Introduction -- The context: aim of the guide; objectives; how to use this guide; target audience; justification; policies and regulation; key policies; the role of regulation; responsibilities and roles -- The issues: construction related chemical pollution; scientific uncertainty; indoor climate; the wider environment; materials; benefits of benign specification; increasing market share; the triple bottom line (environment, economy, community) -- Benign construction: design approach: plan of work; roles and responsibilities on site; life cycles; labelling and assessment; life cycle analysis; assessment schemes; ecolabels; culture shift -- Costs: general context; definitions; trade-offs and the lowest option; case studies; the secondary and tertiary benefits; summary and conclusions -- The details: steel frame and concrete block cavity wall; timber kit construction; steel frame construction; rehabilitation; precast concrete

Offers guidance on the use of chemicals in the built environment and ways in which buildings can be designed to reduce toxic loads.