectively evaluating and mitigating risk.
The AIA has tools and resources to help architects navigate materials
transparency risks and opportunities. Along with this white paper and
existing online resources, the American Institute of Architects published
new model contract language to specifically address materials transpar-
ency issues. In addition, our Materials Knowledge Working Group, made
up of expert members, practitioners and partner organizations, is contin-
ually developing education and practice tools to help architects optimize
their approach to materials transparency.
from AIA White Papers_ Materials Transparency &
Risk for Architects, April 2016
AIA - White Papers
34. UNDERSTANDING HUMAN HEALTH
AND ENVIRONMENTAL ATTRIBUTES
BETTER
BUILDING
MATERIALS
USGBC_ Guide
sponsored by Google,
but pulled off USGBC website 2 days after release
35. MATERIALS & RESOURCES
PREREQUISITES
MRp2:
Construction & Demolition
Waste Management Planning
MRp1:
Storage & Collection of
Recyclables
Option 2:
Renovation of
Abandoned/Bl
ighted Bldg.
Option 1:
Historic
Building
Reuse
MRc1:
BuildingLife-Cycle Impact
Reduction*
Option 4:
Whole
Building Life-
Cycle
Assessment
Option 1: Raw
Material
Source and
Extraction
Reporting
MRc3:
Building Product Disclosure
and Optimization - Sourcing of
Raw Materials*
Option 2:
Leadership
Extraction
Practices
Option 2:
Material
Ingredient
Optimization
Option 1:
Material
Ingredient
Reporting
MRc4
Building Product Disclosure
& Optimization: Material
Ingredients*
Option 3:
Product
Manufacturer
Supply Chain
Optimization
MRc5
Construction & Demolition
Waste Management*
Option 1:
Diversion
Option 2:
Reduction of
Total waste
Material
Path 1:
Divert 50% &
three
material
streams
Path 2:
Divert 75% &
four
material
streams
OR
MRc1 MRc2 MRc3 MRc5MRc4
Option 1:
Environmental
Product
Declaration
MRc2:
Building Product Disclosure
and Optimization -
Environmental Product
Declarations*
Option 2:
Multi-
attribute
Optimization
AND
/ OR
AND
/ OR
Option 3:
Building
Material
Reuse
AND
/ OR
AND
/ OR
OR
USGBC_ LEED v4.0
38. 10
comes to avoiding potentially hazardous ingredients. Durst has engaged with
specialty consultants with industrial hygiene expertise to help parse the content
of Health Product Declarations, emissions test reports, (material) safety data
sheets, and other sources to identify opportunities to choose safer products.
Harmonizing the certification and
declaration programs
New sources of product transparency declarations and
information have emerged in the past few years, and
more are being proposed. Recognizing the confusion that
this surge of new information is causing in the market,
several of the programs that focus on content reporting
and hazard avoidance have engaged in a comprehensive
harmonization effort, so that data collected for any one
of their programs could serve the others.26
Participants in
this harmonization effort, which was convened by UsGbC
with funding from Google, are listed here and described
in Appendix 02.
USgBc Harmonization Initiative participants:
• bIFMA International/e3 standard
• Cradle to Cradle Products Innovation Institute
• Clean Production Action/Greenscreen for safer
Chemicals
• Healthy building Network/Pharos
• Health Product Declaration Collaborative
• International Living Future Institute/Declare
26 www2.buildinggreen.com/article/material-health-tools-harmo-
nize
from AIA White Papers_ Materials Transparency &
Risk for Architects, April 2016
43. The Risks for architects:
Regrettable substitutions - Replacing one evil for another
I.E. - Ban of Brominated Tris, replaced with Chlorinated Tris:
Health risks are equal, if not more in chlorinated Tris
44. Whole foods, Proctor Gamble
Laws have been changed- no
bpde in baby clothes, in fur-
niture, why not in our building
materials?
Transparency is only as good
as Installation, execution &
Performance
People are Noticing and Mak-
ing Changes:
Google funded USGBC white
Paper
Target Walmart Home Depot
46. Parsons School of Design
Healthy Building Network
Green Science Policy Institute
Health Product Declaration Collab.
State of Transparency
47.
48.
49.
50. More on Material Transparency:
Let’s Be Clear: A Brief Guide to Material Transparency
http://serapdx.com/2016/06/lets-clear-brief-guide-material-transparency/
Six Classes
http://greensciencepolicy.org/topics/six-classes/
Mindful Materials
http://www.mindfulmaterials.com/contact/
Healthy Materials Collaborative
https://healthymaterials.wordpress.com/
AIA Materials Matter
http://www.aia.org/practicing/materials/
