6th colloquium “The Health Building Challenges”

Against the background of the resumption of activity in the building industry, health is more than ever displayed as a growth driver thanks to the technical innovations it generates.

From design to renovation, health has become an essential element for prime contractors and clients. For the past twenty years, awareness of indoor air quality (IAQ) has also opened up areas of reflection for the construction industry. Whole sections of it have found new areas of research and development in health protection.

This year "The Health Building Challenges" will take stock of the improvements and innovations from these sectors: LEDs, acoustics, asbestos removal, measurement and prediction of IAQ, air filtration and ventilation, photocatalysis, etc.

Note: the National Health Security Agency (ANSES) will explain the conclusions of its expertise on the new communicating meters including Linky and on the assessment of exposure to electromagnetic fields. During this day will also be discussed the means of integrating health early in the awareness of companies and in the initial training of building professionals and even among high school students as well as outside the works, in urban planning.

Call for candidates for the “Building Health Innovations” Trophies

At each edition, the colloquium "Les Défis Bâtiment Santé" rewards buildings where health has been particularly taken into account for its design as well as technical innovations.

This year 4 categories were selected:

• "Innovative Health Approaches" category: All the operations in which health has been a criterion taken into account in awareness-raising operations and in the construction of public or private buildings, tertiary or housing, etc. can participate.
• Category "Innovative IAQ Measures": Metrology technologies: sensors and analyzers for the detection and identification of different pollutants, models for predicting IAQ.
• “Innovative IAQ improvement technologies” category: Technologies for reducing indoor air pollutants: filtration, purification, ventilation, etc.
• “Innovative products” category: New structural or secondary work products, equipment, fittings, buildings with a favorable impact on health.

From January 16 to March 17, candidates are invited to submit their application on the conference site first and then their files. Email: trophiesbatimentsante@gmail.com

The jury made up of representatives from CNOA, CIDB, ​​OQAI, ADEME, AQC, CETIAT, CEREMA, INERIS-LCSQA, CODEM and MEDIECO will meet in early May. The winners will be announced at a press conference in May and the Trophies will be awarded on the day of the conference on June 15.

To know more : www.defisbatimentsante.fr

3 questions to Suzanne Déoux, founder and director of the Les Défis Bâtiment Santé conference

Why did you place this 6th edition under the sign of innovation?

Health is often seen as a constraint and not as a possibility of innovation. In addition, innovation thought only as technological progress without a multidisciplinary approach can become a health problem.

The gradual deterioration of the air in our interior spaces and its health impacts, especially respiratory impacts, imposes and accelerates innovation relating to materials, measurement tools, methodologies. After asbestos and formaldehyde, we realize that innovation comes to the aid of the health problems it has helped to create.

How will innovation in terms of health support the recovery announced in the building industry?

The “health” innovation makes it possible to meet the growing demand for well-being inside buildings. So to bring new and original solutions which are added to the classic construction lots. This involves optimizing the acoustic qualities of buildings, improving the perception of light, whether natural or not, protection against electromagnetic fields and always preserving good indoor air quality.

Would you say that the world of construction is now mature on the question of taking health into account?

Not yet. Buildings can be energy efficient, but do not necessarily offer a high quality of life for users. We wonder about the common good with the fight against global warming and still very little about the well-being of the individual in buildings. The latter are not yet sufficiently considered as places constituting the health of its occupants.

This consideration is the challenge of this conference.