Making Breathing Safer & Easier

Description | Indicators | Scoring Criteria | Definitions | Issues

PROBLEM
Users are exposed through numerous pathways to toxic chemicals in building materials within and around the buildings in which they are installed. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are directly emitted in a gaseous state that is inhaled or that attaches to dust that is in turn inhaled or ingested. Dust from the material itself may also contain potentially harmful compounds and be inhaled or ingested. Toxic chemicals can leach from the material into drinking water.

GOAL
Eliminate content and emissions that may endanger the health of building occupants and neighbors.

IDEAL
There is no content in the product or material, nor measured emission from the product, of a hazardous chemical. Hazardous chemicals are defined to include known or suspected carcinogens, mutagens, reproductive toxicants, teratogens, endocrine disruptors, neurotoxicants or acute or chronic toxicants. Optimal materials and products also will not contain chemicals that can breakdown or react with other compounds in the product or in its environment to result in the generation of hazardous chemicals. They also will be designed for installation and use without the use of supplemental products (such as adhesives and finishes) that are hazardous chemicals or that breakdown or react to result in the generation of hazardous chemicals.

NOTES
Several certification programs measure and certify emissions levels of products. The current standards section below indicates to what level each program certifies building materials.

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