About Building Biology

Building Biology was developed by Prof. Anton Schneider in the 1970s.

It is a science which examines the way our built environments impact on our health, and reciprocally, also the way we can design healthy buildings.

Core to building biology is the precautionary principle – on which our exposure standards are based. Exposure standards, in Building Biology, are based on health and wellbeing. If something isn’t known to be safe, caution is warranted and prudent avoidance is recommended.

Nature (and natural levels) is our ideal – for air quality, EMF and more.


The 25 Principles of Building Biology

These are the guiding principles for building biology, as set out by the Institut Fur Baubiologie and Nachhaltigkeit:

  1. Use natural and unadulterated building materials.
  2. A building shall have a pleasant or neutral smell, not releasing any toxins.
  3. Use building materials with the lowest possible level of radioactivity.
  4. Protective measures against noise and vibration pollution need to be based on human needs.
  5. Regulate indoor air humidity naturally by using humidity-buffering materials.
  7. Strive for a well-balanced ratio between thermal insulation and heat retention.
  8. Optimise indoor surface and air temperatures of a given space.
  9. Promote good indoor air quality through natural ventilation.
  10. Use radiant heat for heating.
  11. Interfere as little as possible with the natural balance of nature’s own background radiation.
  12. Prevent exposures to human-made sources of electromagnetic fields and radio-frequency radiation.
  13. Minimise exposures to mould, bacteria, dust, and allergens.
  14. Minimise energy consumption while using renewable energy whenever possible.
  15. Prefer regional building materials, not promoting the exploitation of scarce and hazardous resources.
  16. Building activities shall cause no environmental problems.
  17. Choose the best possible drinking water quality.
  18. Take harmonic measures, proportions, and shapes into consideration.
  19. Select light exposures, lighting systems, and colour schemes following natural conditions.
  20. Base interior and furniture design on physiological and ergonomic findings.
  21. Site buildings on land free from geological and human-made disturbances.
  22. Locate residential homes away from pollutant and noise sources.
  23. Provide low-density housing with sufficient green space.
  24. Develop individualised housing and settlements in harmony with nature in ways that support human and family needs.
  25. Building activities shall cause no social problems.

What to Look for in a Building Biologist

  1. They are qualified, having studied at a registered training organisation (RTO);
  2. They keep their skills up-to-date;
  3. They are a member of a professional association (such as the ASBB);
  4. They are knowledgeable, experienced and committed to finding the cause and offering solutions;
  5. They are objective and yet empathetic; and
  6. They are thorough and not racing to get the job done quickly.
Arrow Right

At Eco Health Solutions, you get all this and more! We have a range of Environmental Health AssessementsTM which we can tailor to suit your needs.

Our team has been hand-picked by Lucinda Curran and trained to her exacting standards. They are leaders in the field, are compassionate, have an eye for detail… and are thorough!


Having Your Built Environment Audited is the Best Way to Identify Hidden Hazards

What is different about what we do is that we fully understand what it is like to be affected by your environment.

We take the time to assess everything thoroughly. There is no rush to complete a job, shortcuts are not taken, and we take care to plan out cost-effective and sound solutions to the problems that we identify.

As well, through my clinical experience, Lucinda Curran understands that the cause and the trigger can be different, so she has trained her team to be very thorough. Coming to terms with making changes can be difficult on your own, so we will be with you to guide and support you.

The team all have different areas of expertise and bring not only knowledge, but skills, empathy and professional know-how to every single EHA.

Environmental Health Assessments
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