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The invisible risk in buildings

Asbestos. Lead. Radon. VOC.
Most buildings built before 1990 contain substances that can make you ill.

Before you buy, renovate or demolish: get it tested. Professional sampling, accredited laboratory analyses and real-time air monitoring. Scientific, personal — in Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Burgenland & Bavaria.

Clarity costs €290. Everything else costs more.

Three paths to certainty

You're planning a renovation, you want to buy a property, or you have a specific suspicion. Same workflow — different trigger.

01
Renovators

Pollutant check before renovation

You're planning a renovation, conversion or demolition. Before the contractor starts: which materials are problematic, what needs separate disposal, which protective measures are required? Thorough site inspection, professional sampling and accredited analysis — with a report that fits into the tender and work contract.

from €290 + samples
More for renovators →
02
Home buyers

Pollutant Check before purchase

You want to know what you're getting into. Site inspection, sampling, accredited laboratory analysis — and a clear assessment of whether the building is viable or not. Thorough, documented, no compromises.

from €290 + samples
More for buyers →
03
Specific suspicion

Individual analyses in existing stock

Something doesn't feel right — you want clarity. One material, a water sample, a specific room. Asbestos, MMF, lead, PCB, PAH, radon — targeted sampling, accredited laboratory analysis, clear interpretation. We discuss which analysis makes sense in the free initial consultation.

Asbestos/MMF from €69 · Lead water test €19 · others after initial consultation
More on specific suspicion →
The site-inspection flat fee (€290, flat, regardless of scope) covers on-site consultation and sampling. Laboratory analyses are charged per sample: asbestos from €69, lead in water €19, lead in material €49, MMF from €69 / €149. Clearance measurement €390 flat. For situational services (radon, VOC, PCB, PAH, wood preservatives) you receive a transparent quote after the free initial consultation. Typically 5–10 samples per home-purchase check — we discuss the exact total in the free initial consultation.

Pollutant management for multiple buildings? Solutions for businesses →

What's in your building?

Select the construction year. Find out which pollutants are typically to be expected.

Common pollutants

Lead (pipes, paints) PAH Radon Wood preservatives

Recommended investigations

  • Check water pipes for lead (drinking-water test)
  • Lead paint on windows, doors, radiators
  • Examine black adhesive and tar membranes for PAH
  • Test impregnated roof timber for PCP and lindane
  • Radon measurement in the basement and ground floor

Common pollutants

Asbestos (fibre-cement, pipes) Lead (paints, solder joints) PAH Wood preservatives

Recommended investigations

  • Inspect fibre-cement sheets on roof and facade
  • Check 1950s pipe insulation for asbestos
  • Black parquet adhesive: PAH analysis
  • Lead paint on windows and radiators
  • Test roof timber for PCP and lindane treatment

Common pollutants

Asbestos (peak era) PCB MMF Wood preservatives Radon

Recommended investigations

  • Plasters, fillers and tile adhesives for asbestos
  • Identify vinyl-asbestos floor tiles (Floor-Flex)
  • Check sealants and elastic coverings for PCB
  • Old mineral wool insulation (pre-1996) for MMF
  • Night storage heaters for asbestos-containing insulation
  • Radon measurement in the basement

Common pollutants

Asbestos (remaining stock) MMF VOC Radon

Recommended investigations

  • Remaining fibre-cement on roof and facade — ban only from 1990
  • Insulation for old MMF (pre-1996)
  • VOC indoor air measurement if unusual smells
  • Radon measurement in the basement

Common pollutants

VOC MMF Radon

Recommended investigations

  • If unusual smells: VOC indoor air measurement
  • Assess newer insulation materials on a case-by-case basis
  • Radon measurement in precautionary or protection zones
  • For imported products: asbestos can occasionally occur

Which analysis fits your case?

Five analytical focus areas — each with its own workflow, methodology and pricing model. In the free initial consultation we clarify which one fits your case.

From enquiry to clarity

Four steps. One point of contact. No jargon.

01

Initial consultation

Call or write to us. Free of charge. We discuss whether and which investigations make sense. For immediate expert advice by video: 15 minutes, free.

02

Preparation call

Before sampling, we discuss the details together — by video or on-site with you. What are we testing? Where do we sample? Which components are critical? This saves time on-site and you know what to expect.

03

Sampling & analysis

We come in person, inspect the property and sample professionally. Samples go to an accredited partner laboratory (ISO/IEC 17025). Lab results in 3–10 working days.

04

Debrief & action options

We go through the findings together — what does each value mean, what's urgent, what can wait, what steps are available. Clear, no jargon. You leave the conversation with concrete action options.

05

Clearance measurement

After renovation, intervention or works: documented indoor-air measurement as evidence that no contamination remains — for authorities, buyers, tenants or simply your own peace of mind.

Dr. Maximilian Mandl — Geochemist and founder of Ungiftig

Dr. Maximilian Mandl

Geochemist, Managing Director
Analytical methods
ICP-MS SEM GC-ICP-MS IoT

A scientist who understands your building

Ungiftig was founded by Dr. Maximilian Mandl, a geochemist with a PhD from ETH Zürich. Max analysed lunar and Martian rock and served as project manager at Nagra, responsible for the long-term safety of the Swiss deep geological repository.

We bring this analytical precision to an area that affects everyone: the materials in your building and the air you breathe. With our own sensors for real-time air monitoring and a clean-room laboratory background for the highest analytical quality — and the experience to know which analysis answers which question.

Max remains your personal point of contact. No hotline, no caseworker. We come ourselves, take the samples ourselves, and personally explain what the results mean.

Education
PhD Geochemistry, ETH Zürich
Core expertise
ICP-MS, MC-ICP-MS, SEM, sensors
Experience
Nagra, ETH, USGS, PAN
Service area
Vienna, Lower Austria, Upper Austria, Salzburg, Styria, Burgenland & Bavaria

We are looking for new team members: scientists and engineers who want to make buildings safer. Open positions →

Pollutant management for businesses, schools or care homes? Solutions for businesses →

What sets us apart

Three reasons why we approach pollutants differently.

Nuclear background

From safety analysis of radioactive waste to building pollutant consulting. Those who have worked with highly radioactive waste find asbestos a manageable problem.

Independent of laboratory & remediation firm

No in-house laboratory, no stake in remediation companies. Our recommendation is always the best solution for you — not for a laboratory or a contractor.

Accompaniment through to sign-off

Not just measuring and reporting. Comparing quotes, supervising renovation, clearance measurement after completion. One point of contact from the first suspicion to documented sign-off.

What you should know

Before purchasing a property (especially built before 1990), before renovation or demolition work, or if you have health concerns — such as unusual smells, unexplained symptoms, or if you know that materials like fibre-cement sheets have been used.

No, and that is a deliberate choice. We work with accredited partner laboratories (ISO/IEC 17025) that specialise in the respective analysis. The value we add lies in the professional sampling, selection of the right analyses and clear interpretation of the results — not in individual instruments.

The site-inspection flat fee is €290 (flat, regardless of scope). Laboratory analyses are charged per sample: asbestos from €69, lead in water €19, lead in material €49, MMF from €69. Situational services (radon, VOC, PCB, PAH, wood preservatives) receive a transparent quote after the free initial consultation.

During renovation work, fibres, particulate matter and volatile compounds can be released. Our sensors monitor air quality continuously, so problems are identified immediately — not days later in the laboratory.

Laboratory analysis takes 3–10 working days depending on the pollutant. Long-term radon measurements require at least 3 months. Our report follows within 3 working days of receiving the laboratory results.

Remediation is always more expensive than testing. A measurement from €69 per sample gives you clarity — before a suspicion becomes an expensive surprise. Whether it then costs €500 (gaskets) or €10,000+ (roof) depends on the material and scope.

A negative result also has value: you have documented certainty that your building is safe — and a strong negotiating position when purchasing. The report serves as evidence for buyers, tenants or authorities.

What clients say

Let's talk about your building

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+43 720 732 583
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