Global architecture and design firm Perkins+Will has released new research in response to the need for architects and interior designers to develop a better understanding of flame retardants and their impact on health.
The white paper, “Healthy Environments: Strategies for Avoiding Flame Retardants in the Built Environment,” was developed by Perkins+Will’s Healthy Materials Group and Science Fellow Michel Dedeo. It identifies both new and existing opportunities to design healthier buildings without compromising fire safety or code compliance.
Flame retardants in the built environment are associated with a range of health impacts including cancer, endocrine disruption, and neurodevelopmental problems. Many flame retardants are persistent, bioaccumulative, and/or toxic, and their use in buildings is largely avoidable.
Perkins+Will’s white paper includes a list of 193 flame retardants, including 29 discovered in building and household products, 50 discovered in the indoor environment, and 33 discovered in human blood, milk, and tissues.
The research can help designers identify which products should be subjected to extra scrutiny during the design and construction process and provides options for less hazardous alternatives. The white paper also helps to identify gaps in current understanding of the sources and paths of chemical exposure.
“We want to bring awareness to this important issue impacting the health and wellbeing of building occupants,” said Perkins+Will’s Healthy Materials Leader Suzanne Drake. “The research we have conducted is a valuable resource for identifying healthy alternatives to flame retardant building materials.”
Related Stories
Building Team Awards | Jun 8, 2017
Missing link: Denver International Airport and Transit Center
Gold Award: A new mixed-use transit center fulfills Denver’s 28-year plan to improve access to the nation’s fifth-busiest airport.
Airports | May 15, 2017
Five trends for airport retail
CallisonRTKL Vice President Kevin Horn pinpoints how travel retail is changing dramatically.
Reconstruction & Renovation | Mar 16, 2017
Pols are ready to spend $1T on rebuilding America’s infrastructure. But who will pick which projects benefit?
The accounting and consulting firm PwC offers the industrial sector a five-step approach to getting more involved in this process.
Airports | Feb 23, 2017
New Orleans Airport to add five additional gates and $110 million to current expansion
The project is being hailed as the city’s most transformative since the construction of the Superdome.
Projects | Jan 25, 2017
Trump prioritizes infrastructure projects, as rebuilding America is now a hot political potato
Both parties are talking about $1 trillion in spending over the next decade. How projects will be funded, though, remains unresolved.
Airports | Jan 17, 2017
JFK Airport set for $10 billion renovation
In addition to the airport itself, the overhaul will also improve road and rail access to meet projected passenger growth.
Airports | Dec 6, 2016
Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport creates a destination inside Terminal 3
DWL Architects, SmithGroupJJR, and Corgan design passenger experience that connects to the surrounding city and Sonoran desert landscape.
Airports | Nov 1, 2016
FAA forecasts a modest dip in spending for airports over next five years
Latest report based on surveys of 3,340 existing and proposed public-use airports.
Airports | Aug 31, 2016
Aircraft manufacturing facility innovation from The Austin Company
Austin’s many innovations contributed to the success of our clients by enabling them to operate in more efficient environments, optimize the flexibility of their operations, and meet aggressive schedules.
| Jul 29, 2016
AIRPORT FACILITIES GIANTS: Airports binge on construction during busy year for travel
Terminal construction will grow by nearly $1 billion this year, and it will keep increasing. Airports are expanding and modernizing their facilities to keep passengers moving.
