Better for the people

• Sustainable buildings is not only about the planet, but also about taking care of the people in its environment. As we spend 90% of our time indoors, buildings have a high effect on our health
• In buildings: exposure to health risks both for installers and occupants (for example, exposure to certain substances can lead to respiratory diseases)
• More than protecting the health of people, buildings should also improve their comfort, whether at work or when relaxing
• Need to take it into account at design stage, to chose the right materials from the start

• Need to protect the health of builders (for example: release of hazardous substances from construction products on jobsites can lead to respiratory diseases and cancer)
• 2 main drivers: 
  • Reduce builders' exposure to hazardous substances during installation: chose products with limited levels of hazardous substances and specific properties during installation (ex: low-dust, non-emissive)
  • Improve their working conditions: improve construction waste management (reduce waste at source, optimize sorting and collection); reduce risk of musculoskeletal disorders (light and easy-to-handle products), limite nuisances and pollution on the construction site

• First level to consider: cover basic needs, to ensure that occupants don't suffer from sick building syndrome. Second level: provide occupants with better living conditions
• Need to design buildings with a holistic approach, to balance different aspects and maximize the wellbeing of occupants
• Safety, security and adequate space are necessary conditions for comfort, but not sufficient for indoor comfort
• 4 main levels:
  • Improve indoor air quality:  remove emissions of pollutants at source by chosing the right materials, implement a ventilation strategy, maintain humidity levels between 30-60%
  • Better acoustics: in building design, pay attention to noise insulation and absorption. 
  • Better thermal comfort: design for comfort both the building (envelope, structure, servicing) and the landscape (presence of vegetation and water features), take into account site-specific conditions
  • Better visual comfort: access to daylight with good distribution of light inside

SG solutions are available to take action on those drivers

• Health & safety of builders: products with specific properties during installation (low-dust, soft touch, non-irritant,...), non-hazardous waste, lightweight materials, easy-to-handle products
• Indoor air quality: products to purify indoor air by scavenging certain VOCs (formaldehyde), low-emissive products certified with labels, solutions for superior air tightness, solutions contributing to the performance of ventilation systems
• Better acoustics: insulation solutions, absorbing acoustic ceilings and panels, sound insulating glazing, ...
• Better thermal comfort: insulation, smart membranes, glazing, ventilated ceilings, ...
• Visual comfort: transparent products to allow access to daylight, opaque interior products to contribute to the distribution of daylight