Introduction

Construction specifications are the detailed written instructions that support architec­tural drawings. Together, the “specs” and the drawings comprise the construction docu­ments. The drawings explain the physical lay­out and appearance of the building, how it will be structured, and the choice of general construction materials. Specifications con­tain instructions that cannot be shown easily on the drawings. They indicate how materials are to be handled and installed, and prescribe brand names of products and performance re­quirements. Detailed specifications are not of­ten included in the documents for residential construction. However, if you want to build a healthy home, detailed specifications are es­sential because many standard practices and materials are unacceptable.

The specifications in this book are de­signed as a guideline for homeowners, archi­tects, and builders to use in building a healthy home. To organize the specifications, we use
the 16-division Master Format list, devel­oped by the Construction Specification Insti­tute and widely recognized as the standard for construction specifications. The Master For­mat covers all aspects of construction in a se­quence familiar to architects and builders. Part II is therefore comprised of divisions rather than standard chapters. Although in 2004 CSI changed over to a 50-division format, we have kept the original 16 divisions in this new edi­tion for the sake of simplicity.

Construction specifications contain in­formation about performance standards that ensure the structural integrity and quality of construction. Our guidelines are not intended as a substitute for standard specifications but as an addition to them. For example, stan­dard concrete specifications will specify the strength of concrete to be used, how it is to be mixed and poured, and procedures for testing its strength. The specifications in this book do not include such basic information. Instead, the information appearing in the following
іб divisions focuses on the health of home oc­cupants as well as the health of home builders and subcontractors.

Where appropriate, the differences be­tween healthy and standard construction are explained. Products, manufacturers, trades­people, and consultants involved in healthy building are specified. Telephone numbers and websites are included in the Resource List in Appendix В so that you may conveniently locate the closest distributors.

Anderson, Nina et al. Your Health and Your House. Keats Publishing, 1995. A resource guide to health symptoms and the indoor air pollutants that aggravate them.

Banta, John. Extreme Weather Hits Home: Protecting Your Buildings from Climate Change. New So­ciety Publishers, 2007. Discusses measures that can be taken to prevent or lessen the effects of climate change on your home.

Bower, John. Healthy House Building: A Design and Construction Guide. Healthy House Institute, 1993. Step-by-step guide illustrating the authors construction of a model healthy house.

Bower, John. The Healthy House: How to Buy One, How to Build One, How to Cure a Sick One. 4th ed., Healthy House Institute, 2000. Describes in great depth a three-step approach consisting of elimination, isolation, and ventilation. As many toxins as possible are identified and eliminated; a tight air barrier isolates occupants from infiltra­tion; and air is exchanged and purified by means of mechanical ventilation. The author speaks from firsthand experience in successfully creat­ing a chemical-free sanctuary for his spouse.

Breecher, Maury M. and Shirley Linde. Healthy Homes in a Toxic World. John Wiley and Sons, 1992. The authors identify household health haz­ards, the human health conditions associated with them, and solutions for healthier environ­ments.

Colburn, Theo et al. Our Stolen Future. Plume, 1997. A gripping account of the scientific research linking reproductive failures, birth defects, and sexual abnormalities to synthetic chemicals that mimic natural hormones, causing disruption of the endocrine system.

Dadd, Debra. Nontoxic, Natural and Earthwise. J. P. Tarcher, 1990. A practical, easy-to-use guide to nontoxic alternatives for cleaning products, per­sonal care products, lawn and garden supplies, baby care items, pet care products, and house­hold furnishings.

The Green Guide. Available from Mothers and

Others for a Livable Planet, 40 West 20th St., New York, NY 10011, 888-ECO-INFO. This newsletter discusses various relevant topics and promotes safe and ecologically sound consumer choices.

Green, Nancy Sokol. Poisoning Our Children. The Noble Press, 1991. Tire contemporary pesticide problem comes alive as the author relates the nightmare she endured after unwittingly poison­ing herself in her own home with repeated pesti­cide exposures.

International Institute for Bau-Biologie & Ecology Correspondence Course. Available through Helmut Ziehe, IBE, Box 387, Clearwater FL 33757, 727-461-4371, buildingbiology. net. This certified home-study course has been translated into Eng­lish from the original work of Anton Schneider, the driving force behind the Bau-Biologie move­ment in Europe. The course provides a compre­hensive discussion of the interrelationship of the built environment, human health, and planetary ecology.

Lawson, Lynn. Staying Well in a Toxic World: Un­derstanding Environmental Illness, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, Chemical Injuries, and Sick Building Syndrome. Lynnword Press, 1994.

A highly readable, informative, and comprehen­sive overview of the devastating effects of toxic surroundings by a former medical writer with a thorough understanding of the contemporary chemical problem.

Leclair, Kim and David Rousseau. Environmental by Design. Hartley and Marks, 1993. Provides a “cradle to grave” environmental analysis of com­mon building materials.

Lstiburek, Joseph. Builders Guides. Available

through The Energy & Environmental Building Association, 10740 Lyndale Avenue South, Suite 10W, Bloomington, MN 55420,952-881-1098, eeba. org. A series of climate-based field guides with explanations, details, and techniques to effectively implement energy – and resource – efficient residential construction.

Our Toxic Times. Published by the Chemical Injury Information Network, PO Box 301, White Sul­phur Springs, MT 59645,406-547-2255. A useful newsletter for people interested in understand­ing how chemicals impact human health.

Pearson, David. The Natural House Book: Creating a Healthy, Harmonious, and Ecologically Sound Home Environment. Fireside, 1989. The author gives a thoughtful explanation of the human health and environmental impacts associated with standard building practices. He then shows an inspiring array of natural building materials and systems from around the world.

Rea, William J. Optimum Environments for Opti­mum Health and Creativity. Crown Press, 2002. Rea is the founder of the Environmental Health Center in Dallas. He has extensive experience working with patients who have extreme multi­ple chemical sensitivities. His book is a guide for healthier homebuilding practices. It has broad general application and a special emphasis on strategies for creating clean homes for chemi­cally sensitive individuals.

Rogers, Sherry A. Tired or Toxic? A Blueprint for Health. Prestige Publishing, 1990. Detailed and comprehensive medical explanations of how chemicals are impacting human health.

Roodman, David Malin and Nicholas Lenssen. A Building Revolution: How Ecology and Health Concerns Are Transforming Construction. World­watch Paper 124,1995.

Schoemaker, Joyce and Charity Vitale. Healthy Homes, Healthy Kids. Island Press, 1991. The authors discuss ways to protect children from everyday environmental hazards found in the home.

Stih, Daniel. Healthy Living Spaces: Top 10 Hazards Affecting Your Health. Healthy Living Spaces, 2007. Stih speaks from his experience as a home inspector about common causes of sick build­ings and what you can do to prevent and remedy these hazards.

Thompson, Athena. Homes That Heal and Those That Don’t: How Your Home Could Be Harming Your Family’s Health. New Society Publishers,

2004. A thorough guide that takes the home­owner on a room-by-room tour of the home, identifying sources of pollution and offering healthy solutions for each potential problem.

Thrasher, Jack and Alan Broughton. The Poisoning of Our Homes and Workplaces: The Indoor Form­aldehyde Crisis. Seadora, 1989. Detailed analysis of the indoor formaldehyde crisis in the United States.

Venolia, Carol. Healing Environments: Your Guide to Indoor Well-being. Celestial Arts, 1988. The au­thor takes the reader through a series of environ­mental awareness-raising exercises, expanding a holistic approach to health and the built environ­ment that includes the wellness of body, mind, and spirit.

Venolia, Carol and Kelly Lerner. Natural Remodeling for the Not-So-Green House. Lark Books, 2006. This practical and inspiring book, written by two architects, is a guide to remodeling with plan­etary and personal health in mind.

Wilson, Cynthia. Chemical Exposure and Human Health. McFarland, 1993. A reference guide to 314 chemicals, with a list of symptoms they can produce and a directory of organizations.

Zamm, Alfred and Robert Gannon. Why Your House May Endanger Your Health. Simon and Schuster, 1982. Based on a ten-year scientific study, this book explains how millions of Ameri­cans may be suffering ill health because their homes have become toxic chambers. The authors discuss remedies for many of the major health hazards found in the home.

Retail Outlets and Catalog Distributors

Allergy Relief Store, 250 Watson Glen, Franklin, TN 37064, 800-866-7464,615-790-3525, allergyrelief store. com. Mail order catalog offering supplies and building products for the allergy-free home.

Allergy Resources, 557 Burbank St., Suite K, Broom­field, CO 80020,800-873-3529. Nontoxic clean­ing compounds and body care products.

American Environmental Health Foundation, 8345 Walnut Hill Lane, Suite 225, Dallas, TX 75231, 800-428-2343,214-361-9515, aehf. com. Sells a wide range of household, building, personal care, and medical products as well as organic clothing, books, and vitamins.

Aubrey Organics, 4419 N. Manhattan Ave., Tampa, FL 33614,800-282-7394, aubrey-organics. com. Over 200 hair, skin, and body care products made from herbs and vitamins, without syn­thetic chemicals.

Building for Health — Materials Center, PO Box 113, Carbondale, CO 81623,800-292-4838 (orders only), 970-963-043 7, buildingforhealth. com. Distributor of a wide variety of healthy building products. The owner, Cedar Rose, is also a build­ing contractor who has practical experience with most products sold by the Center.

The Cutting Edge Catalog, PO Box 4158, Santa Fe, NM 87502,800-497-9516, cutcat. com. Full-line catalog with state of the art products for immune system protection.

Dasun Company, PO Box 668, Escondido, CA 92033,800-433-8929. Catalog sales of air and water purification products.

Eco Design/Natural Choice, 1365 Rufina Circle, Santa Fe, NM 87505,800-621-2591. Catalog sales of natural paints, stains, and healthy home prod­ucts.

Eco Home Center, 3101 Main Ave., Suite 2, Durango, CO 81301,970-259-8326, ecohomecenter. com. Ecological building and home supplies.

Eco-Products, 3655 Frontier Ave., Boulder, CO 80301,303-449-1876, ecoproducts. com. Ecologi­cally sound building products.

Environmental Home Center (ecohaus), 4121 ist Ave. South, Seattle, WA 98134,800-281-9785, 206-682-7332, environmentalhomecenter. com. Green building supplies and household prod­ucts.

Green Nest, 18662 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 200, Ir­vine, CA 92612, (888) 473-6466, GreenNest. com. This on-line store is owned and operated by Lisa and Ron Beres, certified Baubiologists. The site is a source for a wide diversity of products and in­formation for the healthy home.

Healthy Interiors (Casa Natura), 328 Sandoval St., Santa Fe, NM 87501,877-650-1600, 505-820-7634, casanaturainc. com. Organic mattresses, bedding, and clothing, wool carpeting, and wood furniture.

Janice’s, 30 Arbor St. South, Hartford, CT 06106, 800-526-4237 (orders), 860-523-4479 (infor­mation), janices. com. Supplier for natural and organic bedding and linens and hypoallergenic and unscented personal care products.

The Living Source, PO Box 20155, Waco, TX 76702, 254-776-4878 (customer service/orders), 800-662-8787 (voice mail orders), livingsource. com. Catalog sales of “products for the environ­mentally aware and chemically sensitive.”

NEEDS, 6010 Drott Dr., East Syracuse, NY 13057, 800-634-1380, needs. com. Mail order service offering a wide array of personal care products for the chemically sensitive.

Nirvana Safe Haven (formerly the Nontoxic Hot­line), 3441 Golden Rain Rd., Suite 3, Walnut Creek, CA 94595,800-968-9355, nontoxic. com. Catalog sales of products for achieving and maintaining indoor air quality and safety for homes, offices, and automobiles.

Planetary Solutions, 2030 17th St., Boulder, CO 80302,303-442-6228, planetearth. com. Environ­mentally sound materials for interiors.

In 1996 E. B. was a 58-year-old man with a ten-year history of chronic sinus congestion, hoarseness, and headaches. By the time he consulted with Dr. Elliott, he had tried many forms of treatment, in­cluding nasal surgery, frequent courses of antibi­otics, decongestants, and steroid nasal drops. After removing dairy products from his diet, he noticed only a partial improvement in the congestion. Dr. Elliott then suggested that he try eliminating all scented products from his body, including deter­gents, soaps, and colognes. Through a process of trial and error, E. B. discovered that his aftershave lotion was a significant cause of his symptoms. His voice has now returned to itsformer resonance and he is without headaches and sinus congestion.

Discussion

Manufacturers of fragranced products need list only"fragrance"on the label, not the actual chemi­cals. The perfume industry is self-regulated and is not required to provide formulations, test results, safety data, or consumer complaints to the Food and Drug Administration. Millions of people are made ill by artificial fragrances, which are now used in almost every cleaning, laundry, and per­sonal care product on the market. Most people are unaware that fragrances can cause or contribute to health problems. The most common symptoms related to fragrances include asthma, headaches, dizziness, fatigue, mental confusion, memory loss, nausea, irritability, depression, rashes, and muscle and joint pains. With increasing awareness and growing demand, products are now becoming available that are frag ranсe-free or scented with purely plant-derived substances.

building exterior, including drainage, roof gutters, roofing, painting, and staining

• a checklist of regular maintenance re­quirements for which outside services may be called upon, such as chimney sweeping and ductwork cleaning

• warranties and contact numbers of appro­priate subcontractors

Proper Use of Exhaust Fans,

Smoke Detectors, and CO Monitors

Smoke detectors and CO (carbon monox­ide) monitors will warn occupants only when functional. Exhaust fans will prevent excess moisture or remove pollutants from cooking only if the occupant remembers to use them.

When exhaust fans are in operation, the owner may need to provide make-up air by opening a window or manually turning on a supply switch. Understanding and maintaining such devices is an important part of maintaining a healthy home.

Avoiding Artificial Fragrance in the Home

The use of toxic fragrances is so prevalent in our culture that many chemically sensitive individuals have a hard time finding a home to rent or buy that is free of acquired odors from scented products. In fact, these com­mon synthetic fragrances pose a health threat to any occupant and should not be used in a healthy home. As Dr. Elliott explains, artificial fragrances are found throughout most homes and workplaces in body and hair care prod­ucts, household cleaners, detergents, fabric softeners, air fresheners, and even some mag­azines. Fragrance is cited as an indoor irritant and pollutant in several major studies.17

In the days before “better living through chemistry,” fragrances were made from flow­ers. Now approximately 95 percent of all in­gredients used by the fragrance industry are synthetic.18 According to the US Food and Drug Administration, about 4,000 petroleum derived chemicals are used in fragrances.19 These include toluene, formaldehyde, ace­tone, benzene derivatives, methylene chloride, phenyl ethyl alcohol, methyl ethyl ketone, and benzyl acetate. A single fragrance can contain as many as 600 different chemicals.

In a 1988 study, the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health identified 884 toxic substances in a partial list of 2,983 chem­icals now being used by the fragrance indus­try. 20 Many of these substances are capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, reproductive disorders, and skin irritation. According to the National Academy of Sciences, there is minimal or no data on toxicity for 84 percent of the ingredi­ents found in fragrances.21

Currently there is no agency regulating the fragrance industry. Tlie FDA is aware of the serious nature of the problem but is unable to undertake the astronomical expense of test­ing each of the chemicals found in fragrances. Without such testing, the FDA would be sub­ject to lawsuits by manufacturers if fragrances were banned. Thus, as is often the case, the onus falls on the consumer to make informed choices. At the end of this chapter you will find the names of some companies that supply fragrance-free products or products with fra­grances derived from natural sources.

Avoiding Biocide Use in the Flome and Garden

Pesticide use should be unnecessary in a well – built home. Similarly, a well-planned and healthy garden with site-appropriate plant selections and careful gardening practices should not require the use of any toxic herbi­cides. There are almost always effective benign methods for dealing with house and garden pests. Because of the potentially devastating health consequences of pesticide use, more benign solutions should be rigorously pursued when a pest problem arises. The principals of integrated pest management are discussed at greater length in Division 10.

Healthful Flome Cleaning

Cleaning substances with a skull and cross­bones abound in our grocery stores for use in home care, but these highly toxic and caustic substances should not be used for the main­tenance of a healthy home. Fortunately, safe and environmentally friendly cleaning prod­ucts are readily available. Please refer to the list at the end of this chapter and to the general cleanup section in Division 1 for healthy sug­gestions for every cleaning need.

A Healthy Home Must Be a Smoke-Free Home Almost everyone knows of the threat caused to personal health by smoking tobacco. Most people are also well aware of the threat caused by inhaling passive smoke. Once smoke is absorbed into the surfaces of a home, it takes extensive renovation to eliminate it. A no­smoking policy along with the careful design and use of fireplaces is essential to the mainte­nance of good air quality.