Air quality: housing’s new priority

Indoor air is up to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air. We are exposed to harmful volatile organic compounds that cause pricking eyes, sneezing, fatigue, throat irritation, headaches, coughing, allergies, respiratory and heart disease, reduced work productivity, increased absenteeism and reduced attention in classrooms. The impact on individuals is so great that indoor air quality has become a major global concern called the “sick building syndrome”. And this type of pollution has increased in recent decades, with the use of more synthetic building materials, among others.

IAQ: an increasingly monitored parameter

With the imminent application of the RE 2020, “Indoor air quality will be increasingly tracked, monitored and controlled. Regular measures will be required to prove indoor air is healthy. Calls for tenders already feature financial penalties if certain pollutants exceed thresholds set in contracts in the operating phase,” explains Xavier Gauvin, Expert in Uses of Technology and Innovation for the Innovation and Sustainable Development department of Bouygues Construction. Indoor air quality is an issue for all buildings, but buildings used for young children are already subject to regulations that require monitoring of certain pollutants. Offering healthy housing is no longer an option. And it’s everybody’s problem! Scientific studies clearly show that there is an impact on health even though adverse effects may take several years to appear. Things are changing…and will continue to change significantly. Here are three things to remember about the current situation.”

1. Renewing indoor air: essential even in new buildings

Air quality is a global health issue for both cities and rural areas. Contrary to what one might think, this is not going to improve. Insulation in new buildings is increasingly effective, increasing the risk of concentrating pollutants inside. It is essential to control the rate of renewed indoor air.

2. RE 2020/health crisis… the winds of change

From the beginning of summer 2021, the RE2020 environmental regulation will replace the RT 2012 for new housing construction. The purpose? Combat climate change by reducing greenhouse-gas emissions, reducing energy consumption, and keeping buildings cooler. The new regulation also aims to change notions of well-being and comfort in housing: consume less and feel better! That’s why indoor air quality is featured. And it is highly likely that the current health crisis will influence regulations still being discussed! Two solutions are being considered:

• An obligation to provide a certificate for an existing ventilation system. Why? Almost 50% of DVC systems are incorrectly installed according to CEREMA*.
• Favour highly energy efficient DVC systems that allow for high rates of air renewal while being very energy efficient.

3. Increasing air quality is a choice

What are the solutions? Firstly, low-emission materials for building, flooring, ceilings, walls and furniture. Ventilation is also very important: dimensions, position of air inlets, filtering and operation. Every detail counts! Bouygues Construction has produced a good-practices guide with a selection of low-emission cleaning products, furniture, ventilation practices, etc. to help users adopt good practices for improving indoor air quality.   *According to results of audits on the application of ventilation regulations conducted by CEREMA.