In October 2023, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) in the Indian city of Mumbai issued new guidelines concerning air quality management practices to be adopted by builders in the city. Construction and demolition dust pose major challenges to air quality management in India, so the BMC circular was a breath of fresh air for citizens beleaguered by poor air quality.
In the circular, the municipal corporation mandated that construction sites should minimise the dust emitted from them by erecting tin or metal sheets, at least 35 feet in height, around under-construction buildings over 70 metres tall. For construction sites of areas less than one acre, the fencing should be at least 25 feet high. Moreover, all construction sites absolutely must be enclosed by green cloth, jute sheets, or tarpaulin 360 degrees around. The circular also noted that it was compulsory to sprinkle water over debris or earth material to prevent dust from being thrown up into the air.
The guidelines enumerated several measures, like the use of anti-smog guns, dedicated storage for construction material and debris, and rules for vehicles carrying construction material. Most importantly, the BMC mandated that builders deploy sensor-based air pollution monitors at construction sites; should the monitors reveal that pollution levels have exceeded permissible limits, the builder should take immediate action.
Construction sites violating these air quality management guidelines would be sealed and issued notices to stop work.
The need for builders to institute air quality management systems
Construction and demolition dust is a major contributor to air pollution in India. Not only does it affect ambient air quality, particularly in dense urban commercial areas, but it is also particularly hazardous to the health of workers who spend long hours at construction sites.
Simultaneously, air quality management is also a matter of indoor environmental quality. Well-designed and implemented air quality management systems for buildings can make or break occupants’ health, well-being and productivity.
As such, for builders, establishing an air quality management system is a two-faceted process. It involves not only maintaining acceptable levels of air quality during the construction phase but also designing and constructing structures in a way that does not hamper the well-being of those who will eventually occupy them.
Building regulations for air quality management in India
First published in 1970, the National Building Code of India (NBC) is an instrument guiding regulations for building construction across the country. Designed as a Model Code for all agencies involved in building construction, public and private, it lists administrative regulations, development control rules, and general building requirements. It encompasses fire safety requirements, stipulations about construction materials, structural design and construction, building and plumbing services, and approaches to sustainability.
Over the years, the Code has been amended and revised a few times. Today, the National Building Code of India, 2016 – which has been modernised to incorporate advancements in construction techniques and evolving environmental requirements – is in force.
On the indoor air quality management front, the Code calls for the inclusion of new and energy-efficient options for air conditioning, heating, and mechanical ventilation. It calls for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) provisions which consider adaptive thermal comfort for energy efficiency. Additionally, it has specific provisions for HVAC in metro trains and stations, data centres, and healthcare facilities.
Since indoor air quality management is closely linked to energy efficiency in buildings, the Code also touches upon building envelope optimisation.
Beyond the NBC, the Construction and Demolition Waste Management Rules, 2016; the Air (Prevention and Control of Pollution) Act, 1981; the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986; National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS); and state-specific regulations also govern building construction activities as they pertain to air quality management in India.
What can builders do to meet air quality management standards in India?
Clean construction practices. As listed in the aforementioned BMC circular, builders can and must adopt some clean construction practices to minimise their impact on air quality. Commissioned by the Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC), Clean Air Asia has prepared a toolkit on ‘Advancing Better Air Quality with Clean Construction’. This toolkit encompasses a 14-point list of guidelines to reduce dust pollution and enhance air quality management systems during construction, demolition, waste management, operations like drilling and sawing, and material handling and storage.
Clean construction practices also emphasise the importance of building the capacity of project teams, planning for air quality management in the design phase, and equipping workers with personal protective equipment (PPE).
Design elements. Builders must ensure good air quality management systems not only during construction but also after, when the building is in operation as a home, office, or other commercial space. This includes incorporating design elements like efficient mechanical ventilation systems, using materials which do not emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), HVAC systems fitted with appropriate air filters, and more.
Air quality monitors. What isn’t being measured cannot be improved. Builders should use air quality monitors during the construction phase to monitor air pollution levels affecting worker health and ambient air. Additionally, buildings should be strategically fitted with indoor air quality monitoring systems so that occupants can be aware of the quality of air they are breathing and take measures to improve air quality when necessary.
An investment with high returns
Investing in indoor air quality management systems has high returns not only for builders and building owners but also for building occupants.
For builders, for starters, investing in good quality air is a matter of regulatory compliance. Meeting safety and indoor environment quality standards may be mandated by different authorities, as per the location and purpose of the building. As the global air quality situation deteriorates, both indoors and outdoors, regulations governing air quality management will also get more stringent. Failure to comply with these requirements can result in legal action and penalties.
Even when there are no legally enforced standards, as people become more aware of indoor air quality management systems, a failure to deploy them can result in reputational loss. Conversely, prioritising indoor air quality can be a feature that sets you apart from your competitors. Buildings equipped with effective indoor air quality monitoring and management systems demonstrate their commitment to sustainability, human health, and environmental health. Such buildings can even charge tenants and buyers a premium for their comprehensiveness in ensuring occupant health, safety, and well-being.
Finally, beyond the legal and economic imperatives to implement air quality management systems, builders must do their bit to ensure clean indoor air for the sake of people’s health and productivity. Poor indoor air quality has been shown to have detrimental effects on people’s cognition and physical health – these factors affect their ability to work and also compromise their safety in the workplace. Meanwhile, in both commercial and residential buildings, poor indoor environmental quality can affect occupant comfort and health.
At the end of the day, investing in good indoor air is an investment in people’s health and well-being. Builders would do well to prioritise air quality management in all their projects, regardless of the economic and legal imperatives to do so.
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