Comments on: The Well-Designed Building Envelope http://blog.hengesinsulation.com/2010/03/10/the-well-designed-building-envelope/ The leading contractor in the insulation and fireplace industries in the Kansas City area. Thu, 02 Sep 2010 12:25:14 -0500 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9.2 hourly 1 By: rich http://blog.hengesinsulation.com/2010/03/10/the-well-designed-building-envelope/comment-page-1/#comment-52 rich Thu, 11 Mar 2010 05:26:03 +0000 http://blog.hengesinsulation.com/?p=326#comment-52 The formaldehyde free insulation is a critical issue for the wall. Many consumers incorrectly think that formaldehyde generated in wall gavities doesn't make it into the interior air. I was invited down to a Southern CA subdivision where the indoor formaldehyde was up to 75 ppb. That is 10 times the current recommendation made by the State of CA. The single biggest contributor appeared to be the wall insulation. As the building shells have become increasing tight for energy conservation, it has become critical to properly ventilate homes. We learned this on commercial buildings in the late 70's early 80's and currently require a complete air exchange per hour. Homes have far more sources of pollution yet were have just started requiring one air exchange every three hours. It should be more not less. People wonder why childern are sicker since double pane windows were required. The answer is simple the air exchange rate was decreased (good for energy conservation) but very bad for the occupancts health. Impacting those that spend the most time at home (children) and those that have the least body mass (children and women) and those with the highest ventilation rates (children). Hello, does anyone see the perfect storm we have created? If not read the California Air Resources Board December 15, 2009 abstract which among other things states: "Nearly all homes (98%) had formaldehyde concentrations that exceeded guidelines for cancer and chronic irritation..." The formaldehyde free insulation is a critical issue for the wall. Many consumers incorrectly think that formaldehyde generated in wall gavities doesn’t make it into the interior air. I was invited down to a Southern CA subdivision where the indoor formaldehyde was up to 75 ppb. That is 10 times the current recommendation made by the State of CA. The single biggest contributor appeared to be the wall insulation.

As the building shells have become increasing tight for energy conservation, it has become critical to properly ventilate homes. We learned this on commercial buildings in the late 70’s early 80’s and currently require a complete air exchange per hour. Homes have far more sources of pollution yet were have just started requiring one air exchange every three hours. It should be more not less.

People wonder why childern are sicker since double pane windows were required. The answer is simple the air exchange rate was decreased (good for energy conservation) but very bad for the occupancts health. Impacting those that spend the most time at home (children) and those that have the least body mass (children and women) and those with the highest ventilation rates (children).

Hello, does anyone see the perfect storm we have created? If not read the California Air Resources Board December 15, 2009 abstract which among other things states:

“Nearly all homes (98%) had formaldehyde concentrations that exceeded guidelines for cancer and chronic irritation…”

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