housing developments in european countries - Department of ...

Section 3
Policies
Policies Section 3
Romania did mention that hazardous materials such as
introduced regulations to address the risks linked to
systems, and refurbishment programmes for social
resulting from water being too cold. In addition, the
asbestos may have been used in the construction of
exposure to asbestos in buildings that were constructed
housing owned by local authorities. An extensive
removal of PCB from the large high-rise housing
some private dwellings. The other 7 countries reported
before 1997 and exposure to paint containing lead in
National Radon Survey was carried out by the
estates built in the 1960s and 1970s, and questions
a variety of problems in relation to health in buildings,
buildings that were constructed before 1948, to protect
Radiological Protection Institute of Ireland in 1999
concerning noise and insufficient noise insulation, are
together with arrangements to tackle them.
against noise in the buildings, to measure the risk of
which has enabled the creation of radon prediction
currently of concern to government. Brominated flame
exposure to radon and to address public concerns in
maps. The Department of the Environment, Heritage
retardants may become a new health problem in the
In the Czech Republic, regulations dealing with risks
relation to the consequences of electromagnetic
and Local Government has published a guide to
future and the prevention of allergy problems
relating to the presence of underground radon were
emissions from mobile radiotelephone antennae. These
dealing with radon in existing buildings for the
stemming from building materials is another problem
adopted in 1991. As a result, applications for a
regulations generally form part of the public health
information of construction professions and property
that will be considered by expert bodies in the near
building permit must be accompanied by the results of
safety code or the health and safety at work code. In
owners. In addition, under the building regulations, all
future. Regarding ventilation of dwellings, since 1992
a radon survey of the locality, together with details of
addition, since 1999 a global building and health
new buildings must incorporate radon protection
Sweden has had a compulsory inspection system that
measures to address radon problems if necessary. Land
programme has been implemented by the French local
measures.
includes most buildings. The aim of this programme is
cannot be used for construction purposes if radiation
authorities, which has the following aims:
to check that the ventilation system functions
levels hazardous to health are present. Subsidies
towards the costs of implementing measures to correct
■ to create and co-ordinate epidemiological surveys;
In Lithuania, regulations have recently been adopted
regarding the sale of construction products in order to
according to the requirements stated when the (latest)
building permit was given. In spite of this compulsory
radon levels in existing buildings are also available and
■ to identify the pollutants present in the buildings
protect the consumers from products that are unsafe
system, there are still ventilation deficiencies in
these are distributed by regional authorities. The
and to characterise the exposure of people to
and harmful to health. If a construction product fails
approximately 60% of the buildings, which very often
Ministry of Health regulates and monitors the quality
particular or combined risk factors – to help achieve
to conform to these regulations, the manufacturer or
are schools and day nurseries. As a result, the
of public drinking water and although the Czech
this aim an observatory for indoor air quality was
supplier is obliged to address any shortcomings, or the
Government has commissioned the National Board of
Republic does not have a significant problem with
created in July 2001;
sale of the product can be prohibited or restricted.
Housing, Building and Planning to examine alternative
regard to lead in drinking water as most lead pipes are
plated with a layer of tin, a comprehensive survey of
■ to revise the ventilation regulations;
Action of this type can be taken in the case of
non-compliance with requirements, incorrect
ways of assessing ventilation standards as part of a
wider programme of quality assurance in relation to
the lead content of water will take place in the near
■ to make information on the impact of construction
application of the technical specifications and
housing maintenance and management.
future. The Ministry for Regional Development is
preparing a programme to fund the removal of lead
products on the environment and on health
throughout their lifecycle available to the public
shortcomings in the technical specifications themselves.
3.4.3 Sustainable Housing Construction
water pipes from residential buildings which is
and to professionals;
In Malta, a monitoring study conducted in the period
projected to commence in 2004. The quality of
construction materials is subject to a government
decree which stipulates the technical requirements for
selected construction products.
■ to standardise the environmental labelling of
construction products with a view to providing
pertinent information to professionals and to the
public, and
1998 to 1999 indicated low levels of radon and the
absence of harmful effects to the general public. The
use of asbestos is not prohibited by national
legislation. However, Malta has recently adopted the
EU Directive regarding the protection of workers
In recent years most of the countries under
examination have modified their housing, construction
and land-use planning policy to prioritise the issue of
sustainable development. In a number of countries,
projects have been established to showcase and
In Denmark, the most urgent health problem inside
■ to create a public database on the environmental
dismantling buildings containing asbestos. In addition,
demonstrate the feasibility of adopting a range of
buildings is fungi and mould growth on interior
characteristics of construction products.
prior notification is needed to the Health and Safety
measures to reduce the environmental impact of
surfaces or hidden colonisation in building components
Authority and to the Maltese Environment and
housing including the reduction in energy, heat and
in heavily mouldy buildings. A four-year research
In Ireland, there are no significant housing-related
Planning Authority for any kind of work known to
water use. In addition, many of the new member and
programme on this issue has recently been completed
health problems associated with new house
involve asbestos. In 1984, the Ministry of Health
applicant countries in Central and Eastern Europe have
and on the basis of its results, relevant information has
construction. The major health issues associated with
adopted regulations prohibiting the use of lead in
availed of international expertise in order to
been distributed to home owners. The problem of
older dwellings are the effects of living in cold and
paint. The Building Industry Consultative Council
supplement indigenous knowledge. The requirements
radon has been addressed by new requirements in
damp conditions because a significant proportion of
provides training programmes in relation to health and
of the Kyoto Protocol, in relation to reducing CO 2
building regulations.
this stock is poorly insulated and inefficiently heated.
safety for building workers, while the Health and
emissions, are reflected in the recent policies and
A number of measures are in place which directly or
Safety Authority is responsible for on-site enforcement
initiatives to improve thermal insulation and energy
In France policies in relation to health in buildings
indirectly assist groups who are most vulnerable to the
of health and safety regulations.
efficiency which have been adopted in most countries.
address both the occupants and users of the buildings
fuel poverty which results from such living conditions.
Broadly speaking, the 15 long-standing EU members
on the one hand and the workers responsible for
These include payments towards fuel costs, assistance
In Sweden, subsidies are provided by government for
have seen the greatest number of developments in
servicing, maintaining and constructing the buildings
for certain categories of households towards the costs
measures to counter radon. Also, several campaigns
relation to sustainable building techniques in recent
on the other. In recent years, Central Government has
of improvements to building fabric and heating
have been conducted regarding the legionella bacteria
years, although this is not universally the case.
118 European Union Report
Regular National Report on Housing Developments in European Countries
119