Chemicals of concern demystified by Jim Stanislaski AIA / October 2, 2013 http://www.architects.org/news/chemicals-concern-demystified
PRACTICE http://www.architects.org/news/practice
Photo by June Lee. Taken December 6, 2012 at BSA Space-hosted forum, Road Work Ahead.
On September 24 at BSA Space, the BSA Committee on
the Environment (COTE) hosted a lively roundtable discussion
regarding how chemicals in the built environment affect human health.
Moderated
by Andrea Love AIA of Payette, the panel included experts with diverse
backgrounds, experience, and opinions. Breeze Glazer of Perkins+Will gave a
designer’s perspective, Paula Buick of Payette offered insights as a former
intensive care nurse, Melissa McCullough of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute
spoke from an owner’s and industrial hygienist’s point of view, and Meredith
Elbaum summarized her work with the Health Product Declaration Collaborative.
Some of the toughest questions of the evening
included these: As nonscientists, how do architects translate the often
confusing data on building materials and design the safest possible
environments for human health? How do we keep up with changing materials? For
example, reading a material safety data sheet on a floor tile tells only part
of the story. McCullough outlined how Dana-Farber Cancer has developed a
methodical process for reviewing building materials and suggested a risk-based
assessment. Glazer outlined how Perkins+Will has used organizations, tools, and
frameworks such as LEED, Pharos, the Living Building Challenge, and the Healthy
Building Network.
“The BSA has taken a stance on energy and many
other sustainability aspects that affect our work as architects, but we [the BSA]
have been largely silent on this important issue,” said audience member and
current BSA president Mike Davis FAIA. Davis asked for help from the panel to
draft an official BSA policy on healthy building materials as a means of
showing leadership and continuing the discussion and education among designers
and the larger group of stakeholders in related industries. Making a positive
impact will require partnerships with multiple stakeholders, including owners,
architects, interior designers, contractors, manufacturers, vendors, health
experts, and chemical companies.
