[Greenbuilding] Chemical Sensitivities

Thu Mar 20 18:43:05 CDT 2008

Thanks for your input Jason.

Stephen

Stephen Collette BBEC, LEED AP
Principal
Your Healthy House - Indoor Environmental Testing & Building Consulting
www.yourhealthyhouse.ca
stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca
705.652.5159

On 20-Mar-08, at 3:21 PM, Jason Holstine wrote:

> When working with MCS customers (almost like our patients), we make  
> it a
> rule to tell them that our products have proven to work well with  
> MCS people
> and are popular, but we can never guarantee they won't have a  
> reaction--b/c
> every person is different. With that guideline in mind, we've found  
> that
> AFM's caulk is acceptable in performance (doing what caulk is  
> supposed to
> do) but Titebond's is superior. Stephen will be able to attest to  
> that when
> his place thaws out--Titebond's Weathermaster caulk will extrude to  
> zero
> degrees F and serves as a fantastic all-purpose caulk. And in fact
> Titebond's MSDS sheets are even cleaner. It's all a matter of age of  
> the
> chemistry.
>
> We have tested the OSI lines and have found their MSDS sheets aren't  
> as
> clean as the Titebond. There are only a couple products the OSI line  
> has
> that the Titebond doesn't--the big one being the minimum expanding  
> foam.
> Compared to other foams it's MSDS is pretty clean, especially for an
> aerosol, but you'll want to test for acceptance first.
>
> Good luck,
>
> Jason Holstine
> Amicus Green Building Center
> www.amicusgreen.com
>
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org
> [mailto:greenbuilding-bounces at listserv.repp.org] On Behalf Of Stephen
> Collette
> Sent: Thursday, March 20, 2008 11:22 AM
> To: Greenbuilder list
> Subject: [Greenbuilding] Chemical Sensitivities
>
>
> Great point Irina, and unfortunately true. I too have seen people  
> with MCS
> reacting to "safe products", which is very frustrating for everyone.  
> As I
> mentioned, echoing Irina, it's client specific.
>
> I bought some Titebond green series caulking and drywall glue from  
> Jason (on
> this list) of Amicus. I like the product for durability.
> (currently buried in snow outside my back door) and I didn't really  
> notice a
> smell. My good friend and carpenter also likes it and the drywall  
> glue both.
> He previously had used their regular wood glue, as it's a good  
> product.
>
> I also noticed that OSI now has a "green series spray foam" in a can.
> I haven't used it or seen it, except online
> http://www.greenseries.com/product
> Jason had made comments about the OSI product and I can't remember  
> whether
> they were testing it or didn't like it. Sorry Jason will have to  
> chime in if
> he gets a chance. And it wasn't about foam, but about caulks he and  
> I were
> discussing.
>
> For Joshua, and others, I typically try to get my hands on a couple of
> choices, and let the client pick what works best for them.
>
> Stephen
>
> Stephen Collette BBEC, LEED AP
> Principal
> Your Healthy House - Indoor Environmental Testing & Building  
> Consulting
> www.yourhealthyhouse.ca stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca
> 705.652.5159
>
>
>
> On 20-Mar-08, at 10:57 AM, Irina Golfman Rosenblum wrote:
>
>> Stephen,
>>
>> I have not had very good results with the AFM caulk and wonder if you
>> can recommend good caulking products for CMS people both for indoor
>> and outdoor use. I am also trying to find a good alternative for
>> phenoseal for sealing the gaps between the wall and baseboard, etc.
>> Any recommendations will be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Joshua, just an FYI: some chemically sensitive people may react to
>> products that are supposed to be safe for them. For example, my son
>> and I are sensitive to some AFM products that are formulated for
>> people with sensitivities. We do our best to only use safe products,
>> but we need to be prepared to spend time airing out and baking out  
>> the
>> space, sometimes for weeks.
>>
>> Good luck,
>> Irina
>> On Mar 19, 2008, at 8:23 PM, Stephen Collette wrote:
>>
>>> Hello Joshua,
>>>
>>> I do not, unfortunately recommend the book by CMHC on Environmental
>>> Hypersensitivity. They took the middle of the road approach and  
>>> caved
>>> to manufacturers, and as such, the book is not as helpful as it  
>>> could
>>> be. They are working on a revision right now (I applied, didn't get
>>> it, but had this discussion with tremendously talented Virginia
>>> Salares, who is running the IAQ side there) I believe the revision
>>> will be more helpful than the current one.
>>>
>>> It is more important to understand exactly what triggers your client
>>> has, and then try to remove those materials from the build.  
>>> Difficult
>>> at best, complex at worst. There are of course some basics, like  
>>> zero
>>> VOC everything, especially caulkings and seals. Finishes are  
>>> becoming
>>> easier to source.
>>>
>>> Paula Baker-Laporte's Prescription for a Healthy House has just come
>>> out with a 3rd edition. She is a brilliant architect who is also
>>> chemically sensitive. It's a great place to start.
>>>
>>> If I can be of more help, please email me off list.
>>>
>>> Stephen
>>>
>>> Stephen Collette BBEC, LEED AP
>>> Principal
>>> Your Healthy House - Indoor Environmental Testing & Building
>>> Consulting www.yourhealthyhouse.ca stephen at yourhealthyhouse.ca
>>> 705.652.5159
>>>
>>>
>>>
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