Guide to Clean Building Materials for Multi-family Housing

Toxic-Free Future’s Healthy Materials Matrix

A simplified guide to choosing clean building materials for multi-family housing


Building Category	Material		Chemical(s) of Concern	Recommendations	Cost Impact
						$-low $$-medium $$$-high
Flooring	Composite wood flooring			Formaldehyde (causes cancer, eye, nose and throat irritation, and difficulty breathing)	Require No Added Formaldehyde products.	$
		Flooring made with PVC			PVC (production and disposal of PVC creates known human carcinogens and PVC membranes may contain Orthophthalates which are hormone-disrupting plasticizers)	Require non-vinyl flooring.	$
		Carpet			Heavy metals (can be found in fly ash), Orthophthalates, PFAS (“forever chemicals” with significant life cycle concerns and a range of health hazards including suppression of the immune system, raised cholesterol, and cancer), PVC	Require products that are PFAS-free and do not use vinyl or PU backing or fly ash. Choose no added antimicrobial agents.	$
Walls	Wall coverings			Orthophthalates, VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds; have a variety of health effects including headache, nausea, eye, nose, and throat irritation, organ damage, and cancer)	Do not use vinyl and choose wall coverings low in volatile organic compounds (VOC).	$
Walls		Paint			APEs (Alkylphenol Ethoxylates; cause hormone disruption), VOCs	Require APE-free, low-VOC content/emision, no PFAS paints. Use paint without antimicrobial health claims.	$
Fixtures	Windows and doors made with PVC			PVC	Require non-vinyl windows and doors.	$$
		Doors and cabinets			Formaldehyde (causes cancer, eye, nose and throat irritation, and difficulty breathing)	Use solid wood or no-added formaldehyde composite, and opt for a plywood over other composite wood where possible.	$
		Roller Shades			Orthophthalates	Require phthalate-free and no PVC/vinyl products.	$$
		Countertops			Formaldehyde, PFAS	Choose mineral or stone-based countertops that do not need to be sealed after installation, such as porcelain slabs, quartz, or some natural stone. Avoid laminate and plastic countertops including cultured marble and solid surface. Specify no added antimicrobial agents.	$
Applications	Sealants – indoor use			Cyclosiloxanes (cause hormone disruption), Isocyanates (cause asthma), Orthophthalates, VOCs	For caulk-type sealants, select pre-compressed polyurethane joint seal, phthalate-free acrylic and latex sealants.	$
Applications		High-performance coatings		Bisphenols (cause hormone disruption), Isocyanates	Use epoxy-free and isocyanate-free products.	$
Insulation	Thermal Insulation	Batt insulation	Formaldehyde	Choose fiberglass batt insulation; if using mineral wool batt insulation, select formaldehyde-free.	$
				Rigid board insulation	HFRs (Halogenated Flame Retardants; are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic)	Require products with no halogenated flame retardants (HFRs).	$
				Acoustic insulation	Formaldehyde	Choose unfaced formaldehyde-free products.	$
				Blown-in insulation	Blown-in insulations are generally good options from a material health perspective. They typically avoid the chemicals of highest concern in insulation: Formaldehyde, HFRs, and Isocyanates.	Use blown-in wood fiber, blown sheeps wool, blown fiberglass, blown mineral wool, or loose fill cellulose.	$
				Foamed-In-Place Insulation	HFRs, Isocyanates	Ban use polyurethane spray foam insulation.
Structural Interior	Vapor Permeable Barrier			HFRs, VOCs	Require products with no halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) and low VOC content and emissions (<50 g/L VOC content in the base paint and colorants, aligned with CARB and SCAQMD limits, and low VOC emission certified according to the CDPH standard)	$
Exterior	Sheet Waterproofing: Thermoplastic Membrane Roofing			PVC, Orthophthalates	Require TPO or EPDM membrane roofing.	$
		Exterior siding			Crystalline Silica (causes cancer when generated during on-site cutting)	Require siding with no Cystalline Silica; this includes wood or metal siding	$$
		Sealers – outdoor use		PAHs (Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; cause cancer as well as heart defects, immune suppression, reduced growth, and reproductive effects)	Do not use coal tar driveway and parking lot sealers.	$
All Products – Ingredient Transparency					Transparency of the content and known toxics in a product is critical so that we can avoid building homes with hazardous chemicals.	To maximize transparency, require the use of products that have publicly disclosed inventories characterized and screened to 1,000 ppm or better, such as Declare Label of HPD.	$

About this guide

This guide was adapted from the healthier materials section of the Master Specification tool, a resource created by the Housing Development Consortium’s Exemplary Building Program. Gladys Ly-Au Young, principal and co-founder of Sundberg Kennedy Ly-Au Young Architects, was the primary driver of the Exemplary Building Program’s inclusion of the healthier materials section in the Master Specification Tool. The full Exemplary Building Program steering committee collaborated on the development of the healthy building material section, with insights, guidance and reviews from Toxic Free Future and Healthy Building Network.