Five Construction Eras, Five Risk Profiles

Every construction era has its typical pollutants. Depending on when a building was built, the likelihood, type and severity of contamination varies considerably. Select your construction era in the section “The five construction eras at a glance” below for a detailed overview.

Which path is yours?

Home buyers

You want to know what's in the building before you buy. Pick the construction era below, the corresponding detail page shows the typical pollutants for your era. The site-inspection flat fee is €290 (up to 150 m²); sample costs depend on pollutant and matrix.

Remediation & planning

You're planning a remediation. We provide the technical basis for it: the findings before the remediation, the interpretation of lab values and interim reports, and on request a measurement-based quality control at the end that shows whether the remediation reached its goal.

Specific suspicion

You have a concrete suspicion: visible damage, a typical smell, an official enquiry. Pick the construction era below, then an individual analysis from the “All analyses” list. In the free initial consultation we clarify which analysis makes sense for your situation.

The five construction eras at a glance

Before 1945: Historic & Pre-War Buildings
Hardly any asbestos in the original fabric, possible through later alterations. Other risks dominate: lead in water pipes and paints, PAH in adhesives, wood preservatives in roof structures.
1945–1960: Post-War Construction
Reconstruction with salvaged materials. Early asbestos use, lead pipes, PAH-containing adhesives and first wood preservatives.
1960–1980: The High-Risk Era
The most pollutant-laden construction era: asbestos, PCB, PAH, MMF and wood preservatives were all used simultaneously and on a massive scale.
1980–1990: Transitional Period
The rethink begins, but asbestos was legal until 1990. Old MMF insulation still in use until around 2000. PCB residues possible.
After 1990: New Builds
Classic pollutants largely excluded; old MMF insulation possible until around 2000. New challenges: VOC from building materials, formaldehyde, radon from the ground.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common building pollutants are asbestos (in buildings before 1990), PAH (black parquet adhesive, installed until the 1970s), PCB (sealants in prefabricated concrete buildings), lead (water pipes and paints into the 1970s), MMF (old mineral wool before 1996), wood preservatives (PCP, lindane in roof structures) and radon (natural ground gas, independent of construction year).

Yes, the construction year is the most important indicator of likely pollutant exposure. Buildings from the 1960s to 1980s are the most heavily affected. Older buildings (before 1945) tend to have lead and wood preservatives; new builds (after 1990) mainly VOC and radon.

Before purchasing a property, before any renovation or refurbishment, if you are experiencing health issues, or if the building is in a radon protection zone. A free initial consultation will clarify whether and which investigations are worthwhile.