Today the EMF Standard of Building Biology Testing Methods is used as a guide for professional and independent EMF testing of homes worldwide, including Europe, the US, Canada, Australia or New Zealand. Building biology EMF consultants, associations, institutes, laboratories and manufacturers of EMF testing equipment base their recommendations on it. The Standard with its evaluation guidelines and testing conditions forms the basis of the work of the Verband Baubiologie (VB), which has been established in 2002. The Standard is also the basis for many continuing education courses and expert seminars as well as publications and books.
Application
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 experience and knowledge of the building biology community and focus on achievability. In addition, scientific studies and other recommendations are also consulted. With its professional approach, building biology testing methods help identify, minimize and avoid environmental risk factors within an individual’s framework of possibility. It is the Standard’s goal to identify, locate and assess potential sources of risk by considering all subcategories in a holistic manner and implementing the best possible diagnostic tools available with analytic expertise in order to create indoor living environments that are as EMF exposure-free and natural as practicable.
History
More than 30 years ago, the team from Baubiologie Maes began analysing and structuring the many aspects pertaining to the Building Biology Testing Methods. Over the next years, based on their testing experience, they developed the first Standard by request of the Institut für Baubiologie IBN. Soon the Building Biology Evaluation Guidelines for Sleeping Areas followed. Both the Standard and the Evaluation Guidelines were first published in 1992. The most current version is called SBM-2015, which is the 8th edition and was presented at the IBN Conference at Rosenheim/Germany in May 2015. Since 1999, the Building Biology Standard, the Evaluation Guidelines and the accompanying Testing conditions, instructions and additions have been codeveloped by a committee of experienced building biology professionals with additional help from other colleagues. Scientists from physics, chemistry, biology and architecture as well as medical doctors, laboratories and other experts have also made complementary contributions.