For a thoughtfully designed indoor environment
Stay at home when you are ill
Exhaustion, fatigue, and headaches are common ailments associated with a demanding work environment that constantly challenges and stresses us. If these symptoms persist or recur regularly, even a doctor may struggle to quickly identify the underlying cause.
It is not always easy to determine at first whether someone is simply stressed or if another medical condition is developing. However, if these symptoms occur frequently—or exclusively—at home, the discomfort could be triggered by environmental pollutants within the living space.
Toxic substances can be released from a wide range of sources—including varnishes, wood stains, chipboard, and other building materials, as well as textiles with which we have direct contact—and subsequently absorbed through the indoor air. This can lead to health issues ranging from headaches and allergic reactions to respiratory problems and even organic diseases.
Therefore, when renovating or building a new home, rely on certified products, and consult us if you suspect the presence of environmental toxins in your household.
Indoor air and health
Exhaustion, fatigue, and headaches are common ailments associated with a demanding work environment that constantly challenges and stresses us. If these symptoms persist or recur regularly, even a doctor may struggle to quickly identify the underlying cause.
It is not always easy to determine at first whether someone is simply stressed or if another medical condition is developing. However, if these symptoms occur frequently—or exclusively—at home, the discomfort could be triggered by environmental pollutants within the living space.
Toxic substances can be released from a wide range of sources—including varnishes, wood stains, chipboard, and other building materials, as well as textiles with which we have direct contact—and subsequently absorbed through the indoor air. This can lead to health issues ranging from headaches and allergic reactions to respiratory problems and even organic diseases.
Therefore, when renovating or building a new home, rely on certified products, and consult us if you suspect the presence of environmental toxins in your household.
Wireless LAN (WLAN)
When the power goes out, we realise just how much electrification shapes our lives—and how accustomed we have become to it over the last century. After all, hardly anything in a household “works” without electricity—not even the television. Every electrical device, from toothbrushes to telephones, emits electric fields into the surrounding environment; the effects of these fields are not yet fully understood. Add to this modern conveniences like Wi-Fi, cordless phones, and mobile phones—and the list keeps growing. We all know that the number of such devices is only increasing.
Yet, even as experts hotly debate the potential impact on human health, one view is gaining ground: the importance of minimising unnecessary exposure within the home. This includes protecting the body from disruptive electromagnetic fields in areas where we sleep and rest, or opting against cordless phones to significantly reduce the overall level of such exposure in your home.
More on “electric fields”
Indoor pollutants
Providing information is one of our core principles. Access to reliable information helps consumers assess relevant factors in their living environment; after all, vague fears often stem merely from a lack of knowledge. For this reason, we provide background information here to help you identify where environmental toxins might be lurking in your home. This allows you to investigate any concerns and easily avoid such toxins during renovation projects or new construction.
Unfortunately, the welcome renaissance of wood as a natural material is accompanied by the use of environmental toxins by some sectors of the wood industry. Examples include the formaldehyde resins and wood preservatives found in chipboard—particularly in the cheap, often imported varieties common today. For both structural timber and furniture, it is possible to use healthy, natural wood protection methods indoors—or, in dry rooms, to forgo such treatments entirely.
Read more about harmful chemicals and healthy alternatives.
Wireless LAN (WLAN)
There is a wide range of paints and varnishes available. You have likely stood before a 16-metre-long shelf in the “paints and varnishes” section at some point. Paints are meant to look good—a quality largely ensured by the pigments they contain. Additives give paints and varnishes specific properties: making them water-repellent or waterproof, preventing mould and pest infestations, ensuring heat resistance, and much more. Depending on the additives and solvents (which evaporate during drying) they contain, these products release substances into the indoor air—sometimes continuing to do so long after the initial drying process.
Therefore, pay attention to the ingredients when shopping and choose paints based on the specific properties required for their intended location. Ensure adequate ventilation during the drying period—the duration of which is often underestimated.
Note: Certification confirms that a product met the requirements of the applicable testing programme at the time of testing. It does not provide a comprehensive assessment of a product’s suitability for health or of the health effects of an entire indoor environment.
Testing building products against published criteria since 1982.
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