Healthy Buildings: The Role of Products - Bristol

This seminar is aimed at clients, policy makers, architects, contractors, surveyors and manufacturers who are interested in the delivery of healthy buildings.

Consideration of product impacts should be an essential component for sustainable and healthy buildings and NOT an afterthought. With staff costs amounting to 90% of most office based business operating costs and because we spend so much time indoors, it is essential that the industry delivers healthy buildings. This is especially important for vulnerable groups such as children and the elderly; so buildings such as schools, housing and medical centres.

However, we know that ensuring good indoor air environmental quality is a complex mix of internal and external factors. For example, products have a vital role to play to ensure that internal pollutants are minimised. This is known as source control… but how is this specified? and measured?....our seminar will update you on some recent studies. Building fabric also has a role as part of an effective ventilation strategy – particularly in vapour open structures, where moisture can diffuse through the fabric, so preventing excess damp within the structure and harmful mould growth.

This seminar will introduce the work of UK Indoor Environments Group (UKIEG) and provide an overview of recent research into this complex subject. Research conducted on the continent has resulted in the development of Sentinel Haus Institut in Freiburg, a new resource for information on products and a certification system for Healthy Homes.

We will hear the latest research on moisture control, with emerging evidence that significant domestic retrofit projects have been undertaken without considering the passage of moisture, with dire consequence. We will also hear from the manufacturer’s viewpoint, on how they are addressing these issues and from leading architects who are learning and developing the evidence base, with detailed post occupancy evaluation.

There will be drinks from 17:00, so please join us.

Programme

13:30 : Registration

14.00 : Lucy Pedler, Green Register: Chair’s welcome and introduction.

14.10 : Dr Marcella Ucci, Chair of UKIEG and Lecturer in Environmental and Healthy Buildings, UCL Institute for Environmental Design and Engineering.

• UCL have launched a new Masters Course; Health, Wellbeing and Sustainable Building. What’s our approach?
• Moisture in buildings and health: evidence summary
• Research gaps and evidence needs
• Implications for UK policy and professional practice
• The work of the UK Indoor Environment Groups and relevant initiatives

14.30 : Dr Derrick Crump, Cranfield University and UKIEG

• An overview of the legislative drivers and measurement techniques
• An overview of VOCS and what are considered as safe levels
• The development of a draft EN test method to harmonise testing and labelling of construction products in the EU according to the emission of 'dangerous substances' to indoor air.

14.50 : Chris Pottage, Sustainable and Healthy Buildings Officer, Skanska UK

• Applying metrics for health wellbeing and productivity in buildings - following on from work with the WGBC in 2014
• Demonstrating the links between sustainable and healthy in Skanska office buildings through a number of pilot projects and partnerships with academia and industry
• Working with the WELL building standard- practical lessons from application in the UK market- how do US standards apply in a UK setting

15:10 : Refreshment Break

15:30 : Tomas Gartner, Gale and Snowden Architects

• An introduction to building biology and material selection
• 23 Passivhaus dwellings across 5 sites for Bristol City Council, developed in accordance with Building Biology best practice.
• Climate Ready design: ensuring a healthy indoor environment, comfort and low energy demand can be maintained

15:50 : Chris Brookman, Back to Earth

• Living in a Passivhaus – what’s it like?
• Taking a ‘Fabric First’ approach to construction with a focus on the materials used to build or renovate your home before deciding on the systems that will heat, ventilate and cool it
• Why woodfibre insulation is the ideal solution for roofs, walls and floors insulation; keeping you warm in winter, cool in summer and improving resilience

16:10 : Professor Tom Woolley, Rachel Bevan Architects

• Typical materials used in buildings today that lead to indoor air quality problems, VOCs and mould
• Dangers of increased air tightness and the work of HEMAC
• Guidance in my new book; Building Materials, Health and Indoor Air Quality, about using alternative healthy materials

16:30 : Panel discussion kindly hosted by Lucy Pedler, Green Register

17:00 : Close and networking drinks

This event is held in partnership, and with support from...

What have our delegates said about Green Register seminars?

"All was useful, in depth and interesting – stimulating the mind!"
"Excellent coverage for both established Green Register members and novices"
“A great combination of information from basics to detailed application!  A very useful overview and introduction”

SPECIAL OFFER - BOOK 3 PLACES FOR THE PRICE OF 2!

Book your places online as normal and we will deduct the cost of the 3rd place once your booking is received. This offer may not be used in conjunction with other offers.