DIY Box Fan Filter – MERV 13 versus HEPA Air Purifier
DIY Box Fan Filter & Air Quality Experiment Here in San Francisco and surrounding areas kids are stuck indoors during this smoke wave caused by our wild fires with little or no air filtration. In San Francisco the school buildings are older and are not setup to have building wide air filtration. Nor can cash-strapped
- Published in Environmental Consulting, News
Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality
Bay Area Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality I am writing this on November 13, 2018. For the past week the state of California has been cloaked in thick, noxious smoke from the wildfires burning out of control. Northern California is mostly affected by the Camp Fire near Chico, CA and Southern California by the
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Cleaning Up a Cannabis Grow Operation
With the legalization of marijuana, some black-market growers are abandoning their illegal cannabis grow operations. Grow ops, often set up in rented properties, can leave a mess for landlords to clean up. Many of these properties are put up for sale and then become the responsibility of the home buyer. Identifying a grow op is
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Interesting Things About EMF Testing
5 Interesting Things About EMF (Electromagnetic Fields): There are 5 different types of “EMF” that are commonly tested in buildings: low frequency magnetic fields low frequency electric fields “dirty electricity”, “high-voltage transients” or “electrical noise” radio frequency (RF) radiation alpha, beta and gamma ionizing radiation Each of the above types of radiation originates from unique
- Published in Business, Environmental Testing, Green Building Consulting, News
6 Tips for Water Quality and Water Testing
6 Tips for Water Quality and Water Testing: Source matters – One of the most important variables in water quality is the source. Does the water come from an open water source like a lake or reservoir? Is it treated and delivered to a site via the municipal or county water service? Is it a spring
- Published in Business, Environmental Testing, News
Soil Testing and Contamination Top 10
Top 10 things people should know about soil quality and soil contamination: Site history matters! If your lot is over an orchard, old landfill or leaking underground storage tank, there will likely be pollution indicators present. Building history matters. If there is (or was) a structure built before 1980 on the property, there have likely
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Healthy Home: Check for Lead in Plastic Toys and Painted Wood
Home Lead Testing There are DIY home lead test kits available online and in some hardware stores, but the more reliable way of evaluating a home and its contents for lead risks is to hire a lead inspector. A lead inspector may utilize bulk sampling, which is destructive and will leave holes in materials, or
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing, News
Home Renovation: Tips for How Avoiding Lead Dust When Doing Repairs Yourself
How To Avoid Lead Dust During Home Renovations Containment, Wet Methods, HEPA Vacuum and Prompt Clean-up are the main work practices to follow in order to reduce exposure to lead dust during renovation. Sticking to these concepts will help avoid most common pathways of exposing your family to lead dust. Whether or not the paint
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Bay Area Air Quality Among Worst In Nation
Bay Area Air Quality Among Worst In Nation As an industrial hygienist it came as a surprise that the American Lung Association recently ranked Bay Area air quality among the worst in nation for air pollution and particulates. Unhealthy levels of pollution were found in numerous parts of the country, but the San Francisco Bay
- Published in News
Pesticides – To Spray Or Not To Spray?
Pest Problem? Before you reach for the pesticides, bug spray, or call an exterminator, consider that once you’ve sprayed, pesticide residue can remain years later. Luckily, there are resources to help inform you whether you want to use them in the first place and what to do after the fact to limit exposure and clean
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Who is Healthy Building Science?
We are an environmental consulting firm based in the San Francisco Bay Area, a group of scientists working to make your indoor spaces healthier. We test your building or property to find harmful pollutants.
Healthy Building Science
Environmental Testing Services at HBS
- Air Quality Testing
- Water Quality Testing
- Soil Testing
- Asbestos Testing
- Lead Testing
- Mold Testing
- RF Testing – EMF Testing
- LEED IAQ Testing
- Silica Air Testing (OSHA)
- Compliance Testing USP 797
- WELL Building Verification Testing
- Environmental Testing
- Industrial Hygiene and Compliance
- Cleaning, Verification & Coronavirus Testing
Sign up for our Quarterly newsletter
Sign Up For Newsletter
We value your privacy.
Your email is never shared or sold.