May, 22th 2011 : free topic

Healthy House Construction

                         Once you understand the basic the basic concepts, healthy house construction is no more difficult than unhealthy construction. However, it does involve more than just selecting non-toxic materials. It also requires an understanding of how a house functions. For example, how house ‘breathes’ naturally and why that may not be desirable, and how heating and ventilating system interact. There are some considerations to make in designing and constructing a house that will not make the occupants sick.
                      Site selection is the first consideration in healthy house construction because if the outdoor air quality is poor, then indoor air quality will be also poor, too. It is possible to install filtration equipment to clean all of the air indoors, but this can be expensive. While filtration may be necessary in some instances, it is often easier to building an unpolluted area in first place. Remember; do build in a clean locale.
People need fresh air. Mechanical ventilation can supply that air at the correct rate whenever it is required. Relying on infiltration for the occupants’ air supply is unreliable at best and more often than not, insufficient. So, do install a sufficient ventilation system.
Kitchen and bathroom cabinets are not only made of manufactured wood products that contain glues high in formaldehyde, medium density fiber board, particle board, hardwood plywood. But they are also coated with very potent acid catalyzed formaldehyde finish. The finishing has very high emissions for 6-12 months, after which levels decrease significantly. The emissions for the formaldehyde base glues have half-lives of several years. Custom made solid wood cabinetry with low-tox finish or metal cabinetry with a baked-on finish is better choice.
                     In general, water based products are more benign that solvent based products because they ingredients besides VOCs that can be responsible for negative health effects. For those interested in even healthier products, several specialty manufactures are now offering alternative materials that more benign than off-the-shelf products. If solvent-based products must be used for some reason, plenty of ventilation is mandatory to minimize exposures. Extra ventilation is recommended with water based products. Therefore, it is better for us water based adhesives, caulks, paints, etc.