Building Biology is the science of the holistic relationship between the living environment and life.

Building biology is an emerging and rapidly developing field that explores the health hazards in the built environment from indoor air quality issues like chemicals in building materials and household products, to particulates, allergens (house dust mites, moulds and pollens) and electropollution.

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Built environments are assessed against health-based standards. For a copy of these standards please click here.

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Germany’s Professor Anton Schneider established the first training institution for building biologists, the Institute for Building Biology and Ecology in the late 1960s.

Building Biology centres around the 25 Principles of Building Biology, which encapsulate the concepts of sustainable building and building with the heakth of the occupant in mind

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The 25 Principles of “Baubiologie” (Building Biology)

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1. Building site without natural and human-made disturbances

2. Residential homes away from sources of emissions and noise

3. Low-density housing with sufficient green space

4. Personalized, natural, human- and family-oriented housing and settlements

5. Building without causing social burdens

6. Natural and unadulterated building materials

7. Natural regulation of indoor air humidity through humidity-buffering materials

8. Low total moisture content of a new building that dries out quickly

9. Well-balanced ratio between thermal insulation and heat retention

10. Optimal air and surface temperatures

11. Good indoor air quality through natural ventilation

12. Heating system based on radiant heat

13. Natural conditions of light, lighting and color

14. Changing the natural balance of background radiation as little as possible

15. Without human-made electromagnetic and radiofrequency radiation exposure

16. Building materials with low radioactivity levels

17. Human-oriented noise and vibration protection

18. With a pleasant or neutral smell and without outgassing toxins

19. Reduction of fungi, bacteria, dust and allergens as low as possible

20. Best possible drinking water quality

21. Causing no environmental problems

22. Minimizing energy consumption and utilizing as much renewable energy as possible

23. Building materials preferably from the local region without promoting exploitation of scarce and hazardous resources

24. Application of physiological and ergonomic findings to interior and furniture design

25. Consideration of harmonic measures, proportions and shape.

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