Laying floor coverings in a healthy way

Floor adhesives contain various chemical components that outgas for different lengths of time and thus pollute the indoor air. For example, reactive resins can release volatile organic substances into the room air and lead to skin or respiratory sensitization of the occupants. Once sensitized, a person can show allergic reactions even with very low exposure. Installing resilient flooring without the use of adhesives offers an environmentally friendly and often reusable solution that also simplifies installation and shortens the time it takes to get the surface up and running. There are several systems that can be used to install resilient flooring such as vinyl, linoleum, rubber or PVC without having to resort to conventional adhesives.
Continue reading →

Overview of mycotoxin-producing microorganisms – Mycotoxins are secondary metabolites produced by various types of mold or bacteria. These toxins can cause a range of health problems, including immune system weakening, neurological disorders, allergic reactions, and even cancer. For building biologists, particularly important are the types of mold that produce mycotoxins and grow indoors. The most common types include Aspergillus, Penicillium, Stachybotrys, and Cladosporium.
Continue reading →

A high standard of insulation as an important component of the energy turnaround

Hardly any component in a building has made such rapid progress in the field of thermal insulation as the window. Within twenty years, the U-value has improved from 2.6 to less than 1.0. The industry has made many adjustments, optimizing each window element individually. Triple glazing is now standard for a highly insulated house. This is complemented by integrated insulating inserts made of extruded polystyrene (XPS) or cork in the window frame, inert gas fillings in the spaces between the panes and thermally optimized edge seals.
Continue reading →