I have long wondered what exactly is meant by "ecological building," "healthy building," or building biology. Sometimes I read statements saying that new houses contain numerous harmful substances and that one should pay more attention to building biology.
I have looked into this and researched, but I haven't found a clear difference between "normal construction" and construction that is considered safe from a building biology perspective. My first suspects, plastics like multilayer composite pipes or insulation materials, apparently seem to be completely fine.
Some people bring up the topic of electromagnetic pollution. Okay. This leads to the entire house being turned into a kind of electromagnetically shielded cage. Of course, it makes sense not to run cables across the bedroom or under the bed.
Now, for the first time, I noticed a point that is truly considered concerning. Apparently, standard expanding foam used in construction is far from healthy. However, there is also the opinion that all harmful substances have dissipated 48 hours after application.
It is then recommended to fill the gaps around interior doors, the front door, and window edges with materials like wood fiber, mineral wool, stone wool, or jute instead of using expanding foam. Is there any truth to that? Where else is expanding foam still used?
Do you know of any other areas that are not just subjectively but clearly part of building biology?
I have looked into this and researched, but I haven't found a clear difference between "normal construction" and construction that is considered safe from a building biology perspective. My first suspects, plastics like multilayer composite pipes or insulation materials, apparently seem to be completely fine.
Some people bring up the topic of electromagnetic pollution. Okay. This leads to the entire house being turned into a kind of electromagnetically shielded cage. Of course, it makes sense not to run cables across the bedroom or under the bed.
Now, for the first time, I noticed a point that is truly considered concerning. Apparently, standard expanding foam used in construction is far from healthy. However, there is also the opinion that all harmful substances have dissipated 48 hours after application.
It is then recommended to fill the gaps around interior doors, the front door, and window edges with materials like wood fiber, mineral wool, stone wool, or jute instead of using expanding foam. Is there any truth to that? Where else is expanding foam still used?
Do you know of any other areas that are not just subjectively but clearly part of building biology?
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Username_wahl10 Oct 2016 22:51I would be more concerned about prefab houses from the 1970s than with new builds (wood preservatives, asbestos). Electromagnetic pollution and mobile phone radiation are often greatly overestimated (and no one really wants to give them up). Smoking, fine dust, mold, radon in the basement, and similar issues are definitely more worrisome.
It is certainly true that older houses tend to have many more harmful substances. However, especially with new construction, more and more companies ensure that everything is top quality, so you would only have to worry about building biology safety with competitors.
Therefore, I wonder, what does it mean to build with good building biology standards in 2016/2017 compared to standard construction methods?
Therefore, I wonder, what does it mean to build with good building biology standards in 2016/2017 compared to standard construction methods?
General avoidance of all materials that can emit gases, use of construction materials with a favorable CO2 balance, shielding of radiation sources (i.e., electrical), avoidance of petroleum-based products... perhaps also preserving traditional craftsmanship, focusing on durability
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Che.guevara11 Oct 2016 08:18In the case of a controlled residential ventilation system, there is no problem visible, right?
... at least if the house is not located on a main road ...
... at least if the house is not located on a main road ...
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Bieber081511 Oct 2016 08:44One of the basic principles of building biology is the natural regulation of moisture. In my opinion, this excludes the use of controlled mechanical ventilation in living spaces.
You can find more information on the website of the Building Biology Association (verband-baubiologie.de/baubiologie/grundregeln-der-baubiologie/).
It would be interesting to learn how this is implemented in practice (which building materials, which companies) ... ;-).
You can find more information on the website of the Building Biology Association (verband-baubiologie.de/baubiologie/grundregeln-der-baubiologie/).
It would be interesting to learn how this is implemented in practice (which building materials, which companies) ... ;-).
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