Uwe, when and why did you become a building biology professional?

I completed my distance learning course in building biology at the Institute of Building Biology + Sustainability IBN in 1998. At that time, the IBN founder, Professor Anton Schneider, was still active. I wanted to broaden my personal horizons and appear more knowledgeable in sales, so I obtained the title of „Building Biology Consultant.“ However, the term „building biology“ was relatively unknown back then and was sometimes associated with esoteric ideas.

How has the perception of building biology changed since then?

The term has gained significant recognition. This is partly due to the tireless efforts of the IBN and the building biology associations VB (Verband Baubiologie) and VDB (Verband Deutscher Baubiologen) to raise awareness. This is also due to environmental medicine health care professionals recognizing the Standard of Building Biology Testing Methods. I highly recommend the IBN training program for building biology testing specialists to any building biology professional who provides consulting services, even if a career as a testing specialist is not the goal. Expanding one’s knowledge, recognizing connections, and understanding practical applications are all immensely valuable. IBN seminars on building biology testing methods are top-notch.

1 The mobile office enables long-term measurements of ELF magnetic fields, sound, and property assessments, for example.
2 Microwave technology reveals the spatial distribution of moisture in walls. This allows the cause of water damage to be determined precisely and non-destructively.
3 Pollutant measurements in new dormitories are part of the German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) certification process.
4 Consultation on the sustainable masonry construction of a mixed-use residential and commercial building
5 Attic with plenty of light

What does the increased visibility of building biology mean for your professional career?

We are increasingly being consulted for pre-purchase inspections of real estate. Our assessment of whether a property can be renovated or should be demolished carries weight. We help many buyers and heirs avoid making the wrong decisions, especially regarding prefabricated houses built before 2000.

You have worked in the construction industry for nearly 40 years. How has sustainable construction evolved since then?

One prime example of the dilution of sustainable principles in wood construction is the use of OSB panels and dry-processed soft fiberboards containing up to 6% polyurethane resins (PUR) by weight. Using wood fiber insulation boards for roof insulation in a single-family home adds up to 200 kg (440 lbs) of PUR resins quickly. OSB panels add another 250 kg (550 lbs) of isocyanate-based polyurethane (PU) adhesive to so-called sustainable wooden house. Vinyl windows and vinyl flooring completely negate the sustainability of these buildings!

6 This sustainable mixed-use building is constructed entirely of wood, without any OSB!
7 A clay plaster is applied to the reed plaster base.
8 The ground floor has large windows and bright rooms.
9 A sustainable residential building, built without any OSB!
10 The prefabricated wooden elements are joined diagonally without adhesive.
11 Clay plaster on reed is a moisture-buffering finish that creates a healthy indoor climate.

The German Sustainable Building Council (DGNB) is the largest certifier in the construction sector. How would you evaluate their work?

It’s great that the DGNB certification and monitoring system carries forward the work on indoor air pollutants pioneered by institutions such as the IBN, building biology associations, and the German Environment Agency. As a result, significant improvements have been made in recent years and even decades. Unfortunately, however, the industry’s lobbying efforts are very successful. I simply cannot certify PVC, polystyrene, polyurethane resins, or isocyanates as sustainable or healthy! In this context, control measurements, such as those regarding VOCs and aldehydes, are somewhat farcical. After all, we only measure volatile substances. Everything else falls by the wayside and eventually becomes a source of contamination.

You have taken many continuing education courses, including drone pilot training. Will this skill be in greater demand in the future?

Various TÜV certifications primarily serve the purpose of lifelong learning. An added benefit is being recognized as a measurement technician and expert beyond the building biology professional community. Drones have already proven useful for analyzing damage to roofs and facades. When inspecting a very high roof on a commercial building spanning several hundred square meters, the only other option would have been to fully scaffold the building. However, we located the damaged area within an hour using the drone.

12 The approximately 150-year-old barn with solid natural stone walls in the Franconian Jura was quite dilapidated.
13 A couple converted the barn, which is made of Jurassic-era natural stone, into a residence. They did much of the work themselves, and preserved the sweeping barrel-vaulted ceiling.
14 A layer of clay screed and clay cement finished with oil was installed over crushed foam glass to create the flooring.
15 The interior insulation, made of wood fiber and clay plaster, is complex in terms of moisture management.
16 Year-round thermal comfort and control measurements prove that this interior insulation works well.

You have a van that you use as a mobile office. How often do you use it?

My office on wheels has the advantage of offering a wide range of measurement equipment and a self-sufficient power supply in a heated vehicle with a sleeping area, toilet, and coffee machine. Unfortunately, long-term use, including overnight stays, is rare – perhaps four or five times a year.

What is your operational radius?

Practical assignments are only possible within a 100-km (60-mile) radius. I always pass on requests from farther away to colleagues. An assignment in Cologne, 500 km (300 miles) away, was an interesting and well-paid exception. The Regional Court of Cologne requested my services because several on-site experts were struggling with a difficult case.

How do you interact with the IBN?

Unfortunately, not much – I’m probably too much of a lone wolf. However, I never miss an in-person event because I enjoy meaningful dialogue with the IBN team and my colleagues there.

Are there other important partners?

I admire the tremendous dedication of some of my colleagues in the Building Biology Association (VB), for example, and I take advantage of the wide range of services they offer. Important partners are mainly colleagues, architects, engineering firms, and public clients.

Do you advertise your consulting office?

No, people usually find me through the directory of Building Biology Consulting Offices on the IBN website. This investment is definitely worth it. Otherwise, I’m found through word of mouth. Interestingly, I can make a living as a building biology professional without offering retail, construction, or design services.

What was an interesting project of yours?

One project involved converting a natural stone barn into a house with a complex wood fiber interior insulation system and clay plaster. The subfloor is made of clay screed with a clay cement layer finished with oil. The preserved barrel-vaulted ceiling is particularly beautiful. There was a lot of experimental construction involved, and projects like this are more interesting than new builds. We completed the project a few years ago, and everything is still functioning properly to this day. The clients are happy as well.

What is your vision for the future?

Many harmful substances, such as asbestos, pesticides, and flame retardants, will remain a concern for decades to come. I hope, in specific situations, health insurance companies will recognize the value of preventive indoor air quality assessments conducted by building biology testing specialists and cover these assessments with a basic flat fee.

Thank you for the interview!