Course CodeBSS300Fee CodeS2Duration (approx)100 hoursQualificationTo obtain formal documentation the optional exam(s) must be completed which will incur an additional fee of £30. Alternatively, a letter of completion may be requested. Buildings affect both your physical and mental health Learn about building biology Develop skills to understand how physical characteristics of a building and its surrounds have an impact upon human health Learn to health conscious management systems of interior environments. Lesson Structure There are 8 lessons in this course: Environmental Impacts On Buildings Scope, nature and principles of building biology Environmental impacts on buildings Climate, building location, radon, air quality, allergies, temperature, humidity, light, EMR Creation of electric fields Chemicals Air pollutants Cleaning chemicals Chemical breakdowns Leakages and spills Pesticides -household, industrial, agricultural Solid Waste pollutants Persistent organic polutants (POP's) Formaldehydes Heavy Metals Ammonia Resins Where different chemicals originate in a building Building Surrounds Creating a buffer zone Windbreaks, hedges, screens Creating Shade Designing a healthy home garden Going natural in the garden Avoiding problem materials Disposing of waste Making compost Working with rather than against nature Energy conservation Solar House Design Green principles for house design Furnishings Gas appliances, heaters and fireplaces Furniture Materials characteristics Floor Coverings Cane Metals Fabrics Flame retardation treatments Matresses Dry cleaning and mothballing Temperature and acoustic properties of fabrics Finishes Chemical reactions Lung disease, cancer, skin disease Paint Repainting Timber finishes against decay Varnishes and oils Pesticides & Alternatives Types of insecticides -inorganic and biological (organophosphates, carbamates etc) Rodenticides Miticides, Bacteriacides, Algaecides, Termite treatments Understanding pesticide characteristics -toxicity, persistence, volatility, etc Common chemicals used in buildings, and natural alternatives Common garden chemicals and natural pest/weed management Understanding Insect Pest Management options Managing Interior Environments Assessing air quality Ventilation Temperature control Cleaning Acoustics Electricity Domestic pets Light Colour Indoor Plants Othyer hazards Consulting Services that can be offered to a client Checklist of building hazards Procedures and business practice for a consultant Setting up costs Operating a business Developing a business plan Determining fees to charge Aims Explain the impact of the macro-environment (location) on health. Explain the impact of building surrounds, including a garden, on the interior environmental conditions. Choose interior furnishings which are not likely to damage human health. Explain the health implications of using different types of finishes, including sealers, paints, preservatives and stains. Explain the health implications of using alternative methods of pest control inside buildings. Plan health conscious management systems of interior environments. What is a Building related disease? Building Diseases can be related to many factors including: · Chemical - fumes. · Electrical - the human body is sensitive to electrical frequencies. Wiring should be minimal, not placed closer than 1 metre to the sleeping bed, and the use of TV and other appliances should be reduced. Even static electricity from synthetic floor coverings can cause problems. · Cage - this occurs when concrete and steel buildings screen out natural radiations which help regulate life systems. · Location - this covers geo-biology which is concerned with natural radiation that originates within the earth. It is a new science based on traditional principles. The health implications of a building also deal with environment in general and the climate of living. The climate of living can be determined by things such as: · Installations and furnishings · Noise and acoustics · Lighting and colours · Radiation, avoiding disturbed areas · Radioactivity · Space, form and proportion · Physiology and psychology of living and working · City planning with biological, ecological, and sociological aspects. Bio-houses and bio-settlements have been sprouting up throughout Europe over the years. They frequently contain solar temperature-control systems or insulated winter gardens for heating. Sites are surveyed with divining rods to ensure the area is free of ground water veins and other electromagnetic disturbances. Bio architecture utilises vegetation to reverse the harsh processes caused by buildings. Plants usually intercept between 70% and 90% of incoming solar radiation. Deciduous trees can provide a 5º C reduction in heat in the summer but allow the sun through in winter thereby reducing energy loss by up to 30%. Why Study This Course? This course provides students with insight into the many ways that buildings can impact upon the health of their occupants. Here the emphasis is on the environment rather than the materials used to construct the buildings, which is the focus of our Healthy Buildings I course. Use what you learn here and apply it to your home, you workplace, or other buildings. Make a difference to your own health and that of others. This course can enhance existing building and design knowledge or serve as a foundation towards other studies and higher level qualifications. Use your knowledge in roles which entail the planning, design and construction of buildings as well as inspections of existing buildings for health risks.