Building Biology

What Is Building Biology?

Building biology studies the holistic relationship between humans and their indoor environment. It is based on 25 principals looking at 19 different categories in the areas of electrosmog (Electromagnetic fields or EMFs), light, sound, radiation, indoor toxins, indoor pollutants, indoor climate, mold, bacteria, and allergens. The Building Biology standard and guidelines, now in their 8th revision, is the result of over 30 years of research, over 10,0000 actual surveys of sleeping areas in collaboration with over 100 medical physicians along with many scientists, researchers, engineers, and practicing building biologists. The foundations of the building biology standard and guides has always been:

Any risk reduction is work aiming for.
Numbers in the guide are only meant to be a guide, no more, no less.
Whenever possible use nature as the ultimate standard.

The Building Biology Standard and Guidelines are now being used as a basis and guideline by colleagues and institutes throughout Germany, Europe, North and South America, Australia, New Zealand, India, and Japan to name a few. As of 2016, there has been over 7000 students completing courses in building biology world wide.

To learn more about Building Biology click here or please contact Rob Metzinger - President, Safe Living Technologies Inc., EET, EMRS, BBEC.

About Building Biology

How did it start? How did the Standard of Building Biology Testing Methods evolve?

More than 30 years ago, we from Baubiologie Maes began analyzing and structuring the many aspects pertaining tothe Building Biology Testing Methods. Over the next years, based on our testing experience, we developed the firstStandard by request of the Institut für Baubiologie IBN. Soon the Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for SleepingAreas followed. Both the Standard and the Evaluation Guidelines were first published in 1992. The most currentversion is called SBM-2015, which is the 8th edition and was presented at the IBN Conference at Rosenheim/Germany inMay 2015. Since 1999, the Building Biology Standard, the Evaluation Guidelines and the accompanying TestingConditions, Instructions and Additions have been codeveloped by a committee of experienced building biologyprofessionals with additional help from other colleagues. Scientists from physics, chemistry, biology and architecture as wellas medical doctors, laboratories and other experts have also made complementary contributions.

Who is using the Standard today?

Today the Standard of Building Biology Testing Methods is used as a guide for professional and independent testing of homesworldwide, including Europe, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Building biology consultants, associations, institutes,laboratories and manufacturers of testing equipment base their recommendations on it. Medical doctors, clinical ecologists,consumer associations and citizen groups are grateful for its guidance. Politicians, authorities, industry, insurance companies,courts... take note of it as an addition and also as a sometimes provocative alternative to established science. The Standard withits Evaluation Guidelines and Testing Conditions forms the basis of the work of the Verband Baubiologie (VB), which hasbeen established in 2002. The Standard is also the basis for many continuing education courses and expert seminars as well aspublications and books.

What makes the Standard so unique?

The Building Biology Standard with its three major categories A, B and C and a total of 19 subcategories offers aholistic approach. This is its unrivaled uniqueness and strength. The first of its kind and still unparalleled, the Standardcovers all physical, chemical, microbiological and indoor air quality risk factors that originate from both the inside and theoutside of a building, ranging from electrosmog, magnetic fields, radioactivity, geological disturbances, noise and light toindoor toxins and indoor climate, including particulates, mold, yeasts, bacteria and allergens. Nothing is overlooked. Stillthe world’s first and so far unparalleled in their scope, the Evaluation Guidelines that accompany the Standard focus on the sensitive and essential sleep phase and resting period, which is associated with chronic stress.

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