We live 80 to 90 percent of our time in buildings. Their envelope is increasingly airtight: valuable heating energy remains inside, but so do pollutants from a wide variety of sources. These are mainly found in the indoor air. Excessive concentrations can lead to headaches, fatigue and malaise, irritated respiratory tracts and mucous membranes, allergies such as asthma, and chronic diseases.

Breathing air is our most important food. Without it, we survive for only a few minutes. When we breathe, we absorb pollutants in the air directly into our bodies. Fortunately, substances that come from building products or other sources can be easily detected in the air. That's why there are precautionary values for almost all pollutants, for example from the Federal Environment Agency. These specifications ensure that people do not suffer any health disadvantages. For all-around healthier rooms and buildings, other factors are also important, such as lighting quality, color design, acoustics, haptics, architecture and others.

Building safer and healthier is easy

Low-emission building materials are an important component of healthy buildings. If these are used consistently indoors, even high requirements for healthy living can be met safely. The Sentinel Haus Institute's test criteria for buildings and products serve as guidelines. With a final room air measurement after completion, all parties involved are on the safe side. A special health aspect is antiviral coated surfaces, such as BE.SAFE.

Low-emission wood materials decide

Panel materials made of wood often occupy a large area in relation to the volume of the room. As wall cladding in timber construction, as flooring or for furniture. Their emission behavior is correspondingly important for health in the room. SWISS KRONO therefore invests intensively in research and development and has several products with very low emissions of formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOC) in its range: OSB/3, OSB/3 sensitiv K-Board and BE.YOND. Because of their good health properties, the products, which have been independently tested according to strict criteria, are listed in the leading portal of the Sentinel Haus Institute.