How designers and architects can mitigate flooring’s impact on indoor air quality

by arslan_ahmed | August 3, 2023 8:00 pm

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By Roxane Spears

Chronic respiratory illness, including asthma and allergies, have been on the rise in the U.S. over the past few decades.¹ One influence on the increasing rates of asthma and allergies is poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and the presence of indoor pollutants.²

Many flooring products have historically been manufactured with chemicals such as ortho-phthalates, formaldehyde, and per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that, when emitted from those products, can have adverse effects on human and environmental health and contribute to indoor air pollution.¹⁰ To combat this and instead promote good IAQ, designers and architects should look for flooring products that are independently certified for low or no levels of known indoor irritants and consider floors that are easy to clean and maintain, and do not contain high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

Common indoor air pollutants

Many factors can contribute to indoor air pollution. They include paints, adhesives, and solvents; flooring, interior finishes, and furniture that contain high levels of VOCs from chemicals used in their manufacturing; chemical cleaners used to maintain indoor environments; mold growth; and dust mites, among others.⁴ HVAC systems can filter out some of these airborne pollutants, but the filtration of many systems is poor.

Outdoor air pollution, such as ozone, pollen, diesel fumes, and smoke, can influence IAQ when it leaks inside. These substances can enter in three ways. First, through natural ventilation, such as fans and opening doors and windows. Second, through mechanical ventilation, such as HVAC systems. Third, through infiltration, which is when pollutants leak in through openings, joints, and cracks in the walls, floors, and ceilings, as well as cracks around windows and doors.⁵

Whether they originate from inside or outside, these airborne pollutants, allergens, and triggers can migrate within indoor spaces and settle on furniture, flooring, and any other open surface. Poor indoor ventilation can worsen IAQ, as it prevents the air from circulating freely and diluting pollutants.⁶

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How flooring contributes to air quality

According to the Green Science Policy Institute, most of the 80,000-plus chemicals on the U.S. market have not been adequately tested or evaluated to ensure their safe use in everyday products. The Six Classes Approach, recommended by this institute, highlights six categories of known chemicals of concern, commonly used in consumer and building products, to accelerate manufacturers’ adoption of safer chemicals and prevent “regrettable substitutes” in consumer products and building materials. “Regrettable substitutes” refers to the substitution of
a known toxic chemical with another that has similar adverse health effects, for example, the substitution of bisphenol A or BPA with bisphenol S or bisphenol F.⁷

Building environments involve installing flooring, insulation, and HVAC systems, applying and maintaining paint, and selecting furniture and electronics. Each of these products can contain any number of harmful substances, including ortho-phthalates, VOCs, PFAS, and antimicrobials, among others, that can affect air quality and human health.⁸

According to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), source control of these pollutants is the most effective way to control air quality. This means selecting or not selecting a product based on how it contributes to IAQ is a key decision for designers and architects to make. Though ventilation is necessary to support good IAQ, source control may also be a more cost-efficient approach because increasing ventilation can also increase energy costs.⁹

When it comes to flooring products, there are three main ways to approach source control of indoor pollutants.

• First, consider the health impact of the materials, chemicals, and adhesives used in flooring products. Prioritize flooring manufacturers that make third-party-verified ingredient disclosures available.
• Second, take ease of cleaning and maintenance into account. Consider which floors will help minimize the buildup and removal of allergens with the use of neutral cleaning solutions that do not introduce harmful chemicals or VOCs into the space.
• Finally, select products that are certified to have eliminated materials of concern and to promote good air quality. Independent certification often ensures standards that already take material health and ease of maintenance into account. One prime example is the third-party international asthma & allergy friendly certification program developed by Allergy Standards Limited (ASL).

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Chemicals used in flooring

Four of the Six Classes—PFAS, antimicrobials, phthalates and solvents—are commonly used in the manufacturing of flooring and flooring-related products, as are other recognized chemicals of concern such as formalde—a well-known VOC. Many of these chemicals can migrate out of products into air and dust, accumulating indoors and harming human and environmental health.¹⁰

PFAS

PFAS are sometimes referred to as highly fluorinated chemicals or PFCs. There are more than 3,000 PFAS-related compounds used across multiple industries for their stain and water repellency. In flooring, these can be found in some carpets, carpet cleaning products, and adhesives and sealants, among other products.¹¹

Though PFAS are convenient for their use in consumer products and industrial applications, they can make their way from industrial plants to agricultural land and waterways. People can also be exposed to PFAS via consumer products in
their workplaces.

PFAS are associated with serious health problems such as kidney cancer, fertility issues, and hormone disruption, and they can persist in the environment indefinitely. Many flooring manufacturers have already phased out or have started the process of phasing out PFAS from their products, but because of the associated health risks, it is important to seek out PFAS-free flooring.

Antimicrobials

Antimicrobials are chemicals added to cleaning products, building materials, and high-touch surfaces to kill or inhibit the growth of microbes.

While manufacturers add antimicrobials to products to preserve them or to protect the health of users, research provides no evidence that they lead to health benefits. In fact, they could lead to the opposite by increasing microbial resistance.¹² Antimicrobials are associated with health effects such as impaired hormone function, developmental and reproductive issues, and allergen sensitivity.

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Phthalates

Phthalates are a group of chemicals used to make plastics stronger or more flexible. They can be found in some polyvinyl chloride (PVC) plastic products, including vinyl flooring, caulks, paints, food containers, and more. People can be exposed to phthalates by inhaling indoor air in rooms with large surfaces of PVC-containing products.¹³

 Solvents

Manufactured solvents such as benzene, xylene, and toluene are present in flooring products as well as in adhesives, caulks, and other products that are used to install and maintain them. They are emitted into the air from those products and can cause a wide range of adverse health effects.

 Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable VOC often used in building materials and insulation as well as in the resins used to manufacture composite wood products such as hardwood plywood, particleboard, and medium-density fiberboard. Humans are mainly exposed by breathing indoor air that contains off-gassed formaldehyde.¹⁴ While not specifically mentioned in the Six Classes, formaldehyde can be used as a solvent—which is in the Six Classes—and can cause breathing problems and other human health issues.

 VOCs

VOCs encompasses a wide range of chemicals that are present in gas phase within indoor spaces.  Any of the above chemicals can be present as VOCs after they have been emitted from a product.

Adhesives used in flooring

Like flooring materials, adhesives are an integral part of flooring solutions. They are used to ensure good long-term performance. However, they often contain VOCs, which can increase the likelihood of indoor exposure.

Since products with high levels of VOCs can cause allergic reactions and trigger respiratory symptoms, designers should look for adhesives with low VOC content that have been independently assessed by a third-party agency.

For adhesives, specifically, designers should also look for manufacturers that provide product Material Health Certificates (MHC) indicating they have been formulated to protect human and environmental health.

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Ongoing cleaning and maintenance

Flooring can be designed for mold resistance or to resist the accumulation of dust and dirt that contain common allergens. For example, hard-surface flooring, flooring with a continuous surface, flooring with heat-welded seam installation, and carpeting with low pile height may be easier to clean and maintain to control allergens and other irritants.

Designers can recommend the optimal maintenance solution for the selected floor, as cleaning solutions can themselves contain harmful chemicals that can contribute to indoor air pollution.  Cleaning products should have neutral formulations that are safe enough to protect humans and environments, including waterways. In addition, while some vacuum cleaners have poor filtration systems, options with high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can minimize exposure to allergens.

Reliable standards and certifications

With so many flooring options available, it can be difficult for designers and facility owners to know what verifiably minimizes asthma and allergy triggers and supports healthier indoor environments. For example, many consumer products claim to be “hypoallergenic,” which signifies they are unlikely
to cause an allergic reaction. However, there are no federal standards for the term “hypoallergenic,” and manufacturers are not required to submit proof that their labeled product fulfills the claim.¹⁵

Third-party certifications ensure an independent organization has conducted inspection and performance testing on the products and determined they comply with specific quality and performance standards. Long-standing IAQ certification programs that intersect with flooring include:

• UL Greenguard Certification for products with low chemical emissions, developed by applied safety science organization UL Solutions.
• FloorScore, an IAQ standard for hard surface flooring materials, adhesives, and underlayments, developed by third-party environmental certification company SCS Global Services with the Resilient Floor Covering Institute (RFCI), an industry trade association of flooring manufacturers and suppliers.
• Green Label Plus ensures carpet, adhesive, and cushion products meet the most stringent criteria for low chemical emissions, developed by the Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI).
• The asthma & allergy friendly certification program applies its label to products that have met rigorous testing standards for low impact on the development or incidence of asthma and allergies.

 While all certifications measure the amount of VOCs in flooring products, only the asthma & allergy friendly certification program takes a holistic view, in that it accounts for the total installation (product and adhesive), including VOCs, allergen removal, and particulate release into the air during cleaning.¹⁶
The author’s company has found the program’s VOC measurement tests, which occur 24 hours after installation and again after 14 days, accurately measures emission levels, reflecting the impact on the indoor environment before occupation and once the space is fully occupied. Allergen removal tests use manufacturer’s recommended cleaning methods and products to get accurate results for day-to-day users.

Flooring that supports good IAQ

From flooring manufacturers to designers to facility owners, everyone plays a role in ensuring floors support the wellness of the occupants. The transparency provided by third-party certifications is key. Choosing floor coverings that are certified for low levels of VOCs, are resistant to dust accumulation and mold, and are easy to clean and maintain without harsh chemicals helps establish healthy IAQ from the moment the floor is installed.

Notes

¹ Juarez, Disly, and Kerry Weiss. “Asthma and Allergies on the Rise in the U.S.” Healthline, www.healthline.com/health-news/children-allergies-and-asthma-on-the-rise-110813[6].

² “Control Indoor Allergens.” Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America, aafa.org/allergies/prevent-allergies/control-indoor-allergens[7].

³ “The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality.” Environmental Protection Agency, www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality[8].

⁴ See note 3.

⁵ See note 3.

⁶ “How to Improve Indoor Air Quality.” Allergy & Asthma Network, allergyasthmanetwork.org/how-to-improve-indoor-air-quality[9].

⁷ “FAQ.” SixClasses.org, www.sixclasses.org/faq[10].

⁸ Watch the introduction video at SixClasses.org, www.sixclasses.org/videos[11].

⁹ “Improving Indoor Air Quality.” EPA,
www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality[12].

¹⁰ See note 8.

¹¹ See note 8.

¹² “Understanding Antimicrobial Ingredients in Building Materials.” Perkins&Will and Healthy Building Network, perkinswill.com/whitepaper-antimicrobial-ingredients-in-building-matierals/[13].

¹³ See note 8.

¹⁴ Learn about formaldehyde, www.epa.gov/formaldehyde/facts-aboutformaldehyde[14].

¹⁵ “‘Hypoallergenic’ Cosmetics.” U.S. Food and
Drug Administration, www.fda.gov/cosmetics/cosmetics-labeling-claims/hypoallergenic-cosmetics[15].

¹⁶ Asthma and Allergy Friendly Certification Program.

Author

As the vice-president of sustainability for Tarkett North America, Roxane Spears leads the organization’s sustainability initiatives across research and development, material optimization, and corporate communications. Having started with Tarkett in 2004, the company’s strong commitment to sustainability was the main factor that drew Spears to join the organization. In that time, she has served in multiple sales and sales management roles, always focusing on educating her peers and customers on the importance of a holistic approach to sustainability—expanding the sustainability conversation beyond the building so it includes the wellness of the people in the space and the health of our planet.

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