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Environmental Health Network |
EHN [of California] P.O. Box 1155 Larkspur, California, 94977-0074 Support and Information Line (SAIL) 415.541.5075 |
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Environmental Health Network |
EHN [of California] P.O. Box 1155 Larkspur, California, 94977-0074 Support and Information Line (SAIL) 415.541.5075 |
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Cleaner-Air signage and pictogram 2001 Code Adoption Cycle. 
Symbol adapted by Connie Barker Meeting: November 28 -- 10 a.m. 400 "R" Street Sacramento, California California's PDF file: http://www.bsc.ca.gov/documents/45-day_period/dsaac-cbc-45-et.pd
Following is the text as it appears in the Building Codes PDF file, pages 90 and 91. -- barb
1117B.5.12.1 Color and size of symbol. The symbol shall be used when the following minimum conditions are met. The symbol, which shall include the text "Cleaner Air" as shown, shall be displayed either as a negative or positive image within a square which is a minimum of 6-inches on each side. The symbol may be shown in black and white or in color. When color is used, it shall be Federal Blue (Color No. 15090 Federal Standard 595B) on white or white on Federal Blue, there shall be at least a 70% color contrast between the background of the sign from the surface that it is mounted on. Strictly for publicly funded public facilities or any facilities leased or rented by State of California. Not concessionaires. 1117B.5.12.2 Conditions of Use. Use of the cleaner-air symbol is voluntary. The Clean Air Symbol shall be permitted for use to identify a path of travel, and a room or a facility when the following is met:
Sharon Toji, designer of Cleaner Air sign
1 changes in standards 2 proposed changes 3 2001 Code Adoption Cycle 4 Division of the State Architect - Access Compliance 5 CBC - Express Terms (pdf) 6 Go to Section #1117B.5.12 If you have any further questions, feel free to let me know. Elizabeth Randolph Division of the State Architect (916) 324-5591 (Phone)
CBSC adopting Cleaner Air Signage - The 2001 cycle - Meeting: November 28 10 a.m. 400 "R" Street, Sacramento
Do you face barriers to your safe access to housing and medical facilities? The designated Contact Persons, for our questions regarding modifications to the California Building Standards, are:
State Housing Law Program Manager Department of Housing and Community Development Tel.: (916) 445-9471 E-mail: Fax: (916) 327-4712
Susan M. Botelho
Please attend if you are able - a public show of support for this effort is essential, but CALL FIRST to be sure the CBSC schedule hasn't been changed (again). Get the schedule updates or other details from Michael Mankin, Access Compliance office, Division of the State Architect, at (916) 322-4700 or Linda Huber at (916) 324-9495. THANKS! Susan Molloy
http://www.access-board.gov/news/fragrance.htm In September of this year, the Board undertook the issue of indoor air quality. See Board to Undertake Research on Indoor Air Quality (9/17/01) Solicitation for Bids Issued. This bid process closed October 30, 2001. http://www.access-board.gov/news/indoorair-notice.htm In December 1998, the Sierra Club's Conservation Committee and Executive Committee adopted a resolution regarding fragrance-free public venues. The resolution follows. The already chemically injured need safer paths of travel and cleaner air when attending to their needs in publicly funded facilities. Please adopted the proposed cleaner air signage and pictogram that is part of your 2001 Code Cycle: 1117B.5.12 Cleaner-Air Sign [Figure 11B-40]. Thank you. Sincerely, Barbara Wilkie President EHN ---- 98.12.01 Excessive Use of Fragrance Products in Public Places [The Sierra Club's resolution was printed out for the Commission.] http://sanfranciscobay.sierraclub.org/policy/december1998.htm
Michael Nearman and Stanley Nishimura, Executive Director Dear Mr. Nearman and Mr Nishimura: As a person who lives with Multiple Chemical Sensitivity -- symptoms which include chemical-induced asthma, migraines, sinusitis, rhinitis, laryngitis, fibromyalgia, aphasia ... I can assure you that by adopting 1117B.5.12 Cleaner-Air Sign [Figure 11B-40] as part of your 2001 Code Cycle, you would do much to improve the quality of my access to state buildings and the quality of my health while in state buildings on personal business. The US Access Board has acknowledged that synthetic chemicals adversely affect health and access for those already chemically injured, and because of this, the Board is now pursuing efforts to improve indoor air -- turning IAP into IAQ (Pollution to Quality). See "Board Adopts Policy to Promote Fragrance-Free Environments" at http://www.access-board.gov/ news/fragrance.htm and "Solicitation for Bids Issued," which closed October 30, 2001. http://www.access-board.gov/news/indoorair-notice.htm. The National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (NIEHS) has spelled out for us a few known indoor air pollutants in their "Common Indoor Air Pollutants." They list:
http://www.niehs.nih.gov/external/faq/indoor.htm The barriers we face to our access are invisible. Not a single individual -- the still healthy nor the already chemically injured -- can see the odors emitted by such commonly used janitorial and maintenance products as pesticides, cleaners, fragrance-emitting devices, paint, new carpets, adhesives, fresh wax, etc. We need signage to indicate the hallways that will be less problematic to travel to reach areas where the air is safer in which to conduct our business. The Americans with Disabilities Act gives us a right to access. The California Building Standards Commission can do something about that right in this year. I cannot imagine spending another three long years waiting for signage that serves all the public as both common sense and common courtesy. The California Building Standards Commission can do much for the already chemically injured by adopting 1117B.5.12 Cleaner-Air Sign. We are all stakeholders when it comes to breathing.
Sincerely,
1117B.5.12.1 Color and size of symbol. 1117B.5.12.2 Conditions of Use. 1117B.5.12.3 Removal of symbol. As it now stands, California citizens who may have a lower tolerance for airborne pollution, estimated at 15.9 percent of the population by California Department of Health Services in 1996,[1] are put in harm's way by virtue of the fact that no one -- not even one of us -- has clear indication of the invisible, nonetheless formidable barriers to our safe access. For the substantial subset of people who, for whatever reason, are vulnerable -- infants and children, the elderly, people who have previous chemical injury, and those with pre-existing or inherited conditions -- there has been no effective protection. Those who experience adverse events when encountering the chemical and/or electromagnetic barriers, often feel as though we have just walked into a solid wall, or off a precipice. This symbol, if intent is adhered to, will do much to guide us safely as we go about our business in publicly-funded facilities or any facility leased or rented by the state of California, excluding concessionaires. Sincerely, Barbara Wilkie EHN President ---- [1] A Report on MCS : The Interagency Workgroup on Multiple Chemical Sensitivity August 24, 1998 Predecisional Draft http://www.health.gov/environment/mcs/II.htm
Dear Mr. Nearman and Mr. Nishimura: Re: 2001 Code Adoption Cycle as described in pages 90-91 of Monograph, 1117B.5.12 Cleaner Air Sign, Figure 11B-40
I am writing in strong support of CBSC's adoption of the Cleaner-Air signage and pictogram during the proposed change in this 2001 Code Adoption Cycle. The proposed change would include:
1117B.5.12.1 Color and size of symbol. 1117B.5.12.2 Conditions of Use. 1117B.5.12.3 Removal of symbol.
It is not a case of misery loves company, rather, it is a case of not officially recognizing that cleaner air benefits ALL people, while allowing access to the already injured. Perhaps this will become that critical first step down the path of cleaner air throughout buildings, not just along a designated safer path of travel. If CBSC doesn't take a just stand for cleaner air by adopting these proposed changes, you may rest assured that publicly-funded facilities or any facility leased or rented by the state of California, will not take that step, and therefore we who are already living with chemical injury will continue to be without vital services. And frankly, from personal experience, I know that government agencies will not take that step toward access -- be it an accessible restroom, a doorway, a flashing and buzzing emergency signal, or cleaner air -- unless it is decreed. Therefore, I beseech you to adopt the changes supporting 1117B.5.12 Cleaner-Air Sign. Sincerely, Barbara Wilkie
Please write to the FDA in support of EHN's petition, requesting warning labels on synthetic fragrances released to market without adequate testing. That regulation is in place, the FDA does not implement it. This petition includes analyses of fragrances. http://www.ehnca.org/www/FDApetition/bkgrinfo.htm
Reference Docket Number 99P-1340/CP 1, and e-mail, fax or mail to the FDA.
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2/1/2000
The Environmental Health Network (EHN) [of California] is a 501 (c) (3) non profit agency and offers support and information for the chemically injured. HomePage is http://www.ehnca.org