Objectives of the AGEC and RE 2020 law, what is the place of health?

Admittedly, the RE 2020 finally imposes, for only new residential buildings, an obligation to verify the correct functioning of the ventilation system at the vents, an important determinant of good air quality in buildings. Will a more global health approach be reflected in a regulatory label, incentive but not compulsory, as if we were only building for the environment and not yet for humans?

In February 2020, the law relating to the fight against waste and the circular economy, known as the AGEC law, included, in its article 51, the priority of the reuse of products and materials during demolition or significant rehabilitation work. Otherwise, their recovery by the recommended recycling channels must ensure their reusable nature, but the evaluation criteria are not specified. Can we hope that their health impact will be considered?

The pressure is therefore strong to promote reuse, reuse, recycling, local ... Like any new approach, the circular economy raises economic issues, structuring of the sector, skills. When discussing the issues of recycling or reuse, the brakes most often cited by building professionals and owners are the lack of knowledge of the concepts and methods of using these materials as well as the problem of insurability and regulatory constraints. In addition to these various issues, the health issue is rarely mentioned. Their possible impact on the air quality of the buildings where they will be used is not even addressed and is therefore not the subject of recommendations in the building labels and certifications.

It is to address all these questions that the next conference LES CHALLENGES BÂTIMENT SANTÉ (June 24, 2021) focused on "CIRCULAIR ECONOMY, HEALTH IN THE LOOP" will take stock of actions, innovations and achievements that include a health reflection in recycling, reuse and reuse operations, in the building products and equipment sector. Low-carbon materials, whether biobased, recycled, reused, reused, will experience accelerated development. How can we ensure that they are healthy for humans?

Circular economy, healthier materials?

"Within the 2020 RE, reduce the environmental impact of new buildings, by controlling their carbon footprint as soon as they are built, trace the materials that will be used or even improve the comfort of residents, by adapting housing to the new climate, such as episodes of strong heat wave, are transversal ways of paying attention to the health of users " testifies Corinne Langlois, Architect and Chief Urban Planner of the State, Deputy Director of Architecture, Construction Quality and Living Environment Ministry of Culture.

Unlike construction or decoration products, whether or not they contain a fraction of secondary raw materials, materials resulting from reuse are not subject to mandatory labeling of emissions of volatile pollutants (introduced by decree no. 2011-321 of March 23, 2011) as well as the regulations relating to carcinogenic, mutagenic or reprotoxic compounds of categories 1 and 2 (decrees of April 30 and May 28, 2009).

"During material reuse operations, health must be taken into account: it is also a regulatory requirement to eliminate products containing asbestos or lead ... Among the necessary developments and depending on the date of implementation of the products, it is necessary in particular to work on the evaluation of the emissions of biocides, volatile compounds in particular formaldehyde " explains Stéphane Le Guirriec, CEO of Agyre, a national hub for the circular economy in construction, created in early 2020.

"In the AGEC law, only articles 13 and 14 deal with a health aspect", underlines Suzanne Déoux, doctor of medicine, initiator of health engineering in the built and urban environment and HEALTH BUILDING CHALLENGES. "In fact, in order to inform consumers, in particular pregnant women, an article is inserted in the public health code which obliges to affix a pictogram or to have recourse to another means of marking, labeling or display of certain categories of products containing substances of an endocrine disrupting nature. However, this does not directly concern products resulting from reuse or recycling. This aspect is however mentioned in one of the actions of the 2nd National Strategy on Endocrine Disruptors ( SNPE2): do not recycle and put back on the market products containing endocrine disruptors and develop waste disposal channels containing endocrine disruptors ".

Some assume that the materials resulting from the reuse are favorable to air quality and consider that the emissions of volatile substances are low because they occurred during their first use. However, Suzanne Déoux draws attention to the need for a health assessment when reuse of certain products: "The wood-based panels retained in a reuse process may result in significant formaldehyde emission levels, firstly depending on the type of glue used (ie its ability to resist hydrolysis) , then if they are reused in their raw form, and finally, if the coating applied does not create a barrier effect.Emissions measurements, as for new products, must therefore be carried out and mentioned in the FDES of the panels. re-used wood ".

A collaborative challenge already engaged

In less than a year, a regulatory framework will be put in place: the 2020 environmental regulations (RE 2020) to prioritize the reduction of the carbon footprint of new projects. Then, the implementing decree for the Products-Materials-Waste (PMD) diagnostic provides for estimating the nature and quantity of reusable elements in demolition or heavy rehabilitation operations (more than 1 m²).

The sector is therefore getting organized concretely and some players did not wait: "Architects have been working for a long time to limit waste. We must not forget that the best waste is that which is not produced! They therefore work first to transform the existing one, to adapt it and to avoid demolish it. We find the notion of evolving building according to needs and stages of life " specifies Corinne Langlois, "to build, they often use short circuits. Many use hemp, wood, earth, straw ... in a logic of proximity. Of course, they can also use recycled materials, but we must not forget : Architects strongly engage their professional responsibility on the projects they lead. They are therefore very sensitive to the quality of the materials they use. Insurance contracts encourage them to be cautious, also with regard to health risks ".

For Nicolas Masson, CEO of Evertree, a company specializing in plant chemistry, which designs bio-based resins for wood panels, without formaldehyde and without isocyanate, "The initiative goes through the public or private client. He is the key actor because at the origin of the project and arbiter of funding. But all the actors must be on board! And for that, there are two complementary aspects: communication, which involves raising awareness, and training… And then, let's hope that the next regulations, by 2025, include indoor air quality in the requirements! ".