Introduction

“When temperatures rise, the consequences are felt inside our buildings. Extreme heat affects the air we breathe, the materials around us, the systems we rely on and ultimately the people we are responsible for. This research is critical to understanding these emerging risks and, more importantly, how facility managers can translate that knowledge into practical action.”

Matt Tucker, Ph.D., Director of Knowledge & Insights, IFMA

“Our research demonstrates that even a moderate rise in temperature can change the types and concentrations of chemicals emitted by common building materials. As extreme heat becomes a growing operational concern, understanding how materials perform under elevated temperatures is essential to protecting indoor air quality and supporting healthier, more resilient buildings.”

Mark Wilson, Ph.D., MSPH, CIH, Director of the Center for Analytical & Exposure Science, UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights

Context

Climate-related risks are increasingly shaping how buildings perform and how people experience indoor environments. These risks are causing average temperatures to increase globally, with more projected extreme heat days (>95°F [35°C]), extended heat waves and warm nights becoming more common.1 Because of this, extreme heat has emerged as one of the most immediate operational challenges for facility management (FM), influencing indoor air quality (IAQ), material performance, occupant well-being and business continuity.

UL Research Institutes’ Chemical Insights is an IFMA Strategic Partner, and an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) scientific research institute. Chemical Insights conducts rigorous, unbiased research to better understand environmental exposures and their potential impacts on human health and the environment. This report builds upon Chemical Insights’ foundational research2,3 on climate, building resilience and human health, with a particular focus on its latest findings related to extreme heat and material emissions.

Changing chemical behaviors

The worldwide chemical landscape, viewed from the perspective of pollution and exposure pathways, has experienced a forty-fold increase in chemical production in the last century,4 with a marked increase in synthetic materials and emissions from human activities.

Independent studies have suggested that levels of indoor chemical pollutants exceed those of the outdoor environment by at least two-fold.5 Common products adversely affected by excessive heat include paint, coatings, adhesives, cabinetry and flooring materials. Even with no exterior damage, building materials can behave quite differently in various conditions, resulting in negative impacts on IAQ and increased risk of chemical exposure for the people inside, especially when sustained power outages decrease the ability to ventilate and filter indoor air. Depending on the chemical composition of the material, excessive heat can lead to emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon black, halogens, nitrogen, sulfur, flame retardants, organometallics and metal compounds.6

In response to the growing body of knowledge on the impact of materials on IAQ and human health,7 new rating systems, product declarations statements, protocols and regulations have been introduced. Unfortunately, the increase in extreme weather events has created new challenges beyond carbon emissions, changing the way materials behave in these new environments. Extreme heat can also act as a trigger for weather- and climate-related disasters, which also affect the built environment, potentially increasing chemical and particle exposure.8

Impact on human health

On average, people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors7 breathing 10,000 to 12,000 liters of air every day.8 The rise in synthetic products coupled with the focus on airtight buildings to conserve energy has led to a rise in VOCs, semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), PM2.5 and chemical-related IAQ issues. This has resulted in an increase in building-related illnesses, reduced productivity and increased health expenses,9 as well as reduced building sustainability and resiliency.9,10

To safeguard human health from both external and internal stressors affecting the built environment, building resiliency must be thought of holistically. Buildings are being designed to mitigate the impact of external environmental stressors, including high winds, storms, fire and extreme heat; however, there are also many internal stressors that can contribute to a building’s resilience, affecting the health of the people in the building.

These internal stressors include:

  • temperature
  • chemicals, like VOCs and SVOCs
  • dust and fine particles
  • humidity
  • allergens
  • viruses, mold spores, bacteria, endotoxins and other biologicals

Additionally, the increased frequency of severe weather events is leading to significant health impacts, including:

  • exposure to extreme temperatures
  • exposure to combustion-associated chemicals, particularly those from wildfires
  • water intrusion
  • material damage
  • potential exposure to harsh cleaners/hazardous materials during clean up

WEATHER RELATED CLIMATE DISASTERS

FROM JAN 2017 TO APRIL 2023 IN THE U.S. EXCEEDING $1 BILLION