Abstract
Indoor air quality is becoming an increasingly important factor to consider during the design of a building. When buildings are constructed in high water tables, brownfields, or near landfills, there is a high risk of chemical and vapor intrusion into occupied spaces. This is a widespread problem, with an estimated 47,000 waste sites across the U.S., and more than 1,700 on the Environmental Protection Agency’s Superfund Priorities List. It’s essential to have a below-ground barrier that not only stops moisture and water but also reduces or slows down the passage of liquid chemicals and vapors through the building foundation. As the construction industry continues to build larger and deeper buildings, there is an increasing probability that these barrier systems will be exposed to contaminated ground water and soils over the course of their service life. In this session we will discuss: the increasing challenges of protecting indoor air quality: how to quantify contaminant concentrations in the soil; common groundwater and surface water contaminants that can impact occupants’ health; and methodologies to estimate long-term barrier performance against moisture and contaminants.
Presenters
Xia CaoR&D Director, Pre-Applied & Liquid Waterproofing, GCP Applied Technologies, Massachusetts, United States
Details
Presentation Type
Theme
KEYWORDS
Air, Barrier, Design, Foundation
