American Society of Interior Designers Releases
Collaborative Design Research Brief with Chemical Insights Research
Institute
The American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), in
collaboration with the Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI)
of UL Research Institutes, unveiled new research today on the
effects of extreme weather and climate events on the built
environment and its occupants. Focusing on the intersection between
science and interior design, “ASID Impact of Design Brief: Climate,
Building Resiliency & Human Health” is the first of two free
resources from ASID and CIRI.
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The extreme weather brief examines the current state of the
environment from a chemical landscape perspective and proposes how
its three leading topics— climate, building resiliency and human
health— can be better considered in an evolving design practice.
The brief explores how weather events impact the built environment
and interior design, the effects of extreme weather on human health
and building resilience, and insight into designing for the
future.
The extreme weather brief will be followed by a second brief
from the ASID-CIRI team; with the second focusing on the effects of
heat. That report is slated for release in the coming months.
“Designers and collaborators in the built environment bear the
responsibility to improve human health through their work, and to
consider new strategies in support of building resiliency,” said
Khoi Vo, chief executive officer, ASID. “With the increase of
extreme weather events and climate change, the interior design
profession must be well-equipped to better understand and
incorporate resilient solutions into their practices. We are
grateful to CIRI for lending their expertise to our community and
contributing to this valuable project.”
Extreme weather events and climate impacts are increasingly
affecting people’s everyday lives—ASID’s “2024 Trends Outlook
Report” found that two-thirds of Americans have experienced extreme
weather events. These types of events react with building materials
and chemicals, creating new challenges in the built environment.
With this uptick in mind, ASID’s research with Chemical Insights
offers interior designers the opportunity to move from a reactive
to proactive approach to help mitigate the risk of these
climate-related impacts and foster a positive impact on occupant
health.
“Our recent research demonstrates that weather changes, like
prolonged elevated temperatures, are changing how materials behave
in the indoor environment,” said Dr. Marilyn Black, vice president
and executive director of CIRI. “CIRI is excited to share our
research knowledge with ASID so interior designers and
manufacturers can be leaders and stewards for advancing healthy and
sustainable living and working spaces.”
ASID’s collaboration with CIRI provides deeper data to inform
designers in their practices. Notable findings include:
Poor indoor air quality puts nearly 40% of
the U.S. population at risk for serious health problems. On
average, people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors,
breathing 15,000 liters of air a day. Weather and climate disasters
impact the built environment and increase chemical and particle
exposure to poor indoor air quality.
The levels of indoor chemical pollutants
exceed those of the outdoor environment by at least two-fold.
Occupants in the built environment face a complex mixture of
chemicals. While new rating systems, product declaration
statements, protocols and regulations have been introduced, the
increase in extreme weather events has created novel challenges
beyond carbon emissions that change the way materials behave in
these new environments.
Buildings are being designed to mitigate
the impact of external environmental stressors, including high
winds, storms, fire and severe heat; however, there are also many
internal stressors that can contribute to a building’s resilience,
affecting the health of occupants. These may include temperature,
chemicals, dust and fine particles, humidity and mold, allergens
and endotoxins, viruses, bacteria and other biologicals.
Beyond extreme weather events, designers
must also consider smaller, more daily occurrences. For
example, longer and warmer summers can increase temperatures and
subsequently increase chemical emissions from synthetic materials,
while greater amounts of heat and moisture with more frequent
thunderstorms may create conditions conducive to mold.
The report concludes with a forward-facing look at how interior
designers can improve building resiliency and mitigate
climate-related outcomes for occupants. These strategies are:
Use an integrative design approach.
Bring the owner, design team, and other experts and stakeholders
together early in the design process to establish goals, set
priorities and identify occupant risks.
Proactively evaluate potential
impacts. Prioritize materials, finishes and furnishings that
minimize risks to human health to reduce indoor pollution and
achieve greater resiliency.
Convey strategies and assess outcomes.
Communicate to ensure alignment, engage stakeholders and
demonstrate results for greater transparency and trust.
Furthermore, monitor outcomes by recording both qualitative and
quantitative effects on users to reconsider occupant risk.
The brief is now available for interior designers, industry
professionals, and the general public.
ASID research fellow, Dr. S. Dawn Haynie, and Holley Henderson,
director of strategic partnerships and education at CIRI, will
present on the findings of the CIRI brief at the following industry
conferences:
- Coverings Atlanta, Georgia; Wednesday, April 24, 2024
- GATHER Catalyst Denver, Colorado; Tuesday, August 13, 2024
For more information on the “ASID Impact of Design Brief:
Climate, Building Resiliency & Human Health,” visit:
https://www.asid.org/resources/resources/view/resource-center/358
About ASID
The American Society of Interior Designers believes that design
impacts lives. Through its programs, networks, and advocacy, ASID
serves all those who are a part of the interior design profession
and practice. This support extends to their membership,
encompassing practitioners of all levels of training across all
sectors of design, to Affiliate Members and Partners to represent
all contributors to the built environment. ASID thrives on the
strength of cross-functional and interdisciplinary relationships
among designers of all specialties, including workplace,
healthcare, retail and hospitality, education, institutional, and
residential. As a leader in shared conversations around topics that
matter in design, from evidence-based and human-centric design to
social responsibility, well-being, and sustainability, ASID
showcases the impact of design on the human experience and the
value interior designers provide.
ASID will mark its 50th anniversary in 2025. Celebrating 50
years of industry leadership, ASID is committed to broadening the
impact for the future of design in all of the places we work, play,
and heal. Learn more at asid.org.
About Chemical Insights Research Institute
Chemical Insights Research Institute (CIRI) of UL Research
Institutes is a nonprofit organization dedicated to scientific
research, publication, education, and communication on
environmental exposures resulting from technologies and practices,
their impact on human health, and processes for reducing health
risks. CIRI provides actionable data and resources to help
manufacturers, educators, healthcare providers, and consumers make
informed environmental health decisions and risk reduction
strategies for the protection of human health.
About UL Research Institutes
UL Research Institutes is a nonprofit research organization
dedicated to advancing public safety through scientific discovery.
Since 1894, our research has advanced our mission toward a safer,
more secure, and sustainable future. Focused on global risks from
fire mitigation and air quality to safe energy storage and digital
privacy, we conduct rigorous independent research, analyze safety
data and partner with experts to uncover and act on existing and
emerging risks to human safety.
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Bert Kelly Chemical Insights Research Institute of UL Research
Institutes Bert.Kelly@ul.org 1-470-957-7854 Nicole Chacon, Senior
Account Executive Novità Communications
nicolechacon@novitapr.com