Sustainable Building Technical Manual - Etn-presco.net

– Select products derived from renewable sources, such as detergents and solventsmade from cornstarch, coconut oil, and orange peels; and– Select chemically benign products that minimize harmful exposures, potentialhealth risks, and adverse environmental impacts.❑ Keep Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) on file and available for reviewby workers.The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires MSDSs forall chemical products used in the workplace. In addition, OSHA requires annual safetytraining and training in the proper use of all new chemical products. Always followthe manufacturer’s recommendations for product use, storage, disposal, precautions,and first aid.❑ Consider the following health and safety factors when selecting cleaning products:– Look for controlled or moderate pH. Extremely high-pH products (caustics) orextremely low-pH products (acids) are more hazardous than those of moderate pH.Products that are closer to pH 7 are safer than those with extreme pH.– Identify hazardous ingredients using the MSDSs. In many cases, products containingno OSHA-designated hazardous ingredients are available.– Avoid products containing a known or suspected carcinogen.– Select products that are non-irritating or mildly irritating. Some users may be especiallysusceptible to skin and eye irritation. If information about this hazard is notavailable, follow the guidelines for controlled pH.– Select products that protect against accidental poisoning. Typically, products withan LD(Lethal Dose) 50above five grams per kilogram are outside the range of accidentalpoisoning risk. (LD 50indicates the amount of material, which, if ingested, wouldcause 50 percent of test subjects to perish.)– Choose non-reactive products. This minimizes the risk of mixing two products thatproduce a toxic gas, fire, or other dangerous reaction. For example, mixing a productcontaining chlorine with an acid or ammonia gives off poisonous gases.– Select products containing the m i n i m u m amount of fragrance and dye needed forsafety reasons. While fragrances and dyes have little cleaning value, they help usersdifferentiate between products by color and smell, thereby reducing the risk of inadvertentproduct misuse. Some fragrances, however, may cause allergic reactions.– Wear gloves, masks, and other appropriate personnel protective equipment (PPE)according to MSDS and manufacturers’ directions.❑ Consider the following environmental factors when selecting cleaning products:– Select products whose constituent ingredients have been tested for easy biodegradability,the measure of a product’s ability to be reabsorbed into the environment.Most cleaning products—at some dilution and over an extended period of time—can be termed “biodegradable.”– Avoid products with demonstrated aquatic toxicity, indicated by a warning againstcontact with soil or wildlife.– Eliminate use of ozone-depleting compounds (ODCs). ODCs, considered a majorcause of global warming, can still be found in many shops and maintenancegarages, especially where painting is done. Closely scrutinize product informationfor the presence of chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) and other chlorinated solvents.– Consider switching to solvent-free or water-based products. Many solvent-basedproducts contain volatile organic comounds (VOCs) that cause smog. Instead of analcohol-based glass cleaner, use one that is detergent-based. Use water-based woodand gym-floor coatings, and replace chlorinated cleaning solvents with citrus-oilbased,aqueous, and semi-aqueous products.– Avoid heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and zinc, which can cause severe healthproblems and have a potentially negative upstream impact on the environment.Heavy metals in floor finishes, for example, may enter sewer treatment facilitiesthrough disposal in building plumbing. For housekeepers, an added benefit of conver-