Download The Code for Sustainable Homes

RETROFITTING EXISTING HOMES:
IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH
ROSE FURNIVAL
BEN MEETING
31ST JANUARY 2013
Retrofitting strategies
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Improving thermal performance of buildings often
includes:
Improving building fabric through use of insulation
Reducing loss of heat via uncontrolled ventilation
(infiltration) by draught proofing
Insulation - synthetic
Insulation - natural
Finishes
Health impacts
Fall into three categories:
 Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
 Mould and bacteria
 Dust mites
VOCs - Formaldehyde
Mould
Aspergillus repens
Ullocladium consortiale
Mould
Dust mites
Solutions - RH
Solutions
Mould and dust mites
 Control relative humidity
 Adequate ventilation
- maintenance
 Surface temperatures
 Thermal bridging
VOCs - Avoid!
Why care?
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People spend more than 80% of time indoors
Interactions between these agents not fully
understood
Effect could take place incrementally over years or
even decades
Could be even more harmful to those with preexisting health conditions