The buildings we live and work in can have a profound effect on our health and wellbeing, a principal recognised by the leading green building rating systems including BREEAM, LEED and the WELL Building Standard; all require measures to promote healthier built environments.
One important consideration is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) which is impacted by levels of externally and internally generated air pollution. Poor indoor air quality can have a range of negative impacts on the physical health of building occupants.
The concentration of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) presents a particular concern and has received a significant amount of attention in the battle against indoor air pollution. These harmful chemicals, such as formaldehyde, are emitted from everyday materials and products such as chipboard, carpet, fireboard, furniture and indoor fabrics.
BREEAM, LEED and WELL schemes award credits to projects with indoor air quality plans and confirm VOC concentrations are within defined guidelines at the post-construction phase. In fact, as of 2018, the BREEAM New Construction manual considers an Indoor Air Quality Plan a pre-requisite that must be completed at RIBA Stage 2, encouraging architects to consider air pollution early in the design process and put a mitigation strategy in place.
When it comes to meeting these requirements, low VOC paint can be an easy & practical solution to create better indoor environments. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are typically found as solvents in paints and coatings adjusting the viscosity of the paint to make it suitable for application. Low VOC & water-based solutions have reduced amounts of VOC compared to traditional solvent-based paints; so are a great first step in reducing VOC levels during and post construction.
PPG provides a range of low VOC water-based products for interiors from decorative finishes, trim paints and intumescent coatings for cellulosic fire protection.
Going a step further, PPG has developed Johnstone’s Trade AIR PURE® designed to actively improve indoor air quality. Air Pure is a water-based minimal VOC paint that contains an additive to purify indoor air by removing formaldehyde from indoor spaces. From first application, the coating starts to filter and neutralise up to 70% of formaldehyde from the air and continues to do so for several years; accredited by independent test methods (Formaldehyde reduction test report, Eurofins ISO 16000-23, 2017)
What’s more is it’s also a sustainable solution. Formulated using renewable raw materials, Johnstone’s Trade Air Pure contains 45% bio-based binder and comes complete with a BRE verified Environmental Product Declaration.
Air Pure has also been recognised by the British Coatings Federation (BCF) and Building Innovation Awards having won 2 awards for Sustainable Innovation and its contribution to improving indoor air quality.
For more information on Air Pure visit NBS Source: