Elements That Contribute to Healthy Building Design

Abstract

BackgroundThe elements that contribute to a healthy building are multifactorial and can be discussed from different perspectives.ObjectivesWe present three viewpoints of designing a healthy building: the importance of sustainable development, the role of occupants for ensuring indoor air quality, and ongoing developments related to indoor finishes with low chemical emissions and good fungal resistance.DiscussionSustainable design rediscovers the social, environmental, and technical values of pedestrian and mixed-use communities, using existing infrastructures including “main streets” and small-town planning principles and recapturing indoor–outdoor relationships. This type of design introduces nonpolluting materials and assemblies with lower energy requirements and higher durability and recyclability. Building occupants play a major role in maintaining healthy indoor environments, especially in residences. Contributors to indoor air quality include cleaning habits and other behaviors; consumer products, furnishings, and appliances purchases, as well as where and how the occupants use them. Certification of consumer products and building materials as low-emitting products is a primary control measure for achieving good indoor air quality. Key products in this respect are office furniture, flooring, paints and coatings, adhesives and sealants, wall coverings, wood products, textiles, insulation, and cleaning products. Finishing materials play a major role in the quality of indoor air as related to moisture retention and mold growth.ConclusionsSustainable design emphasizes the needs of infrastructure, lower energy consumption, durability, and recyclability. To ensure good indoor air quality, the product development for household use should aim to reduce material susceptibility to contaminants such as mold and should adopt consumer-oriented product labeling.

Sick building syndrome: are we doing enough?

“…In principle, healthy buildings should be developed based on successful fulfilment of various technical requirements such as being in line with proper design and construction principles of buildings and their satisfactory performance with view to providing sufficient IAQ, visual comfort, daylight and NV without compromising the occupants' health and satisfaction (ClementsCroome 2018; Heidari et al 2017;Loftness et al 2007). However, Rees (1999) would argue that this focus solely on occupants (building end users) -and not on 'distant elsewhere' is a continual failing of the design and construction industries which 'draw on resources and dump their garbage all over the world'.…”

Assessment of Airborne Microflora in the Indoor Micro-Environments of Residential Houses of Lahore, Pakistan

“…The levels of particulate matter, including bioaerosols, in the indoor environment depends on the number of the occupants, their activities, building structure, material, furnishings, and the outside air entering the building (Jaakkola and Miettinen, 1995;Douwes et al, 2003;Gioulekas et al, 2004;Bowers et al, 2011Bowers et al, , 2012. In fact microbial loads are significantly affected by the presence of human beings in the built environment (Loftness et al, 2007;Hospodsky et al, 2012).…”

Criteria for Sustainable Interior Design Solutions

“…Responsible interior design solutions should present a logical and sequential process for creating healthy, functional, comfortable, and sustainable interiors without compromising aesthetic factors, while meeting the clients' needs, budget, schedule, and design vision [19], [12]. Designers should articulate sustainability in all aspects of their design solutions and ensure healthier indoor air quality by choosing materials and construction methods that prevent indoor air pollution, harmful chemical reactions, and gas emissions [8]. Designers should be mindful about providing ecologically intelligent solutions for energy efficiency that can reduce the rate of energy and water consumption while providing a comfortable space [20].…”

“…Sustainable interior practices are actions that lessen environmental impacts and create a healthy environment [6], [7]. In this context, sustainable interior design can be defined as the rationalization of natural resources used in a manner that sensibly addresses the impact of all design aspects on the environment [8]. Although the cost efficiency of sustainability is a challenging issue, interior designers who focus on environmentally responsible design plan, specify, and execute solutions for interior environments that reflect concern for both the world's ecology and the inhabitants' quality of life [9].…”