Building Materials

The construction industry is bombarded with ever-changing building materials-components of which are more and more difficult, if not impossible, to identify. Building material emissions have been implicated as a major source of indoor air pollution, and toxic gases, often unidentified, are generated in building fires. Building Materials: Product Emission and Combustion Health Hazards undertakes the task of identifying building materials emission and combustion health hazards. This practical guide introduces the complex world of polymers commonly used in building materials along with plasticizers and additives that are not regulated by OSHA. It also explores the topic of building materials as they relate to function and their emissions/combustion products along with thermal decomposition and combustion products as they relate to fire first responders. Engaging environmental professionals, construction management firms, architects, first respondents, and students, this valuable reference delivers a comprehensive spectrum of knowledge needed to face the challenges of managing building materials in the twenty-first century. Awareness is the first line of defense!

Kathleen Hess-Kosa, MS, CIH, is an industrial hygiene/environmental consultant with Omega Environmental Consulting in Canyon Lake, Texas. In 1972, she earned her Bachelor of Science in microbiology with a minor in chemistry from Oklahoma State University. In 1979, she earned a Master of Science in industrial hygiene from the College of Engineering at Texas A&M University. After her travails through the education system, she finally entered the real world and became challenged with all problems great and small within an insurance company. While working for Firemen's Fund Insurance Companies, she had the opportunity to become involved in a variety of unique industrial hygiene assessments including her first indoor air quality study which involved a newly constructed 800-occupant high rise office building. This was back in 1982, and the 90% complaint rate dropped to 10%-after throwing everything but the kitchen sink at the problem. Her success sparked that which has become her passion for indoor air quality. Subsequently, she has pursued multiple avenues to effectively respond to the new challenges. Upon starting her own consulting firm in 1986, Ms. Hess-Kosa has continued to pursue her passion, added to her list of curiosities mold/moisture damage, sewage contamination, and all things out of the ordinary. She has taken several courses in construction techniques at the local community college. She has designed and been involved in construction projects involving two of her own homes. One of her hobbies it that of building massive southwest wood doors. She has also been a consultant to several construction firms. Beyond this book, Ms. Hess-Kosa is credited with several other technical books. They include Environmental Sampling for Unknowns, Indoor Air Quality: Sampling Methodologies (2nd edition), Environmental Site Assessment Phase I: A Basic Guide (2nd edition), An Environmental Health and Safety Auditing Made Easy, A Checklist Approach for Industry, Indoor Air Quality: The Latest Sampling and Analytical Methods. Ms. Hess-Kosa is an active outdoor enthusiast and world traveler, photographer, and avid reader of adventure novels. Life is full of challenges!

ContentsPreface.................................................................................................................... xiiiAcknowledgments.................................................................................................xvAuthor................................................................................................................... xviiSection I All Things Considered1. Building Material Components: Old and New, Natural andSynthetic............................................................................................................3Natural Building Products..............................................................................4Asbestos.........................................................................................................5Lead................................................................................................................7Crystalline Silica..........................................................................................8Non-Emission Toxins..................................................................................9Plastics' Most Notorious..................................................................................9Formaldehyde............................................................................................. 10Modern Building Materials........................................................................... 11Summary.......................................................................................................... 12References........................................................................................................ 132. Product Emissions and Evolution of Indoor Air Pollution................... 15Evolution of Public Awareness......