Red List building materials

Red List Building Materials are materials that government agencies, such as the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA),[1] European Union Commission on Environment (European Commissioner for the Environment),[2] and the State of California designate as harmful to living creatures, including humans. Additionally, several private entities have developed separate list—some of which rank levels of chemical harmfulness.

List of materials

The International Living Building Institute (ILBI) has developed the following list of Red List materials that builders may not use in construction that seeks to meet the Living Building Challenge.[3] Private industry, including Google[4] and public agencies like the Los Angeles Community College District [5] have committed to avoiding these materials in new construction.

Living Building Challenge’s list of red list materials and chemicals is shown directly below. According to ILBI the list is composed of materials that should be phased out of production due to healthy concerns and will be updated as new science emerges. The Living Building Challenge includes seven performance categories, titled as petals. The red list falls under the material petal. A building project may not contain any of the following Red List materials or chemicals. There is a small component exception for some complex products.[6] Each exception must include a written explanation. These exceptions will only be approved with a copy of the letter sent to the manufacturer stating that the product purchase does not ensure an endorsement. In addition, the final documentation must include a statement that asks the manufacturer to stop using the red list material or chemical. There are temporary exceptions for numerous red list items due to current limitations in the materials economy. Refer to the Living Building Community Dialogue for complete and up-to-date listings.

In addition to this red list, petrochemical fertilizers and pesticides can not be used during the certification period or required for following operations and maintenance in order to obtain living building status.

References

  1. ↑ "Laws & Regulations | US EPA". epa.gov. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  2. ↑ http://ec.europa.eu/environment/chemicals/reach/reach_intro.htm
  3. ↑ Carroon, J.; Moe, R. (2011). Sustainable Preservation: Greening Existing Buildings. Wiley. ISBN 9780470882153. Retrieved 22 February 2015.
  4. ↑ http://sustainableindustries.com/articles/2011/04/google-drops-red-list-building-materials-vendors-listen
  5. ↑ http://standards.build-laccd.org/projects/dcs/pub/Sustain%20Design%20Standards/released/SDS-079.html
  6. ↑ "Declare and The Living Building Challenge". http://declareproducts.com/content/declare-and-living-building-challenge''. INTERNATIONAL LIVING FUTURE INSTITUTE. Retrieved 16 July 2014.

External links