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

From phthalates in sealants that are known hormone disruptors to toxic flame retardants in insulation, many common home construction materials include toxic ingredients that can damage our health. People living in affordable housing and those who build affordable housing have been particularly impacted by toxic materials; perhaps the most clear historical example of the impact of using materials with toxics is the ongoing health consequences from lead-based paint used decades ago that continues to impact residents of government-subsidized housing.

The continued use of materials with known toxics will create health consequences for future generations. However, there are healthier materials available today, and using these materials presents a key opportunity to reduce exposure to harmful toxics.

This guide highlights material categories that contain toxic chemicals and the healthier alternatives that are recommended to replace them.

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 create known human carcinogens and PVC may contain hormone-disrupting plasticizers (phthalates).	Require non-vinyl flooring.	$
Carpet		PVC production and disposal create known human carcinogens and PVC may contain hormone-disrupting plasticizers (phthalates).PFAS are “forever chemicals” with significant life cycle concerns and a range of health hazards (e.g. can suppress the immune system, raise cholesterol, and cause cancer)Heavy metals (can be found in fly ash)	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		PVC production and disposal create known human carcinogens and PVC may contain hormone-disrupting plasticizers (phthalates).VOCs have a variety of health effects including headache, nausea, eye, nose, and throat irritation, organ damage, and cancer.Phthalates (Orthophthalates) disrupt hormones.	Do not use vinyl and choose wall coverings low in volatile organic compounds (VOC).	$
Walls	Paint		APEs (alkylphenol ethoxylates) are hormone disruptors.VOCs have a variety of health effects including headache, nausea, eye, nose, and throat irritation, organ damage, and cancer.	Require APE-free, low-VOC content/emission, no PFAS paints. Use paint without antimicrobial health claims.	$
Fixtures	Windows and doors made with PVC		PVC production and disposal create known human carcinogens and PVC may contain hormone-disrupting plasticizers (phthalates).	Require non-vinyl windows and doors.	$$
	Doors and cabinets		Formaldehyde causes cancer, eye, nose and throat irritation, and difficulty breathing.	Use solid wood or no-added formaldehyde composite, and opt for a plywood over other composite wood where possible.	$
	Roller shades		PVC production and disposal create known human carcinogens and PVC may contain hormone-disrupting plasticizers (phthalates).	Require phthalate-free and no PVC/vinyl products.	$$
	Countertops		Laminate countertops may contain formaldehyde, a known human carcinogen; stone countertops may be sealed with PFAS, which can suppress the immune system, raise cholesterol, and cause cancer.	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		Phthalates (Orthophthalates) disrupt hormones. Isocyanates cause asthma. Cyclosiloxanes disrupt hormones. VOCs have a variety of health effects including headache, nausea, eye, nose, and throat irritation, organ damage, and cancer.	For caulk-type sealants, select pre-compressed polyurethane joint seal, phthalate-free acrylic and latex sealants.	$
Applications	High-performance coatings		Isocyanates are asthmagens. Bisphenols are hormone disruptors.	Use epoxy-free and isocyanate-free products.	$
Insulation	Thermal Insulation	Batt insulation	Formaldehyde causes cancer, eye, nose and throat irritation, and difficulty breathing.	Choose fiberglass batt insulation; if using mineral wool batt insulation, select formaldehyde-free.	$
		Rigid board insulation	Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.	Require products with no halogenated flame retardants (HFRs).	$
		Acoustic insulation	Formaldehyde causes cancer, eye, nose and throat irritation, and difficulty breathing.	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, halogenated flame retardants (HFRs), and isocyanates.	Use blown-in wood fiber, blown sheep’s wool, blown fiberglass, blown mineral wool, or loose fill cellulose.	$
		Foamed-in-place insulation	Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.Isocyanates are asthmagens.	Ban use polyurethane spray foam insulation.
Structural Interior	Vapor Permeable Barrier		VOCs have a variety of health effects including headache, nausea, eye, nose, and throat irritation, organ damage, and cancer.Halogenated flame retardants (HFRs) are persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic.	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 production and disposal create known human carcinogens and PVC may contain orthophthalates (hormone-disrupting plasticizers).	Require TPO or EPDM membrane roofing.	$
	Exterior siding		Crystalline Silica generated during on-site cutting causes cancer.	Require siding with no Cystalline Silica; this includes wood or metal siding	$$
	Sealers – outdoor use		Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) 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.	$

Additional resources

About this guide

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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 Habitable.