GreenYour.com

Very few buildings in the US are free from poor indoor air quality (IAQ), and since adults spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, the term Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is being volleyed around with increasing frequency.[1] SBS, Tight Building Syndrome (TBS), Building-Related Illnesses (BRI), and Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) occur when a building’s occupants exhibit symptoms such as fatigue, asthma, shortness of breath, coughing, sneezing, dizziness, nausea, headaches, migraines, and sinus problems, as well as dry and irritated eyes, nose, throat, and skin.[2]

Poor IAQ is caused, in part, by emissions from indoor furnishings.[3] These include the following:[4]

• Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that offgas from paint, adhesives, caulking, finishes, dyes, and more.
• Formaldehyde applied to wood, particleboard, and often found in glues.

Even before furniture arrives in your office, it begins emitting VOCs from the glues, stains, and finishes used during manufacturing (a contributor to smog). Eco-friendly manufacturers use VOC-free powder-based finishing coats. These finishes use less energy and decrease waste: only 60 percent of wet-spray paint actually stays on the product, but 95 percent of powder-based finishes remain there.[5]

Consider eco-friendly, low-toxin versions of the following:

• office chairs
• desks
• workstations

Certifications

Several independent organizations certify office furnishings that meet environmental criteria. Some of the most common certifiers concerned about indoor air quality include:

• Cradle to Cradle: This certification program by McDonough Braungart Design Chemistry (MBDC) tests and certifies products to ensure that they employ environmentally safe and healthy materials; are designed for recycling or composting; use renewable energy; use energy and water efficiently in production; and are manufactured with an eye toward social responsibility. Cradle to Cradle certifies office flooring and floor coverings, fabrics and fabric treatments used in office furniture, as well as office seating, desks and tables, storage and filing, and workstations.
• GREENGUARD: The GREENGUARD Environmental Institute (GEI) tests and certifies office furnishings and other products for low chemical and particle emissions, ensuring that they are safe and will not pollute indoor air. Certification programs are available for desks, tables, seating, dividers, flooring, and more.
• Indoor Advantage Gold: Scientific Certification Systems (SCS) certifies products that do not emit more than one-half the threshold for individual VOCs established by the Chronic Reference Exposure Levels (CRELs). CRELs was implemented by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and outlines safe limits for the emissions of 80 toxic chemicals from furniture and other indoor sources.

Glossary

• formaldehyde: A flammable reactive gas belonging to the VOC family of chemicals. It is widely used in personal care products, building materials, insulation, and home furnishings. Ingestion of the chemical can cause severe physical reactions, including coma, internal bleeding, and death.[6] The US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) considers it a probable human carcinogen.[7]
• volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Gases released by a wide variety of products, including cleaners, furniture, and dry-cleaned clothing.[8] Paint and coatings alone account for 9 percent of all VOCs emitted from consumer and commercial products in the US, according to the EPA.[9] VOCs can cause several health problems, ranging from headaches and respiratory inflammation to central nervous system diseases.[8] VOCs are also considered a possible carcinogen.[8]

External links

• BNET - Homegrown and eco-friendly office furniture
• Friends Committee on National Legislation - FCNL's Renovated Green Building on Capitol Hill: Check out the bamboo flooring and eco-friendly office furniture in FCNL's recently greened office space.