The Building Biology Approach to New Home and Office Design and ...
The Building Biology Approach to New Home and Office Design and ...
The Building Biology Approach to New Home and Office Design and ...
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Causes <strong>and</strong> Cures of<br />
“Sick <strong>Building</strong> Syndrome”<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI<br />
Certified <strong>Building</strong> <strong>Biology</strong> ® Environmental Inspec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Environmental <strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Inspection Services<br />
Minneapolis, Minnesota<br />
www.createhealthyhomes.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
What is <strong>Building</strong> <strong>Biology</strong> ®?<br />
� <strong>The</strong> relationship between the<br />
built environment, human<br />
health <strong>and</strong> planetary ecology<br />
� Originated in Germany in the<br />
1970s<br />
� Helmut Ziehe, German<br />
Architect<br />
� International Institute for<br />
Bau-biologie ® <strong>and</strong> Ecology<br />
(IBE), Clearwater, Florida<br />
www.buildingbiology<br />
www. buildingbiology.net .net<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>New</strong> <strong>Building</strong> Manual<br />
� A new building manual, called “Breathing “ Breathing Walls,” Walls,”<br />
based on <strong>Building</strong> <strong>Biology</strong> ® has been co-written<br />
by:<br />
� George Swanson, <strong>Building</strong> Biologist, Builder,<br />
Austin, Texas<br />
� Oram Miller, <strong>Building</strong> Biologist,<br />
Minneapolis, Minnesota<br />
� Wayne Federer, Ph.D., <strong>Building</strong><br />
Biologist, <strong>New</strong> Richmond, Wisconsin<br />
� To order, go <strong>to</strong><br />
www.breathingwalls.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>Building</strong>-Related Causes of Ill<br />
Health<br />
� Mold<br />
� VOCs, Formaldehyde<br />
(outgassing)<br />
� Airborne Particulates<br />
� Natural Gas Leaks<br />
� Carbon Monoxide<br />
Leaks<br />
� Lead<br />
� Asbes<strong>to</strong>s<br />
� Radon<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Unhealthy Indoor Air Quality<br />
� We spend 90% of our time indoors<br />
� EPA: One of the five leading causes of air<br />
pollution<br />
� 10-100 times more harmful than outdoor urban<br />
air<br />
� 70% increase in asthma in the past 10 years<br />
� Asthma is #1 illness among children<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Causes of Unhealthy Indoor<br />
Air Quality<br />
� Inadequate ventilation<br />
� Vapor barriers, “Tight buildings”<br />
� Moisture in walls – mold growth<br />
� Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)<br />
� Chemical outgassing<br />
� Laundry <strong>and</strong> cleaning products, plug-in air<br />
fresheners<br />
� Natural Gas <strong>and</strong> Carbon Monoxide leaks<br />
� Radon, Asbes<strong>to</strong>s, Lead<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
� Mold requires the<br />
following:<br />
1. Nutrients (bio-film)<br />
2. Moisture<br />
3. Low air flow<br />
4. (Some experts<br />
would include<br />
darkness)<br />
Mold<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
� Grows within 24-48<br />
hours on porous<br />
materials<br />
� Produces harmful<br />
myco<strong>to</strong>xins<br />
� Myco<strong>to</strong>xins also<br />
released by dormant<br />
spores<br />
Mold (continued)<br />
Mold in attic due <strong>to</strong> bathroom fan<br />
that did not vent <strong>to</strong> roof<br />
www.purocleancentralmass.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>The</strong> Extent of the Problem<br />
� “Every Every house will have at<br />
least one water event at<br />
some time in its life” -- --<br />
Neil Carlson,<br />
Industrial Hygienist,<br />
University of Minnesota<br />
� Our question is: How will<br />
walls, floor, slab h<strong>and</strong>le the<br />
inevitable flood or water<br />
leak?<br />
Plumbing Leak<br />
Window Leak<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Consequnces of Water Intrusion<br />
� Water vapor cannot<br />
escape, becomes<br />
trapped in wall cavity<br />
� Causes mold <strong>and</strong><br />
structural damage<br />
� “We We have seen two<br />
inches of st<strong>and</strong>ing water<br />
in modern walls” –<br />
Edina, Minnesota<br />
<strong>Building</strong> Inspec<strong>to</strong>r<br />
www.mosbybuildingarts.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Consequnces of Water Intrusion<br />
(continued)<br />
� Mold spores only need<br />
24-48 hours <strong>to</strong> generate<br />
mycelia mass <strong>and</strong><br />
myco<strong>to</strong>xins<br />
� 52% of homes built in<br />
1990s had three or more<br />
indica<strong>to</strong>rs of potential<br />
moisture problems–<br />
problems<br />
University of<br />
Minnesota Study<br />
www.lclark.edu<br />
www.zwsinc.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong> Construction Pro<strong>to</strong>cols<br />
<strong>to</strong> Avoid Water Intrusion<br />
� Workable gutters <strong>and</strong><br />
downspouts<br />
� Above ground<br />
downspout extenders<br />
� Slope (berm) the earth<br />
away from house 5-10<br />
degrees<br />
� Create air gap behind<br />
siding<br />
� Install window flashing<br />
in proper order<br />
� Kick-out flashing<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong> Construction Pro<strong>to</strong>cols<br />
<strong>to</strong> Avoid Mold (continued)<br />
� Ventilate attics <strong>and</strong><br />
avoid ice dams<br />
� Vent exhaust fans<br />
<strong>to</strong> outside, not in<strong>to</strong><br />
attic<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong> Construction Pro<strong>to</strong>cols<br />
<strong>to</strong> Avoid Mold (continued)<br />
� Seal seams in air ducts<br />
with mastic in<br />
basements <strong>and</strong> crawl<br />
spaces<br />
� Reduce indoor<br />
humidity – ventilate &<br />
air condition<br />
� Use exhaust fans in<br />
kitchen range hood<br />
<strong>and</strong> in bathroom (avoid<br />
back drafting)<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
<strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong> Construction Pro<strong>to</strong>cols<br />
<strong>to</strong> Avoid Mold (continued)<br />
� Solid surface flooring<br />
� Area rugs<br />
� No wall-<strong>to</strong>-wall carpeting,<br />
especially in basement<br />
� Avoid false walls in basement<br />
� Create smooth walls with clay<br />
plaster<br />
� Xypex ® breathable waterproofer<br />
inside foundation walls<br />
www.xypex.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Measures <strong>to</strong> Control Mold<br />
� Use non-<strong>to</strong>xic alternatives <strong>to</strong><br />
bleach <strong>to</strong> clean <strong>and</strong> eliminate<br />
mold:<br />
� Young Living Thieves Oil ®<br />
www.youngliving.com<br />
� Wellness Company’s Sol-u-Mel ®<br />
with Tea Tree or Melaleuca Oil<br />
www.melaleuca.com<br />
� HydrOxi-Pro ® br<strong>and</strong> Power Safe ®<br />
www.coreproductsco.com<br />
Thieves Oil ®<br />
Sol-u-Mel ®<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Alternatives <strong>to</strong> St<strong>and</strong>ard Sheathing,<br />
Drywall, Subfloors, Decking<br />
� Magnesium oxide <strong>and</strong> fiber<br />
boards<br />
� Distributed by Substance<br />
Products, Austin, Texas,<br />
512-385-4326<br />
www.substanceproducts.com<br />
Mag Board ®<br />
Strong Enviroboard ®<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Magnesium Oxide Boards<br />
(continued)<br />
� Breathable, mold-resistant<br />
� Fire-rated<br />
� Load-bearing<br />
� Impact resistant<br />
� Easily cut with h<strong>and</strong> <strong>to</strong>ols<br />
� No outgassing<br />
Mag Board<br />
Strong Enviroboard<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Volatile Organic Compounds –<br />
VOCs<br />
� VOCs cause “Sick<br />
<strong>Building</strong> Syndrome” in<br />
tight houses<br />
� Released by<br />
formaldehyde <strong>and</strong> other<br />
petroleum-based<br />
chemicals<br />
� Also released by<br />
artificially scented<br />
cleaning <strong>and</strong> laundry<br />
products<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Volatile Organic Compounds –<br />
VOCs (continued)<br />
� Found in carpeting,<br />
cabinetry, upholstery,<br />
sheathing, wall board,<br />
sub flooring, vinyl<br />
flooring<br />
� Also paints, stains,<br />
adhesives, concrete<br />
sealers<br />
� Low-VOC products now<br />
available (endorsed by<br />
LEED, MN Greenstar<br />
programs)<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
� Adequate ventilation<br />
� Heat Recovery<br />
Ventila<strong>to</strong>r<br />
� Trickle ventila<strong>to</strong>r<br />
www.ti<strong>to</strong>n<br />
www. ti<strong>to</strong>n.com .com –<br />
Installed in casing<br />
above window<br />
Reduce VOCs<br />
Trickle Ventila<strong>to</strong>r by Ti<strong>to</strong>n ®<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Reduce VOCs (continued)<br />
� Low-<strong>to</strong>xic paint br<strong>and</strong>s:<br />
AFM, ® Dunn-Edwards, ®<br />
Bio Shield ®<br />
� Solid surface flooring<br />
� Area rugs<br />
� Woven-backed<br />
carpeting, not glue-<br />
backed<br />
AFM Safecoat ® Products<br />
Bamboo Cork<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Reduce VOCs (continued)<br />
� Marmoleum ® or tile in<br />
kitchen & bathroom<br />
� No vinyl flooring<br />
� Solid wood or wheatboard<br />
cabinets<br />
� No particleboard<br />
� Local Minneapolis resource:<br />
Natural Built <strong>Home</strong>,<br />
4020 Minnehaha South,<br />
612-605-7999<br />
www.naturalbuilthome.com<br />
Marmoleum ® Recycled Glass Tiles<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Reduce Indoor Airborne<br />
Particulates<br />
� Pleated furnace<br />
filters<br />
� Heat Recovery<br />
Ventila<strong>to</strong>r (HRV)<br />
� Clean filters<br />
regularly<br />
� Clean air ducts<br />
every 3-5 years<br />
3M Filtrete ® Furnace Filters<br />
Heat Recovery Ventila<strong>to</strong>r<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Reduce Indoor Airborne<br />
Particulates (continued)<br />
� HEPA vacuum cleaner<br />
or central vacuum<br />
system<br />
� Solid surface flooring<br />
� Area rugs instead of<br />
wall-<strong>to</strong>-wall carpeting<br />
� Keep house clean<br />
� Organic cot<strong>to</strong>n bedding<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Additional Recommendations for a<br />
Healthy <strong>Home</strong><br />
� All-natural fiber<br />
upholstery, etc.<br />
� Non-<strong>to</strong>xic cleansers <strong>and</strong><br />
laundry products<br />
� Natural alternatives <strong>to</strong><br />
pesticides<br />
� Avoid new plastic shower<br />
curtains<br />
� Avoid scented fabric<br />
softeners, dryer sheets,<br />
scented c<strong>and</strong>les <strong>and</strong><br />
indoor plug-in air<br />
fresheners<br />
Res<strong>to</strong>re ® Cleaners Seventh Generation ®<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Oram Miller’s Next Public<br />
Appearance<br />
Oram will have a booth at the<br />
5th Annual<br />
“Healing Healing Health Care Conference”<br />
At Woodwinds Health Campus,<br />
Woodbury, Minnesota<br />
Wednesday May 6, 2009<br />
8 AM - 4 PM<br />
Go <strong>to</strong><br />
www.createhealthyhomes.com<br />
Click on “Lecture Schedule”<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
Oram Miller, BBEI<br />
Certified <strong>Building</strong> Biologist ®<br />
Environmental <strong>Design</strong> <strong>and</strong><br />
Inspection Services<br />
PO Box 8063<br />
Minneapolis, Minnesota 55408<br />
952-412-0781<br />
www.createhealthyhomes.com<br />
info@createhealthyhomes.com<br />
Oram Miller, BBEI
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