Safety, Innovation & Sustainability in the Built Environment

Building for sustainability and safety

The building and construction sectors are among the largest greenhouse gas emitters, accounting for over a third of global emissions. Achieving net-zero emissions in the built environment requires continuous investments and innovation — including the adoption of sustainable, low-emission materials — to reduce buildings’ energy use. But occupant safety and comfort must also remain guiding principles.

Building for sustainability and safety

By adopting thoughtful and forward-thinking practices, you can balance these essential principles and integrate new technologies and sustainable materials while prioritizing safety and innovation.

How does the additional layer of sustainability impact the industry?

It expands the responsibilities of architects, real estate developers, building owners and policymakers while impacting the sourcing and use of building materials. Manufacturers of building materials and building systems must continue introducing more sustainable products into the marketplace while continuing to comply with existing building safety requirements. Regulatory officials are understanding how sustainability and energy efficiency requirements are combined with traditional building safety.

Proven strategies for decarbonizing the built environment

Meaningful progress has been made in energy efficiency through better insulation, energy-efficient windows and doors, more water-efficient fire sprinkler design, and energy conservation through smart-enabled fire protection systems. Distributed energy resources (DERs), including solar and battery energy storage systems (BESS), are also used to help reduce emission intensity by decarbonizing power generation and heating.

Amid these advancements in the built environment, safety, including fire safety, remain foundational.

Reducing fire risk is essential not just for protecting lives and property, but also for supporting sustainability goals. Building fires pose a significant threat to sustainable development, which is why the United Nations adopted the International Fire Safety Standards (IFSS) Common Principles — the first global fire safety standard endorsed by the United Nations (UN). These principles were embraced in part because they align with several of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals by promoting global strategies to mitigate fire risk in the built environment.

The consequences of fire go far beyond immediate damage

Fires can have long-term environmental and economic repercussions, including loss of life, destruction of property, harmful emissions and the loss of carbon-intensive materials. They can also tarnish corporate reputations and disrupt communities. In short, sustainability is not just about achieving decarbonization — it’s about achieving it safely.

A changing built environment

The places where we live, work and play must keep up with a constantly changing environment. Extreme weather events such as hurricane-strength winds, heat waves, wildfires and cold spells make it essential to create enclosed spaces that are built to resist the elements and protect us. At the same time, new building and construction materials as well as products brought inside our buildings present potential safety hazards, such as electronics and appliances.

Take the Grenfell Tower tragedy, in which an electrical fault in a refrigerator sparked a fire on the fourth floor of the building. Upon reaching the exterior of the building, the fire spread quickly, ultimately claiming the lives of 72 people. The building’s exterior construction and cladding, which had been added to improve thermal performance, was later cited as a primary cause of the fire spread.

Addressing safety, performance and sustainability in the built environment

To keep up with the evolving changes in the built environment, municipal regulations like Local Law 97 in New York City, which aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from buildings, have been put in place to accelerate innovation and stimulate the deployment of new technologies and more sustainable materials.

Amid these shifts, physical safety and sustainability remain essential for all elements of the built environment, including:

• Insulation materials
• Interior finish products
• Fire-stopping devices
• Bidirectional electric vehicle (EV) charging

In addition, there are many ways to design buildings to better withstand fire. During the 2025 Los Angeles fires, several homes survived due to built-in fire-resistant features such as:

• Fenced-off or vegetation-free yards
• Minimalist landscaping with native, fire-adapted plants
• Fire-resistant metal roofs and walls
• Outdoor sprinkler systems

Just as important was the homeowners’ preparedness. Simple actions like keeping flammable materials away from the home and larger investments in fireproofing made a significant difference. Such protective measures typically added between 3% and 10% to the overall cost of the home, but they played a crucial role in safeguarding lives and property.

As fire risks continue to rise, the need for integrated, comprehensive systems, protocols and strategies to address safety, performance and sustainability for the built environment becomes even more urgent.

Examples of evolving sustainability technologies, materials and strategies that potentially carry risk and complexity

Examples of evolving sustainability technologies, materials and strategies that potentially carry risk and complexity include:

Advanced materials – Ongoing research into fire-resistant and energy-efficient insulation is critical to achieving sustainability goals without compromising safety. Similarly, materials such as steel protection materials and fire-retardant treated wood can offer more sustainable alternatives, but they must also be carefully evaluated for compliance with applicable codes. As new materials enter the built environment, manufacturers may be required to retest products to meet evolving safety and performance standards.

More complex interactions – Technologies such as solar panels, electric heat pumps, induction stoves and HVAC systems using low global warming potential refrigerants support decarbonization goals but also introduce more intricate interactions within building systems. These layered interactions can lead to unforeseen safety challenges and performance issues.

In response, safety standards are evolving to address the complexities of integrated systems, and manufacturers are adapting to meet these new requirements. First responders are a major part of this evolution — firefighting in buildings equipped with solar systems, for example, requires specialized training and equipment, as conventional tactics may put firefighters at risk. In other words: As the built environment evolves, so too must the strategies and protocols used to protect it.

New batteries and electronics – Battery energy storage systems (BESS) carry inherent fire safety risks, even if installed in accordance with current codes. Key risk factors include physical damage, electrical faults and thermal runaway. Mishandling during transport, installation or maintenance can cause mechanical damage that leads to internal short circuits and excessive heat buildup.

Electrical issues such as short circuits, overcharging and faulty wiring further elevate fire risk, while environmental stressors like high ambient temperatures and poor ventilation can accelerate battery degradation. The most serious concern — thermal runaway — occurs when a failing cell generates heat that rapidly spreads, potentially triggering fires or explosions. Mitigating these risks requires a multifaceted approach: thoughtful system design, rigorous safety certification, proper installation, ongoing maintenance and robust emergency preparedness.

A three-pronged approach to boost consumer confidence

Building for sustainability is both essential and increasingly complex. Much of the complexity lies in how new, more sustainable products, materials and technologies interact with existing building systems, often in ways that introduce unforeseen safety risks. At the same time, the urgency is clear: the codes, standards and regulations governing the built environment are rapidly changing to keep pace with innovation, making it critical for stakeholders to stay ahead of these shifting requirements.

International standards in the built environment

Safety is not the result of a single action — it requires a layered approach that involves design, testing and ongoing assessment. While in-house product testing can play a role, third-party certification offers an independent safety assessment for manufacturers and companies operating in the buildings and construction sector. It can also build trust among regulators, building owners and occupants regarding the safety and sustainability of the structures they rely on.

Standards, green building certifications and test methods of relevance to the built environment include:

UL 263, the Standard for Safety of Fire Tests of Building Construction Materials. This fire performance test method results in hourly resistive ratings applied to aid in the compartmentation of building fires. It is commonly required throughout building and fire codes and is essential for sustainable horizontal floor-ceiling and vertical wall designs.

UL 2431, the Standard for Durability of Fire-Resistive Coatings and Materials. These requirements are used to evaluate the protective coatings applied to steel columns and beams. Because buildings are often located in harsh environments — such as areas with extreme temperatures or near oceans — the materials used must remain stable when exposed to these conditions.

UL 723, the Test for Surface Burning Characteristics of Building Materials. This Standard assesses surface burning characteristics for various materials. The flame spread and smoke indices resulting from this test are key within building and fire codes to mitigate against rapid fire spread on building materials.

UL/CSA/IEC 61730-2, the Standard for Photovoltaic (PV) Module Safety Qualification — Part 2: Requirements for Testing, together with UL 2703, the Standard for Mounting Systems, Mounting Devices, Clamping/Retention Devices, Ground Lugs used with Flat-Plate PV Modules and Panels, examines the electrical, shock and mechanical hazards associated with solar systems while also evaluating the fire performance of solar panels rack-mounted on roofs.

UL 9540, the Standard for Safety of Energy Storage Systems and Equipment, establishes requirements for the design, construction, installation and performance testing of battery energy storage systems for safer operation.

UL 9540A, the Standard for Safety, Test Method for Evaluating Thermal Runaway Fire Propagation in Battery Energy Storage Systems, helps manufacturers prove compliance with the new regulations. Designing the test involved working closely with regulators to understand key concerns and deliver a sound test method to accelerate BESS's safer, more sustainable adoption, including in buildings.

UL 60335-2-40, the Standard for Household and Similar Electrical Appliances — Safety — Part 2-40: Particular Requirements for Electrical Heat Pumps, Air-Conditioners and Dehumidifiers, contains specific requirements that aid in the transition to low-GWP refrigerants through requirements for gas sensing.

Environmental Product Declaration (EPD) certifications allow manufacturers to report their products’ environmental performance or impact.

UL ECOLOGO® Certified products are evaluated for reduced environmental and health impact. ECOLOGO Certification indicates a product has undergone scientific testing and exhaustive auditing to prove its compliance with third-party environmental standards.

UL GREENGUARD Certification evaluates chemical emissions in building materials to contribute to cleaner indoor air.

ISO 14067 provides requirements for measuring and reporting the carbon footprint of a product across the full product life cycle.

ISO 14040 and ISO 14044 are international standards for performing life cycle assessments (LCAs). ISO 14040 defines the principles and framework of the LCA, while ISO 14044 provides guidelines and requirements for conducting each phase of the LCA.

Product category rules (PCRs) establish product-specific requirements for creating LCAs and reporting their findings through EPDs or footprint communications.

Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) is a green building certification system that provides a framework for designing, constructing, operating and maintaining healthy, highly efficient and cost-saving green buildings.

Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method (BREEAM) is an assessment and certification method for existing or new buildings, infrastructure and master-planning projects that help validate the sustainability value of their assets.

WELL Building Standard is a performance-based system for measuring, certifying and monitoring health in the built environment.

Fitwel is a building certification that supports healthier workplace environments to help improve occupant health and productivity.

These standards, tests and certifications serve as valuable benchmarks for safety and sustainability. They reflect the evolution of leading practices and provide stakeholders with trusted tools to help strengthen confidence among building owners and occupants.

Becoming a leader in safety and sustainability

Meeting the demand for sustainability, safety and performance isn’t just about compliance — it’s an opportunity to lead. Companies that proactively embed fire safety, sustainability and compliance into their strategies can set themselves apart, demonstrating leadership in the marketplace and building lasting trust among regulators, customers and the communities they serve.

Be at the forefront of creating a safer, more sustainable built environment.

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