Clearing the Air: Outgassing and Your Health

by Kristine Steffen, IIDA, CID
Director of Interior Design
Architectural Concepts, Inc.

No, it's not some kind of crude bodily function - outgassing, also known as offgassing, can be a serious health hazard. Almost everything in a new or renovated vacation property has the potential of outgassing. Carpeting, cabinetry, paints, bedding, and even cleaning agents are all possible sources. Outgassing is the term used when a product (such as any of the above plus just about everything else you could imagine) contains added harmful chemicals that evaporate into the air we breathe.

Maintaining quality air is becoming more difficult because lodging companies are building guest units tightly to conserve energy more efficiently. Coinciding with these measures, is a change in the use of natural building materials and furnishings to a more widespread use of synthetic materials. While a tightly sealed building is more energy efficient, it quickly becomes apparent that trapped within these structures are a mix of emissions of volatile organic chemicals (VOCs), bioeffluents (emitted in the human breathing process) and airborne microbes.

Effects of these exposures range from cold-like symptoms, respiratory problems, and headaches, to more serious problems such as irritation of the lungs, memory problems, and anxiety. While our concern with exposure to individual chemicals is critical we need to be extremely aware of the effects of the combination of hundreds of chemicals found in the indoor air quality, creating a "chemical soup".

Indoor Air Pollution Sources

Among the most significant sources of indoor pollution are building materials, furnishings, finishes, and other products that emit volatile organic compounds or VOC’s. VOC’s are typically at their highest level right after construction but can continue to affect air quality even when their VOC emissions are very low.

Formaldehyde, a probable carcinogenic VOC, is found in most furniture. Furnishings may also absorb chemicals from processes such as painting and cleaning and re-emit them later. They may also act as reservoirs for mold, allergens, and dust mites. In addition to emitting VOCs, some furnishings are made of “fleecy” materials that make them “sinks” for other chemical pollutants. Fleecy materials are textured fabric surfaces such as draperies, upholstered furniture, bedding and carpeting that can absorb and re-release pollutants into the air. These pollutants include VOCs emitted from adhesives, paints, and tobacco smoke. They also collect dust mites, bacteria, and mold especially at higher temperatures and higher levels of humidity.

This information is definitely not something that is readily made known to the end user. The good news is that there are other options to conventional building materials. "Greener" and healthier product options are becoming more and more mainstream and easier to obtain. Paints that lock in outgassing, carpets that have no toxic chemical components, all natural finishes, as well as air and water filtration are some things to look into for the safety of your guests. Many manufacturers are starting to certify their products as low-emitting. Greenguard Environmental Institute is an independent organization that certifies low-emitting products.

Healthy Hotel Chain

With over 20 million Americans reported as sufferers of asthma and as many as 70 million with allergies, more and more properties are starting to offer Eco-rooms or rooms free of irritants.

These reasons led the Hilton O'Hare to pilot a project offering hotel rooms that address air quality for guests afflicted with sensitivities and reactions to dusts, molds and chemicals. Environmental Technology Solutions (ETS), a Chicago-based company specializing in indoor air quality, designed the Enviro-rooms.

Several rooms were identified for the overhaul. Just about everything was removed from the existing rooms including flooring, wall coverings, draperies, furniture, and bedding. The rooms were then outfitted with hardwood flooring, non-vinyl wall wallcoverings, all-cotton bedding, wooden blinds, wooden furniture, low-VOC paints, adhesives and cleaning products, chemical filters on the showerheads, fragrance-free toiletries, air-filters and air-quality monitors. The single guest room cost roughly an extra $8,000-$15,000 to renovate a single guest room so it is environmentally friendly.

A Growing Trend

A telephone survey of 381 frequent travelers was conducted in 2005 by Opinion Research Corporation on behalf of Kimberly-Clark Filtration Products. The survey shows that sixty percent of the frequent travelers surveyed said they have experienced a range of problems - such as poor sleep, runny or stuffy nose, dry nose, sneezing, headache, cough and sore throat - as a result of staying in a guest room with poor indoor air quality. In fact, the issue of poor IAQ is of such a concern that 42 percent of the survey respondents have actually complained to management about air quality conditions in their guest rooms.

The result of improved IAQ? More than half of travelers surveyed say they would become loyal customers to properties that provide guest rooms that minimize allergens, dust and odors. This has led to websites such as FreshstayTM ,an online hotel directory of hotels offering better indoor air quality.
Getting Down to Business

Some terms that go hand-in-hand with offgassing are Sick Building Syndrome and Multiple Chemical Sensitivities. In order to avoid this nasty thing called offgassing, make sure that your product choices are as natural as possible. No added chemicals, no extra toxins, etc...
You'll have to do a bit of investigating, since most manufacturers are not going to offer this information freely. Your designer should be able to help you make the right choices. Here are some guidelines to preventing indoor air quality problems so your guests and employees are kept healthy.

Maintain adequate ventilation and filtration.

• Design and operate the HVAC system in accordance with ANSI/AHSRAE Standards 62-2001 and Standard 129-1997.
• Locate air intakes away from contaminant sources.
• Adopt an IAQ management plan during construction to protect HVAC equipment and make sure a plan is in place after construction for maintenance and service.
• Prohibit smoking in guest units and locate exterior designated areas away from entries and operable windows.

Control Indoor Pollutants at their Sources

• Purchase and use low-emitting products only.
• Carper systems should meet or exceed the carpet and rug institute green label IAQ test program.
• Arrange for plastic wrappings to be removed from carpet and time for them to be aired out before delivery and installation.
• Choose furnishings that are not likely to give off or absorb chemicals from other furnishings.
• Dry any water-damaged materials quickly.
• Use only breathable wallcovering. Vinyl does not allow a wall to breath becoming a breeding ground for mold and mildew.
• Upholstered furniture and their fire-resistant coatings should be toxin-free.
• Purchase mattresses that do not use brominated flame-retardants.
• Polyurethane foam found in cushions should be free from toluene diisocyanate (TDI) which can cause respiratory problems in people with asthma.
• Use low to no V.O.C.'s stains and paints to control off-gassing.

Educate Management and Maintenance Staff

• Keep textiles free of dust and debris with regular cleaning.
• Air out interior spaces a minimum of 48 hours following installation.
• All cleaning supplies including but not limited to, tub and tile cleaner, glass cleaner, furniture polish, and multi-purpose cleaner should be fragrance and chemical free.
• Do not use fragrant deodorizers or odor masking chemicals.
• Offer shampoo, conditioners, lotions, facial soaps and body cleansers that are free of chemicals and fragrances.
• Include a maintenance schedule for Staff that includes products to be used, how bedding should be laundered, and how rooms should be maintained.
• All bedding should be natural cotton products and be washed with special detergents in hot water only.

There are a lot of things you can do to improve indoor air quality in your vacation properties if you can make the effort. Good IAQ reduces the potential liability for architects, developers, owners, and property managers, as well as increases the value and marketability of a property. Make sure your guests don’t get more than they bargained for on their next visit!