The 25 Building Biology™ Principles

The Building Biology™ Principles form a strict set of standards to consider any living space, whether these are residential or commercial. These considerations form a comprehensive checklist when it comes to designing and building safe, healthy buildings that support our human vitality.

Guidelines Natural and Man-Made Electro-Magnetic Radiation Safety:

The Building Biology™ Evaluation Guidelines are based on the precautionary principle. They are specifically designed for sleeping areas associated with long-term risks and a most sensitive window of opportunity for regeneration. They are based on the building biology experience and knowledge and focus on achievability. For a copy of the Building Biology™ standards, contact me.

Site and Community Design 

1. Verify that the site is free of naturally occurring health hazards.

2. Place dwellings so occupants are undisturbed by sources of man-made air, soil, water, noise, and electro pollution.

3. Place dwellings in well-planned communities that provide ample access to fresh air, sunshine, and nature.

4. Plan homes and developments considering the needs of community, families, and individuals of all ages.

Occupant Health and Well-Being

5. Use natural and unadulterated building materials.

6. Allow natural self-regulation of indoor air humidity, using hygroscopic (humidity-buffering) building materials.

7. Assure low total moisture content and rapid desiccation of wet-construction processes in new buildings.

8. Design for a climatically appropriate balance between thermal insulation and thermal storage capacity.

9. Plan for climatically appropriate surface and air temperature.

10. Provide for ample ventilation.

11. Use appropriate thermal radiation strategies for heating buildings, including passive solar wherever viable.

12. Provide an abundance of well-balanced natural light and illumination while using color in accordance with nature.

13. Provide adequate acoustical protection from harmful noise and vibration.

14. Utilise non-toxic building materials that have neutral or pleasant natural scents.

15. Use appropriate water- and moisture-exclusion techniques to prevent interior growth of fungi, bacteria, dust, and allergens.

16. Assure best possible potable water quality by applying purification technologies, if necessary.

17. Utilise physiological and ergonomic knowledge in interior and furniture design.

18. Consider proportion, harmonic measure, order, and shape in design.

Natural and Man-Made Electro-Magnetic Radiation Safety

19. Minimise indoor interference with vital cosmic and terrestrial radiation.

20. Minimise man-made power system and radio-frequency radiation exposure generated from within the building and from outside sources.

21. Avoid use of building materials that have elevated radioactivity levels.