Building materials for better indoor air

The wrong building materials can lead to poor
indoor air quality and respiratory disease.

Indoor air pollution is one of the top 5 risks to public health, and one of the main sources of exposure is the building materials.

The volatile organic compounds and other chemicals that can be emitted by common building materials can contribute to the onset or aggravation of respiratory diseases.

When building or renovating a home, people and contractors need to take building materials and indoor air quality into account.

Here is a selection of “healthy” building materials that won’t off-gas too many toxins and won’t affect the indoor air quality in a negative way.

• Concrete, ceramic tile and stone
• Paperless drywall
• Low-VOC paint
• Solid wood cabinets and doors (Products that contain plywood emit high levels of formaldehyde)
• Butcher block for countertops (better for IAQ than plastics laminates with adhesives)
• Factory finished flooring like bamboo and cork
• Fiberglass insulation (that is formaldehyde-free)
• Stainless steel

Look for eco-products that are certified and won’t pollute your indoor environment. A healthy home will require healthy air, and it all starts with the building materials.

Of course, keep ventilation systems and other air-quality friendly measures in mind when building or renovating a home.

Source: Business2Community

Use carbon + HEPA air cleaners when building or renovating homes

Along with proper planning, the right materials and good ventilation, a serious air cleaner with many pounds of activated carbon and HEPA air filters can help keep the air in the home clean and healthy.

Electrocorp offers industrial-strength air cleaners that can remove the widest range of indoor air pollutants, including VOCs, chemicals, gases, odors, dust, particles, fibers, mold, bacteria and viruses.

They can also keep the air clean after the work is done.

For more information, contact Electrocorp today.