Documents building materials 9 results

"Malaysia has partially banned the use of asbestos. The prohibition of asbestos building materials in schools, clinics, and hospitals built by government started in 1999. Since 2005, prohibition has also been applied to all government buildings. However, asbestos construction materials such as roof and ceiling tiles are still sold in the market. There are no acts or regulations prohibiting the use of asbestos in private buildings in Malaysia. Asbestos was first used for industrial purposes in Malaysia in the 1960s and the first regulations related to asbestos have been around since the 1980s. Non-governmental organizations have been pushing the government to impose a total ban since the 1980s. Asbestos is still used in the manufacturing sector under the “control use” concept. The study found difficulties in established and validated medical record data on asbestos-related diseases. This paper reviews existing asbestos-related regulations and guidelines in Malaysia and discusses the urgency for a total ban in the use of asbestos in building materials in the country. In the meanwhile, stricter enforcement of occupational safety and health regulations related to the use and exposure of asbestos among workers in the manufacturing, construction, maintenance, and demolition sectors has been in place."

"While 31 million Americans have been diagnosed with asthma, children are most severely affected. Asthma also is common among teachers, indicating that the school building environment may be associated with asthma prevalence among occupants. Children are sensitive to environmental pollutants, which are more concentrated in indoor air environments. Schools are a significant source of indoor air pollutants. Yet little research has addressed the causal relationship between asthma and specific levels of indoor pollutants. Indoor air quality is seldom controlled in schools in a way that minimizes such exposures. While few laws limit indoor air pollutants in schools, some laws outline or mandate practices that can control exposures. This report presents recommendations for laws and regulations that control and, ideally, prevent indoor air quality problems and aims to reduce or mitigate such disease."

"Nanotechnology seems to hold the key that allows construction and building materials to replicate the features of natural systems improved until perfection during millions of years. This paper reviews current knowledge about nanotechnology and nanomaterials used by the construction industry. It covers the nanoscale analysis of Portland cement hydration products, the use of nanoparticles to increase the strength and durability of cimentitious composites, the photocatalytic capacity of nanomaterials and also nanotoxicity risks."

"A broad range of challenges faced by the construction industry, ranging from the performance of the materials to environmental and safety issues, relate to materials and their properties. Recent developments in various areas of nanotechnology show significant promise in addressing many of these challenges. Research and developments have demonstrated that the application of nanotechnology can improve the performance of traditional construction materials, such as concrete and steel. Noteworthy improvements in concrete strength, durability and sustainability are being achieved with considered use of metal/metal oxide nanoparticles and engineered nanoparticles (carbon nanotubes and carbon nanofibres), and environment-responsive anticorrosion coatings formed using nanoencapsulation techniques are showing promise in laboratory settings. Developments in nanotechnology are also improving the accuracy and commercial viability of sensor-based structural health monitoring; a task rapidly gaining importance as the structures that comprise many countries' most expensive investments near the end of their design life. As energy usage worldwide continues to grow, a focus on the potential for nanotechnology developments to reduce energy consumption has become evident. Research demonstrates that nanotechnology can contribute to novel cooling systems, and improve the functionality of solar cells and insulation. A range of nanomaterials are also being used to add new functionalities, such as self-cleaning properties, to traditional construction industry products, for example paint and cement. First generation products are available on the market and further advances are evident in the academic literature."

"In the European construction industry in 2009, the use of engineered nanoparticles appears to be confined to a limited number of products, predominantly coatings, cement and concrete. A survey among representatives of workers and employers from 14 EU countries suggests a high level of ignorance about the availability and use of nanomaterials for the construction industry and the safety aspects thereof. Barriers for a large-scale acceptance of products containing engineered nanoparticles (nanoproducts) are high costs, uncertainties about long-term technical material performance, as well as uncertainties about health risks of nanoproducts. Workplace measurements suggest a modest exposure of construction workers to nanoparticles (NPs) associated with the use of nanoproducts. The measured particles were within a size range of 20–300 nm, with the median diameter below 53 nm. Positive assignment of this exposure to the nanoproduct or to additional sources of ultrafine particles, like the electrical equipment used was not possible within the scope of this study and requires further research. Exposures were below the nano reference values proposed on the basis of a precautionary approach."

"Chlorine is the origin of many of the world's most problematic chemicals and products, including polyvinyl chloride (PVC), used in building and construction. There is extensive interest in the building industry in the manufacture and use of chlorine. A necessary first step in reducing the environmental health impacts of chlorine in the supply chain of PVC and other chlorine-based products is to create a public global inventory of chlorine, vinyl chloride monomer, and PVC producers."

"Offshore wind energy (OWE) shows rapid growth in reducing CO2 emissions. Although OWE is considered renewable several used materials in their activities, such as manufacturing, installation, maintenance, and dismantling of the wind farms, generate negative impacts on human health, the natural environment, and natural resources. To provide a better insight into these impacts on the OWE industry, this research generated the first detailed relationship between the main activities of the OWE industry, the turbine components, the main used materials, and the environmental impacts according to LCA's impact categories. Also, this study synthesized information about the impacts and energy consumption reported for the OWE industry, but also published for other industries about materials used in OWE. Their impacts have not been properly considered in the previous research. The results revealed that there is not enough information about LCA's assessment of the environmental effects generated in manufacturing some turbine components and during operation-maintenance activities. The results evidence that Steel is one of the main materials with the highest negative impacts and energy consumption, followed by Concrete, and petroleum-based materials. The findings of this research highlight the need for establishing strategies to replace the most contaminant materials with less harmful ones."