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A guide to future healthy buildings Researchers, consultants and practicioners from the fields of construction and installation technology, architecture, medicine, psychology and administration gathered at a Nordisk seminar in Upplands Vasby to discuss healthy and sick buildings as part of preparation for the Healthy Buildings '88 conference. Thomas Lindvall, the Swedish Environmental-medicine La oratory ancic a rman of the scientific committee for Healthy Buildings '88, summarizes in point form below the recommendations agreed upon by seminar participants. This material has also been documented as a contribution to the Healthy Buildings '88 conference. Placement of building and the local environment * Select a site with good conditions for a foundation (watch out for waterlogged ground, radon and landslide risks). * Place the building's fresh air intake so that the quality of the air taken in is not affected by traffic, parking lots, industrial emissions, etc. * Orient the building in such a manner as to take into account sun, wind and outdoor environment relationships as well as the need to maintain contact with the outside world. Building physics and building technology * Try to keep the building dry. * Water must be drained wherever where it appears: the foundation, bathroom and toilet, window frames and outer walls. * Ventilate building areas exposed to humidity. * Do not utilize risky solutions: horizontal roofs, plates on the foundation with insulation on top, fixed floors on plates on the foundation, movable floors on plates on the foundation. Climate technology * Ventilation systems should possess some degree of excess capacity in order to be able to tolerate "human" handling errors. Suitable ventilation solutions include those where: * Pollutants are dealt with directly at the source (enclosed, extracted, etc.). * Technology is simple and flexible regarding modified local use, individually adjustable, user-friendly. * Windows may be opened. * It is easy to inspect (fixed measurement outlets), adjust, clean and replace components. * Systems are decentralized and symetrically installed and which have a high rate of air replacement and ventilation effect. I

* Systems are quiet and without low-frequency noise. * FT systems utilizing heat recovery do not recycle pollutants. Avoid risky solutions such as: * Recycled air * Self-extracting systems (insufficient capacity, cannot be guided to individual rooms, drafts). * Exhaust air systems. * Air humidifiers. * Hot-air systems (spread pollutants). * Rotary heat exchangers (recycle pollutants). * Heat exchangers that cannot be disengaged during the summer. * Insensitive or hypersensitive control and regulation components. * Systems that are difficult to service, adjust or clean. * Ventilation ductwork in beams. System construction and design * Satisfy climate function demands that are quantified and possible to monitor. * Systems must be easy to clean, service and maintain. * Systems must be simple, controllable, understandable, flexible and "forgiving." * Systems must not cover up problems (add substances to obtain "fresh" air). * End-users must be able to regulate the climate and intake of fresh air individually. Construction material * Use recognized and low-emission materials. * Demand a declaration of pollution emission. * Materials must be stable, constant and durable under the existing conditions. * Materials must not contain heavy metals, asbestos or biocides. * Avoid materials that cover large areas, for example wall-to-wall carpeting, in public facilities. * Avoid materials suspected of containing toxic substances in excessively high concentrations. * Avoid plastic wall paper and painted fiberglass in "wet" areas. * Avoid flooring that causes static electricity in charges of more than 1000 V at 22 C and 25% relative humidity. * Avoid using protective substances that prevent biological decay. Construct buildings so that use of these substances is unnecessary. Maintenance and service construction process * Pay attention to maintenance and service aspects during the construction process. * Allow time in planning for thorough construction, including drying time, adjustment, functional testing and N t!'1 0 ~ ~ 4h. N _o N -0

elimination of faults (quality assurance). * Strive to attain functional, responsible cooperation throughout the construction process, from planning to moving in and follow-up activities. * Do not make buildings dependent on sensitive technolqgy with risk for faults. * Encorporate maintenance routines in the planning. * Offer long guarantee period as a protection from hidden faults. * Use quality instead of only price as a means of competition in the construction process. * Offer a high level of cleaning without using harmful cleaning agents. * Climatic and hygienic aspects must receive priority over energy aspects. An important lesson for maintenance and operational personnel. * Carry out functional testing on a regular basis. I