Some materials provide a better alternative in an application dominated by products for which there are concerns about toxic constituents, intermediaries, or by-products. With the panoply of products made with polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and brominated flame retardants, some products are green simply because they provide an alternative. Examples of this are natural wall coverings, drain and vent piping, and roofing membranes. Some green products are free of hazards common to the product category; for example, LED lighting is inherently free of the mercury found in fluorescent lighting sources.
However, it’s worth noting that without transparency about actual ingredients, there’s no guarantee that a product won’t have less common or less well-known hazards that the manufacturer isn’t talking about. We use Pharos’s Chemical and Material Library to assess less well-known hazards, and we encourage manufacturers to review the hazardous properties of all chemicals they use and seek out safer materials.
Speedheater Infrared Paint Remover
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Included here are various erosion-control products, foundation products that eliminate the need for excavation, and exterior stains that result in lower VOC emissions into the atmosphere. Fluorescent lamp and ballast recyclers and low-mercury fluorescent lamps reduce environmental impacts during maintenance and disposal of luminaires.
The Speedheater Infrared (IR) Paint Remover heats paint to soften it for easy removal with a scraper. The approximately 4 lb. machine puts out 1,100W for 20–60 seconds to heat a 12" x 5" area up to 400°, safely below the temperature at which wood burns or lead paint releases toxic gas.
Paint strippers can be effective for encapsulating lead paint or where a clean surface for new paint is required. However, stripping old paint is generally more expensive and time consuming than scraping or replacing lead contaminated surfaces and is usually reserved for historic buildings, or architectural details or furniture where it is important to preserve the materials.
Conventional chemical paint strippers contain methylene chloride, a potent carcinogen, and should be avoided. There are effective, less toxic citrus-, soy-based, and other environmentally responsible paint strippers available, although these usually take longer to work. Surfaces treated with chemical strippers need to be rinsed thoroughly before applying a new coat of paint.
Infrared heat guns can also be effective, but avoid high-temperature heat guns (above 1,100°F) that could volatilize lead.
Mechanical strippers have to be attached to a HEPA vacuum but are very effective since they also remove a thin layer of wood, exposing fresh grain that holds paint well.
GreenSpec lists products including bio-based or biodegradable chemical strippers, infrared heat guns, and mechanical strippers with HEPA vacuum attachments.
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