Implementing Health-Protective Features and Practices in Buildings Workshop Proceedings: Federal Facilities Council Technical Report #148 (2005) / Chapter Skim
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1 Workshop Summary
1 Workshop Summary
Pages 7-14
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From page 7... ...
Leading proponents in the building and health care industries envision a future in which buildings are designed, constructed, and operated from initial move-in to disposal to promote their occupants' health or wellness, security, comfort, and satisfaction; to enable their occupants to achieve organization missions and functional requirements; and to do these things cost effectively. A range of factors drive this vision: · Greater awareness of health issues; · Increasing costs of health care; · An emphasis on physical security in response to terrorism as well as natural and man-made hazards; · Growing recognition of the role of buildings as enabling environments for worker productivity, healing, and learning; · Increasing concerns about energy conservation; · The movement toward sustainability and sustainable building practices; · Pressures to reduce the costs of owning, operating, and maintaining buildings; · Lack of timely or adequate maintenance and repair of buildings; · Increasing costs of litigation related to occupational safety and health; and · Defective components and improperly installed equipment in buildings.
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From page 8... ...
STATE OF KNOWLEDGE: WHAT DO WE KNOW ABOUT HOW BUILDING DESIGN AND OPERATIONS AFFECT THE HEALTH OF NONINDUSTRIAL INDOOR WORKERS, HOSPITAL PATIENTS, STUDENTS, AND OTHERS? Cause-and-effect relationships have been scientifically documented between waterborne pathogens in natural and man-made water systems and Legionnaire's disease and Pontiac fever in individuals; between microorganisms growing in contaminated ventilation and humidification systems and buildings with water damage and hypersensitivity pneumonitis and humidifier fever; between the release of carbon monoxide and carbon monoxide poisoning; and between the presence of radon and environmental tobacco smoke (also called secondhand smoke)
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From page 9... ...
Much of the available research is reported in scientific and engineering journals and does not reach building owners, operators, managers, and users until it is more widely reported in the news media. For example, although some of the causes and potential effects of indoor mold and fungi on building occupants have long been discussed within scientific, research, and building engineering circles, the issue has only come to the attention of the general public with the widespread reporting of catastrophic situations and subsequent litigation.
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From page 10... ...
When these functions are separate, there are few incentives for those designing a facility to consider its life-cycle costs or to evaluate alternative materials, systems, or other components in terms of their impact on occupant health, long-term operations, and management. The groups responsible for design are rarely held accountable for the subsequent total operating costs of the facility.
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From page 11... ...
For example, energy savings performance contracts offer an opportunity to take advantage of ongoing building audits and financing potential by linking IEQ problems to an energy savings program and combining resources and functions. An information clearinghouse could serve as a "one-stop" source of technologies and best practices related to IEQ and occupant health (see Chapter 7)
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From page 12... ...
Some participants noted that EPA's Energy Star efficiency program is successful because it generates measurable phenomena and outcomes: If an organization changes its lighting or installs occupancy sensors, not only is there a change in the building environment, there is also a demonstrable change in the energy bill. This is a result that can convince an owner of the efficacy of a program and can lead to long-term change and acceptance.
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From page 13... ...
PRACTICAL ACTIONS THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED BY THOSE IN THE BUILDING, HEALTH CARE, AND OTHER INDUSTRIES TO IMPROVE INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY Many buildings, even the best-designed ones, will develop problems that can affect the health of some occupants if operations and maintenance practices are inadequate. During the course of the workshop, participants identified a wide range of actions that could be implemented immediately by those in the building, health care, and other industries to create more healthful indoor environments: · Monitor buildings to ensure they remain clean, dry, well ventilated, well lit, acoustically sound, and comfortable in terms of temperature and vibration.
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From page 14... ...
The process focuses on verifying and documenting that the facility and all of its systems and assemblies are planned, designed, installed, tested, operated, and maintained to meet the Owner's Project Requirements. The scope of building commissioning includes integrated performance of the building envelope and architectural systems; site utilities; fire protection and suppression; special equipment; mechanical (HVAC, plumbing, piping)
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