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
New OSHA Silica Testing Requirement in Effect
New OSHA Silica Testing Requirement in Effect OSHA has issued two standards (“rules”) to minimize exposure to respirable crystalline silica. One rule applies to construction trades, and the other to general industry and maritime workplaces. This blog focuses on the new OSHA Silica Testing requirements for the construction industry. September 23, 2017, kicked off enforcement for
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
What To Do About Dust and Smoke From Fires
Dust and Smoke from Fires Far more people have been impacted by dust and smoke than fires themselves. If you were directly impacted by fires you should read Cleaning After Fire. For others in the region who have been more directly impacted by dust and smoke from fires, please consider these tips to minimize health
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Cleaning After Fire
Cleaning After Fire The October 2017 California Fires in Northern California were devastating. Northern California will be dealing with the death and destruction of recent wildfires for years. The immediate life safety concerns about fire are obvious and frightening, but what many don’t realize is that returning to fire damaged buildings is also hazardous. Cleaning
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
SF Water Supply & Ground Water Testing
San Francisco Water Supply, New Chemicals & Ground Water Testing For the first time in nearly nine decades, San Francisco is blending local groundwater with Hetch Hetchy Reservoir water, sourced from over 167 miles away. For some, this change has been hard to swallow as San Francisco residents have long held bragging rights to exceptional
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Dirty Electricity from LEDs
Dirty Electricity from LEDs People interested high fidelity sound systems or low-EMF environments want to minimize electromagnetic interference (AKA: EMI, High-Voltage Transients, Electrical Noise, and Dirty Electricity) from lighting systems. Compact fluorescent lightbulbs (CFLs) – the curly pig tail variety with some mercury in them – are notoriously “dirty” and create significant EMI (Electromagnetic Interference).
- Published in Environmental Testing, Green Building Consulting, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
IAQ Issues LEED Building San Francisco – Part Two
IAQ Issues LEED Building – Part Two As a healthy building inspector and industrial hygienist, I have performed several pre-occupancy IEQ tests to the LEED standard and specifically for LEED certification. I am familiar with both the testing and flush out options and IAQ issues related LEED Building certification. The flush out option is most
- Published in Environmental Testing, Healthy Building Inspections & Testing
Architectural Design – Mold Free Guarantee?
During one of my many presentations on Building Enclosure Commissioning to architecture firms, I had a question from an architect echoing the concern in many professionals’ minds about mold. The architect in question wondered if there is any way to guarantee “on paper” that mold will never occur in an assembly. Architectural design mold free
House Plants Reduce VOCs and Create Healthier Environments
House Plants Can Contribute to Healthier Indoor Environments We spend about 90% of our time indoors. While inside, we are exposed to a variety of indoor air pollutants. Reducing or removing these pollutants and creating an optimal indoor environment is important to our health and well-being. House plants reduce VOCs (volatile organic compounds) and are
Indoor Air Pollution Near Busy Roads
Indoor Air Pollution Near Busy Roads Freeways and other busy roads are sources of elevated auto emissions and indoor air pollution. These emissions can be harmful to human health for both people on the roads and people working, walking, and living nearby. Nearly 20% of the United States population lives near a high volume road,
- 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
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