Building better for the people

Sustainable buildings is not only about the planet, but also about taking care of the people (both occupants & people who build)

As we spend 90% of our time indoors, buildings have a high effect on the health of occupants

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 choose the right materials from the start

As a building materials manufacturer: duty to protect the health of installers & occupants, and want to provide solutions to improve their comfort

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: choose 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

Saint-Gobain 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