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2120 Milvia Street, 2nd Floor, Berkeley, CA 94704
TEL: (510) 981-7439, TDD: (510) 981-7474
Office Hours: Mon-  Fri 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., Email:
Energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us

Energy and Sustainable Development
News & Events
Climate Protection
Residents
Business
Buildings
Community
Government
Office of Economic Development
Housing Office

Remodeling Sustainably
Green Building information and assistance

Many conventional building materials contain a variety of toxics substances, some of which have been banned in Berkeley's playgrounds and public building projects.  Below is a list of conventional materials, and some alternatives

Conventional Material Typical uses Toxics  Alternative Materials
Plywood  exterior walls, roofing, subfloors formaldehyde, off-gasses when exposed to heat low or formaldehyde- free plywood (ANSI/HPVA HP-1- 1994)
Oriented Strand Board (OSB) exterior walls,  formaldehyde, off-gasses when exposed to heat solid wood products. low or formaldehyde-free OSB (ANSI # "PBU", "D2", or "D3)
Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) and particle boards trim, interior doors, cabinets, bookshelves formaldehyde, off-gasses when exposed to heat solid wood products, low or formaldehyde-free fiberboards (ANSI/HPVA A208.2-1994)
Engineered lumber, trusses, etc. roof framing, roof and floor joists formaldehyde, off-gasses when exposed to heat formaldehyde-free engineered joists
Pressure treated lumber* foundation sills, landscaping, decks, handrails arsenic, chrome 6 (Hexavalent chromium) ACQ-treated lumber
Vinyl windows, plumbing, trim, siding dioxin & related carcinogens HDPE or ABS pipe, solid wood, or fiberglass windows; solid wood or cementicious board siding
Textiles,  permanent-press fabrics drapes, furniture upholstery formaldehyde, off-gasses when exposed to heat formaldehyde-free textiles, non-permanent-press natural fabrics
Thermostats furnace controls mercury digital, non-mercury switch thermostats

* Note that Pressure treated lumber is banned in Berkeley and many other cities in uses where people would come into contact with it, such as handrails, playground equipment, and landscaping.  It can still be used in foundation work where it is not exposed.  The sawdust should be carefully collected and disposed of at a hazardous waste facility.

OSHA Standard 1926.1148 warns of " limits for exposure to formaldehyde, a carcinogenic gas used in the production of engineered wood products such as plywood, OSB, MDF, particle boards and engineered trusses.  Employees should be made aware of the dangers, and follow precautions when working with formaldehyde-treated wood products.  Any operation that involved sawing, grinding or sanding... or any other manipulation that generates formaldehyde -bearing dust may require employee monitoring equipment to guard against excess exposure to formaldehyde."  

For a list of building materials with hazardous chemicals and safer alternatives, see the Green Building Reference Guide Glossary of Terms and Environmental Hazards.

Updated May 30, 2007 


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Housing/Energy and Sustainable Development
2120 Milvia Street, 2nd Floor Berkeley, CA 94704
Telephone: (510) 981-7439
TDD: (510) 981-7474
Email: Energy@ci.berkeley.ca.us