“Building Biology is considered to be a science of holistic interactions between life and the living environment.”
This involves the study of the relationship between the human being and the building and the relationship between the building and the environment (better known as Building Ecology).
The purpose of our Building Biology Audit is to help people to realise that health hazards exist in their homes and workplaces, and that ignoring those hazards not only has an adverse effect on their health, but in a wider sense, on the ecology of the planet.
Building Biology can help teach people what to do to attempt to overcome those problems, by using the knowledge developed in Europe since the 1960’s. Professor Anton Schneider founded the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology. After World War II, houses and buildings were erected quickly and cheaply as a means to rebuild Germany. However, many people living and working in these houses and buildings soon became ill, and it was discovered that commonly used building materials and certain methods of construction were causing these health problems.
Today, this is also known as ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ and the resulting human health problems associated include; Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS), Electrical Hypersensitivity (EHS), asthma and many allergies. Sick building causes are frequently connected to problems in the heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems. Other causes have been attributed to contaminants produced by outgassing of some types of building materials, volatile organic compounds (VOC), moulds, improper exhaust ventilation, chemicals used within, or lack of adequate fresh air exchange.
Building Biology principles can be utilised to create new buildings, integrating knowledge of building materials based on sustainability and health, electric installation for low field exposure, good quality water, non toxic furnishings and interior finishes.
One of the key areas in building biology is the examination of homes and sleeping areas. The health risk from environmental stress factors is particularly high in these areas. During sleep, our bodies carry out rest and repair work, during this time we are very sensitive to any kind of artificial, electrical, magnetic, radioactive, toxic and room-climatic but also natural geological stimuli.
For existing buildings, readings and tests can be done to assess electromagnetic fields, chemicals and toxins, moulds, bacteria as well as allergens. Realistic and affordable solutions are provided whenever possible.
Other areas include those where we spend a significant amount of time, such as work place, offices etc.
