History of HiBR

History of Health in Buildings Roundtable (HiBR), a unique “floating thinktank”

In 1994, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Office of Research Facilities (ORF), which is responsible for managing NIH properties, began a program called "The Healthy Building Initiative" to inform the work of NIH facility managers in considering the built environment as a contributor to health. This led to an in-depth review by the NIH ORF of building design and construction practices, and the realization that little attention was paid to designs that support occupant health.

Over time, this NIH initiative, envisioned by Charles Blumberg, became the Health in Buildings Roundtable (HiBR) and invited others involved in facilities management and building design from the government, private sector, and academic and professional organizations to provide additional perspectives. The goal of the HiBR is to identify, through available human research and professional best practices, the effects of building design and maintenance on health and wellness of building occupants and develop a set of shared values and best practices as a professional resource. The Roundtable is not a formal decision-making body, does not conduct or support research, and does not set official policy or guidelines. Any products resulting from the initiative are intended solely as a resource for professionals in facilities management and building design and construction.

Context

The world’s leading countries and President Biden are in process of taking actions and establishing partners to mitigate Climate Change impacts and control the COVID-19 pandemic while planning for the inevitable next global threat from the virus, and most recently, mold and antibiotic - resistant infections. Since in the US, people spend over 90% of their lives inside and around buildings, a sustainable health plan must include public health, social, economic, and logistical health challenges such as “health disparities,” “sustainable health/safety models,” technology and “other critical health/wellness issues” in and around buildings. This requires diverse, innovative and unfettered explorations of theories, research and thinking differently on those influences impacting health and well-being outcomes - to identify strategies through the built environment to both “optimize” health and human productivity and prevent illness in concert with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) definition of health: “Health is a state of complete physical mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”

HiBR has been a voluntary national initiative comprised of innovative and collaborative professionals across a range of disciplines: scientists, researchers, architects, engineers, interior designers, biophilic designers, city planning and partnering experts, making connections, and following alleyways of known and unknown discoveries in health and safety for people in buildings. This can only be done to best advantage by having no political, hierarchical constraints and obligations. Only the unbridled passion to protect human health. We are in a watershed moment, in the midst of multiple crises: a pandemic that will repeat and global warming which will destroy us all if not contained; issues of human rights and equity; wars causing large migrations, and human starvation. So, what is the role of buildings? For work, home, shelter, hospitals, government, agriculture. From government agencies such as GSA, NIH NASA, DOE, and academia. We have a robust scholars program whereby post-docs and adjunct professors present posters, execute in field projects, teach, and do research.

Our Roundtable members in Science, Research, Policy, Academia are Interdisciplinary

Researchers, Practitioners, Physicians, Professors. Civil and Environmental; Engineers, Public Health Analysts, CDR, US Public Health Service, Environmental Compliance Officer Architects, Designers, Associate Professors, City Planners, Public Housing Practitioners, FASID, LEED Fellow, IIDA, Administrators, Industry, Materials, Construction

Government agencies such as: NASA, U.S. Department of Energy, CDC, NSF, GSA, FDA, HHS, NIH.

Universities: USC, Georgia Tech, Yale, Syracuse University, RUTGERS, University of Washington, EMOR, Andrew Weil Center for Integrative Medicine University of Arizona at Tucson Pittsburgh Howard University, UCSF, ASU, Denver University, University of Maryland, Drexel, University of Florida, Iowa State University, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Georgia Southern, MARYMOUNT.

Private, non-profit industry: Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, International Well Building Institute. National Center for Environmental Health Strategies, ASID.ORG, USGBC.ORG, Nemours/A I DuPont Hospital for Children (retired), National Center of Excellence on SMART Innovations for Urban Climate + Energy; Nanoscale Transport Processes, HABITATS.COM, Greening the City LLC, Center For Active Design, American Council for an Energy Efficient Economy (ACEEE) , healingdesign.com, Integrative Sciences LLC, d/b/a DigitalGovX architecturalhealth.com, ncehs.org, taylorcx.com, NNOVATIVEWORKPLACEINSTITUTE.ORG. DELOS.COM, Indigo JLD/ Penn Urban Health Lab, YANGARCH.COM , GBAPGH.ORG, HELENAVANVLIET.COM

HiBR Working Groups have collaborated on several complex issues

Water and Indoor Moisture

This group is composed of professionals working in Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) and Water Intrusion in buildings, as well as in other related disciplines. Mold, Mycotoxins and VOC’s from molds, Microorganisms and Bacteria from moisture all contribute to the chemical and composition of the air inside buildings. The mold levels inside should be lower than outside, and this is determined by moisture content, and presence or absence of contaminated drywall or leaks in a building that can cause subsequent ill health.

The health effects are not just related to the respiratory system and this has been debated by experts for years. We will present the data for neurologic and autoimmune health effects as indoor mold is the most common and the prototype for the development of Chemical Sensitivity and Chronic Fatigue in this country.

Indoor Air Quality

Studies have shown that people spend most of their time indoors (offices, homes, schools, etc.), where concentrations of pollutants are much higher than those outside. IAQ refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures. Poor IAQ will affect the health, comfort, and productivity of occupants in buildings. Some health problems associated with poor indoor air quality include among others; Covid-19 Virus, Legionnaires’ disease, lung cancer from radon exposure, smoking/exposure to smoke and Asbestos/Particulate matter and carbon monoxide poisoning.

The Indoor Air Quality Work Group strives to improve the indoor air quality in buildings. Members of the group examine the impacts of IAQ on human health and address priorities for reducing exposure to pathogens and indoor air pollution in buildings. Specify the purchase of safer chemical alternatives for all indoor environment needs. Allow for fresh air exchange in home. For sensitive patients use charcoal air filter to cleanse air of chemicals-- not just a hepa filter which only does particulates. Don’t allow respiratory exposure to chemicals including but not limited to pesticides, herbicides, carbon monoxide, chlorine, formaldehyde, phenol, and alcohol methane gas, and gas sources for heating both raw and combusted.

Psychosocial Outcomes and Urban Greenspace

This group is composed of professionals working at the intersections of design, psychology, and public health. Quantifiable benefits for human performance and well-being metrics such as productivity, emotional well-being, stress reduction, circadian balance, learning, and healing have been established through recent scientific research. Places and spaces, which offer multi-sensory vibrancy, akin to that found in healthy natural environments, and a rich interplay of Biophilic design elements and patterns are measurably experienced as physiologically restorative and as neurologically nourishing. Our work seeks to understand and translate research on these aspects of the environment-human relationship that support well-being into the design of the built and natural environment. We consider how design in tune with human biology supports quality of life, positively affecting human well-being as evidenced by immune system strength, hormonal balance, cognitive well-being, and psycho-social well-being.

Physical Activity

This group of professionals study the effects of sedentary behavior when inside buildings. Physical activity is movement that is carried out by the skeletal muscles that requires energy. In other words, any movement one does is physical activity. We spend 93% of our lives in buildings; often sitting in front of computers for hours, using convenience email, texting, elevators, escalators, walking sidewalks. Sedentary behavior is linked to heart disease, stress, Arthritis, weakness, irritability, and high blood pressure. Start with your commute. Walk or bike to work. Stand up and work. Look for ways to get out of your chair. Take fitness breaks. Bring a fitness ball to work. Use a “stand-up desk” or “active workstation”. Every 20 minutes, look away from the screen, stand up, walk around, and stretch. Hold a walking meeting. At minimum, exercise at your desk. Walk to another area to talk with a colleague instead of sending an e-mail. Take the stairs. Take a walk after lunch or dinner - maybe INSTEAD of having dessert! At home we sit in front of TVs using remote voice or gadget controls to do our work. Regular physical activity can help protect you from the following health problems. Heart Disease and Stroke can reduce blood pressure in those with high blood pressure levels, and reduces body fat, which is associated with high blood pressure.

Measurement Methods for Human Health

This group is composed of professionals working to review the data relating exposure to the disabling health conditions of Chemical and Sensitivity and many chronic neurologic, endocrine, and immune disorders.

HiBR has hosted Four National Conferences on Health and the Sustainable Built Environment. Topics include

Policies in Buildings to Improve Health

Integration with existing building standards and rating systems, Health Product Declarations (HPDs), material transparency, LEED v4 materials credits, corporate wellness programming, new or existing policies, design/operations guidance, specialized buildings and amenities (lactation rooms, Biosafes, labs), integration with existing building standards and rating system, nutrition and exercise policies, and/or health insurance providers and programs.
Building Practices to Improve Health

Fitwel/WELL/LEED scorecard crosswalk, air quality standards, indoor air quality (IAQ) testing, water management, building materials, physical activity (stair usage), lighting (natural and views), chemicals and odors, acoustics, specialized areas, radon gas measurement, and/or indoor environment quality (IEQ) strategies
Community Solutions to Improve Health

Neighborhood planning, green space and biophilia, addiction abatement, smoking cessation, public housing, city planning, outdoor noise, outdoor pollution, stress reduction, obesity reduction, and/or access to physical activity
Emerging Technologies to Track and Improve Health

Technologies to measure health outcomes, technologies to measure environmental quality (indoor and outdoor), building controls and sensors, wearable technologies, electromagnetic radiation, and/or circadian rhythm studies

In 2022, HiBR program operations at NIH came to a close, and the initiative was handed off to Integrative Sciences LLC for interim leadership and continuity.