RETROFITTING EXISTING HOMES:IMPACTS ON HUMAN HEALTH

ROSE FURNIVALBEN MEETING31ST JANUARY 2013

Retrofitting strategies

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 bacteriaDust mites

VOCs - Formaldehyde

Mould

Aspergillus repens

Ullocladium consortiale

Mould

Dust mites

Solutions - RH

Solutions

Mould and dust mitesControl relative humidityAdequate ventilation - maintenanceSurface temperaturesThermal bridging

VOCs - Avoid!

Why care?

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 pre-existing health conditions