Publication on building materials

Damage done by off-gasing to heritage collections is well documented
in the conservation literature.  However for a collection manager,
the exercise of selecting appropriate construction materials for new
construction or renovation which will not off-gas is difficult.  For
anyone contemplating renovation or construction, the publication
"Materials for the Environmentally Hypersensitive" by Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation is a must read.

Although the publication does not focus on conservation per se,
there are many excellent considerations equally applicable to
conservation.  Every component typically used in construction from
concrete to roofing systems are discussed. The recommendation  "to
specify low-toxicity for-release agents" for me was worth the price
of the book. Besides product evaluation, there is a useful a list of
suppliers of speciality products.  Again the title is "Building
Materials for the Environmentally Hypersensitive" and it is a Canada
Mortgage and Housing Corporation publication. The cost is $29.95
(Can). ISBN 0-662-21107-3. Copies can be ordered directly from CMHC
at 800-668-2642 in  Canada or 416-255-6015 outside of Canada.

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                  Conservation DistList Instance 11:33
                 Distributed: Thursday, October 9, 1997
                       Message Id: cdl-11-33-007
                                  ***