Data from October 2020.

Research from the BlueGreen Alliance Foundation shows that almost 60% of states list additional health-related policies outside of building certifications in their QAPs. For the purposes of our study, states were considered to have mandatory or incentivized policies if they met at least one of six health areas—standard low/VOC paints/sealants and adhesives; low/no VOC finishes and flooring; fiberglass insulation – GREENGUARD; Green Label carpeting; formaldehyde limits; and air quality standards.

Standard low/no VOC paints/sealants and adhesives	24
Low/no VOC finishes and flooring	14
GreenLabel carpeting	10
Formaldehyde limits	10
Air quality standards	9
Fiberglass insulation – GREENGUARD	1

It’s worth mentioning the map only lists health provisions that are cited within a state’s QAP, as a project can still target health priorities in other ways, such as requirements or incentives in building certifications or through a state’s building code. For example, Indiana doesn’t list any health provisions but must have a third-party building certification, allowing a builder options to target a certification that includes health-related provisions.

The most frequent health initiative is limiting the use of non-toxic and/or low VOC products in affordable housing. States vary in toxicity limits for VOCs or other toxic content in products. Some QAPs do not provide a specific limit beyond specifying that low VOC products are to be used, while others reference national air quality standards.

In recent years, states have made few modifications in health provisions, and in a number of cases the growth of building certifications appears to be correlated to this stagnation. State policymakers see the benchmarks for building certifications as prescriptive criteria for preventative measures, and thus third-party certifications are the teeth in setting health provisions.

Definitions for Healthy Building Best Practices  Low/no VOC paints, sealants, adhesives: Paint, sealant, and adhesive products that have no or low VOC content and/or emissions. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a diverse set of chemicals, liquids and solids that can evaporate under ordinary atmospheric conditions. Products can release VOC emissions throughout their life and VOCs are highly reactive pollutants. Low VOC content is commonly based on the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) VOC content standard. Low VOC emissions standards are based on the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Standard Method VOC emissions testing standard and similar 3rd-party low VOC emissions certifications, such as Cradle to Cradle, Green Seal, GREENGUARD Gold, and Indoor Advantage. Fiberglass Insulation – GREENGUARD: Fiberglass insulation products that have been 3rd-party certified to have low VOC emissions by GREENGUARD. Low/no VOC finishes and flooring: Flooring and flooring finishing products that have no or low VOC content and/or emissions. Low VOC content is commonly based on the South Coast Air Quality Management District’s (SCAQMD) VOC content standard. Low VOC emissions standards are based on the California Department of Public Health’s (CDPH) Standard Method VOC emissions testing standard and similar 3rd-party low VOC emissions certifications, such as FloorScore, Cradle to Cradle, GREENGUARD Gold, and Indoor Advantage. Green Label carpeting: Carpet, cushion, and adhesive products that meet the low VOC emissions standard set by the Carpet and Rug Institute. QAPs cite both the Green Label and the Green Label Plus versions of the standard. Formaldehyde Limits: Low-formaldehyde emission limits on certain types of products. Examples include use of formaldehyde-free insulation and sealed board products such as shelving, cabinets and countertops. Air Quality Standards: Promote air quality and ventilation, such as the installation of exhaust fans, meeting ASHRAE ventilation standards, or any other efforts to enhance indoor air quality during construction or to maintain healthy air quality.