Healthy Development Measurement Toolkit

Benchmark: Does the project design include the following building construction and design measures to prevent illness and injuries associated with housing conditions?  (For more information on these healthy housing standards and criteria, see: Enterprise Green Communities - Criteria Checklist, http://www.greencommunitiesonline.org/tools/criteria/) 

1) Ventilation:

• Install a ventilation system for the dwelling unit, providing adequate fresh air per ASHRAE 62.1-2007 for residential buildings above 3 stories or ASHRAE 62.2 for single family and low-rise multifamily dwellings.
• Size heating and cooling equipment in accordance with the Air Conditioning Contractors of America Manual, Parts J and S, ASHRAE handbooks, or equivalent software.
• Install Energy Star-labeled bathroom fans that exhaust to the outdoors and are connected to a light switch and are equipped with a humidistat sensor or timer, or operate continuously.
• Install power vented fans or range hoods that exhaust to the exterior in kitchens.
• Provide a continuous air barrier between the conditioned (living) space and any unconditioned garage space.  In single-family houses with attached garages, install a CO alarm inside the house on the wall that is attached to the garage and outside the sleeping area, and do not install air handling equipment in the garage.
• Clothes dryers must be exhausted directly to the outdoors.

2) Moisture reduction:

• In wet areas, use materials that have smooth, durable, cleanable surfaces.  Do not use mold-propagating materials such as vinyl wallpaper and unsealed grout.
• Use fiberglass or similar enclosure or, if using any form of grouted material, use backing materials such as cement board, fiber cement board or equivalent (i.e., not paper-faced).
• Provide vapor barrier under all slabs. For concrete floors in basements or on-grade slab install a capillary break of 4 four inches of gravel over soil. Cover all gravel with 6 millimeter polyethylene sheeting moisture barrier with joints lapped one foot or more.  On interior below grade walls, avoid using separate vapor barrier or below grade vertical insulation.
• Provide drainage of water to the lowest level of concrete away from windows, walls and foundations.
• Use tankless hot water heaters or install conventional hot water heaters in rooms with drains or catch pans with drains piped to the exterior of the dwelling and with non-water sensitive floor coverings.

3) Pest/contaminant management

• Seal all wall, floor and joint penetrations with low VOC caulking.  Provide rodent-proof and corrosion-proof screens (e.g., copper or stainless steel mesh) for large openings.
• For properties built before 1978, use lead-safe work practices during renovation, remodeling, painting and demolition.
• Consider enforcing a "no smoking" policy in all common and individual living areas in all buildings. See full criteria for "common area" definition.
• In EPA Zone 1 and 2 areas, install passive radon-resistant features below the slab along with a vertical vent pipe with junction box available, if an active system should prove necessary. For substantial rehab, introduce radon-reduction measures if elevated levels of radon are detected.
• Specify power vented or combustion sealed equipment. Install one hard-wired CO detector for each sleeping area, minimum one per floor.

4) Materials off-gassing

• Use low / no volatile organic compounds (VOC ) paints and primers.
• Use low / no VOC adhesives and sealants.  For example, specify that all adhesives must comply with Rule 1168 of the South Coast Air Quality Management District. Caulks and sealants must comply with Regulation 8, Rule 51 of the Bay Area Air Quality Management District.
• Use urea formaldehyde-free composite wood.  For example, use particleboard and MDF that is certified compliant with the ANSI A208.1 and A208.2.  If using nonrated composite wood, all exposed edges and sides must be sealed with low-VOC sealants.
• Use Green Label certified floor coverings (if providing floor coverings). Do not install carpets in below grade living spaces, entryways, laundry rooms, bathrooms, kitchens or utility rooms.  If using carpet, use the Carpet and Rug Institute’s Green Label certified carpet, pad and carpet adhesives.

Please note that several of the above building construction and design measures can be achieved through LEED and GreenPoint Rated certification (see Environmental Stewardship Element).  While there is some overlap in the criteria, there are also some gaps.  In a future update of this target, we will list the corresponding criteria to highlight the overlap.