Healthy Buildings RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 2 Contents Air Quality 4 Water Quality 6 Green Cleaning 8 Access to Nature 10 Inspire Movement 12 Waste 14 Comfort 16 HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 3 Introduction We are all acutely aware that our indoor environment can have significant impact on our health. From HVAC filters that reduce our exposure to pathogens*, to enjoying safe drinking water, to feeling calm and comfortable in our spaces, we feel better when our surroundings support our health and wellbeing. While we all want healthy and safe indoor environments, do we know what constitutes a healthy building? Fortunately, there are numerous resources from expert organizations such as ASHRAE, USGBC, the CDC, and the International WELL Building Institute (IWBI) that provide guidance for creating healthy indoor environments. This guide compiles high-level information from third party sources to help building tenants understand and advocate for quality indoor spaces. Given that we spend 90% of our time indoors, we should feel confident that these spaces support our quality of life. In this guide you will find seven areas of focus for a healthier building. While there are more categories to explore, these topics best consolidate critical focus areas. Use this guide to facilitate conversations with building or office management teams, and refer to additional resources for more detail and guidance around recommendations. *It should be noted that recommendations included in this guide do not ensure that building occupants will not get sick. These strategies do not cover all aspects and issues to consider in order to mitigate and reduce infection potential in an indoor environment. The CDC has produced comprehensive guidelines on these issues. HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 4 Air Quality Recommendations Now more than ever, indoor air quality should be a major focus in the built environment. Proper air ventilation and filtration can eliminate odors, allergens, and viruses that inhibit cognitive function or cause illness1,2,3. There are many measures that can be taken to improve and monitor indoor air quality. The following recommendations and resources can guide discussions and decisions on both retrofits and new building design to ensure air quality is improved and managed. O AIR FILTRATION Air filters should have a MERV (term for mechanical filtration) rating of 13 or better to filter pathogens and particulate matter.4 If it is not possible to increase MERV level, consider using portable HEPA filter in high occupancy spaces.5 Also consider carbon filters which reduce exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and ground level ozone (Smog). O AIR EXCHANGE / Increasing outdoor air ventilation will limit the volume of recirculating air within a space.6 OUTDOOR RATES Outdoor air rates should be at least 30% higher than code minimum and/or HVAC should be designed for 100% outdoor air. Air exchange rates should be evaluated/optimized with CFD analysis. ASHRAE recommends hiring a qualified Testing, Adjustment and Balancing (TAB) firm, Commissioning Agent provider or design professional that can confirm air quality safety.5 O HUMIDITY CONTROL Enable year-round humidity between 40-60%, which would require active humidification during heating mode. This is especially critical for healthcare and research environments. O PRESSURIZATION Pressurize to induce airflow from one space to another; design for maximum fresh air in occupied zones. O ULTRAVIOLET (UV) LIGHT Reference ASHRAE guidance for UV integration, taking care with shielding requirement to & OTHER AIR TREATMENT prevent direct exposure to human tissue/eyes. CONSIDERATIONS O AIR QUALITY Take advantage of growing monitoring options that test and monitor Carbon Dioxide, Total MONITORING Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs), Humidity, Temperature, and Particulate Matter1. O VOLATILE ORGANIC In the case of building renovations, where paint, flooring, or furnishing may be updated, COMPOUNDS FROM protect building occupants from harmful Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) released FURNISHINGS, from these materials. VOC levels for products should be compliant with California FLOORING, & FINISHES Department of Public Health (CDPH) Standard Method v1.1-20107. HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 5 Air Quality Resources 1 IWBI: WELL Health-Safety Rating—Air and Water Quality Management 2 ASHRAE: Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response Resources from ASHRAE and Others 3 ASHRAE: Position Document on Infectious Aerosols 4 Buro Happold: Engineering Healthy Workplaces—Considerations in Response to COVID-19 5 ASHRAE: Epidemic Task Force Building Readiness 2020 6 USGBC: LEED Safety First—Managing Indoor Air Quality during COVID-19 Pilot Credit 7 CDPH: Standard Method for the Testing and Evaluation of VOC Emissions Project Spotlight The Tower at PNC Plaza Pittsburgh, PA Features: Passive Natural Ventilation Design © CONNIE ZHOU CONNIE © HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 6 Water Quality Recommendations Water should be tested, treated, and managed to ensure it complies with U.S. National Drinking Water Standards. Monitoring water quality is essential to keep track of current and emerging problems within the building infrastructure or municipality.1 Frequently conducting a potable water test is necessary to ensure compliance with federal and local drinking water standards. Further, monitoring non-potable water supply is important to better protect human health, the building’s water pipelines, and the nearby environment. O WATER TREATMENT Use a building water quality test or a resource like Environmental Working Group (EWG) to understand localized water quality concerns.2 Depending upon the identified pollutants, various filters like reverse osmosis or activated carbon will be appropriate. All buildings should consider providing occupants at least one source of potable drinking water with an activated carbon filter1 that remove suspended solids with pore size 1.5 (Um) or less. O WATER QUALITY Confirm water quality testing is completed, ideally at a frequency of once every three TESTING months (quarterly basis). Testing should include both organic and inorganic pollutants.3 Emerging pollutants, like perfluorinated chemicals, may require a separate water quality test. Confirm records are saved for at least three years.3 O WATER QUALITY Verify building has a water quality management plan that complies with ASHRAE Standard MANAGEMENT PLAN 188-2018: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems (BWS).4 If the building has been shut down temporarily, be sure to follow recommendations from CDC, USGBC and ASHRAE to limit risk of exposure to additional hazards, including mold, copper and lead.5,6,7 HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 7 Water Quality Resources 1 IWBI: WELL Health-Safety Rating—Air and Water Quality Management 2 EWG: Tap Water Database 2019 Update 3 IWBI: WELL Water Quality Feature 36—Water Treatment 4 ASHRAE: Guidance to Help Minimize Risk of Legionellosis 5 ASHRAE: Epidemic Task Force Building Readiness 2020 6 CDC: Guidance for Reopening Buildings After Prolonged Shutdown or Reduced Operation 7 USGBC: LEED Safety First—Building Water System Recommissioning Project Spotlight Perot Museum of Nature and Science Dallas, TX, USA Features: Water Recycling Strategy © ROLAND HALBE ROLAND © HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 8 Green Cleaning Recommendations Properly cleaning and disinfecting high touch surfaces helps reduce the spread of viruses and bacteria, better protecting the health of building occupants.1 It is important to use safe cleaning supplies to make sure maintenance personnel and other building occupants are not exposed to toxic and potentially hazardous chemicals. There are a variety of free resources available to confirm the safety of cleaning products. Building management should verify that the cleaning policy follows best practices and confirm the safety of the products being used within the building. O CLEANING Confirm building cleaning products are listed on the EPA Safer Choice Standard and/or EPA PRODUCTS list of Disinfectants for Use Against COVID-19.2,3 O CLEANING POLICY & Confirm a cleaning policy exists that involves frequent cleaning and disinfecting of high PROCEDURE touch surfaces (ex. Tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, sinks, etc.).4,5,7 O PERSONNEL SAFETY Confirm cleaning personnel receive training and are provided appropriate personal & TRAINING protective equipment (PPE) while cleaning.4,6 O HAND SANITATION Request hand sanitation dispensers, with at least 60% alcohol solution, in locations with high foot traffic (ex. near elevators, in lobbies, bathrooms, etc.).6 O CONTACTLESS To limit the spread of disease and increase a sense of safety, consider opportunities TECHNOLOGY for buildings to implement contactless or sensor-based technology for building entry, doorways, guest sign-in, light switches, and more. HEALTHY BUILDINGS: RECOMMENDATIONS & RESOURCES 9 Green Cleaning Resources 1 IWBI: WELL Health-Safety Rating—Cleaning and Sanitation Procedures 2 EPA: Search Products that Meet the Safer Choice Standard 3 EPA: List N—Disinfectants for Coronavirus (COVID-19) 4 CDC: Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Facility 5 CDC: Reopening Guidance for Cleaning and Disinfecting Public Spaces, Workplaces, Businesses, Schools, and Homes 6 USGBC: LEED Safety First—Cleaning and Disinfecting Your Space 7 GBAC: