Older Buildings in Austria — Beautiful, but Often Contaminated
Buildings from the historicist period, the turn of the century and the interwar years define the cityscape in Wien, Graz, Linz and many Austrian towns. The solid brick construction with timber-joist ceilings and box-frame windows is built to last — but many of the materials used at the time, and the products used in later renovations, are now known to be harmful to health.
The good news: the classic historic building materials (brick, lime, timber, natural stone) are in themselves harmless. The problems lie in the pipework, surface treatments and retrospective additions.
Typical Pollutants in Buildings Built Before 1945
Lead
Lead pipes were the standard material for water supply lines. In addition, lead paints (white lead, lead minium) on windows, doors and railings, as well as lead-containing window putty.
Lead Testing →PAH (Tar products)
Black parquet adhesive, tar paper under floor coverings, roofing membranes and tar-based wood impregnation (Carbolineum) contain carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
PAH Analysis →Wood preservatives
Many historic roof structures were subsequently treated with PCP- and lindane-containing wood preservatives in the 1950s–1970s. These substances are persistent and off-gas for decades.
Wood Preservative Testing →Asbestos (from later renovations)
In purely pre-war buildings, asbestos is rare. But during later renovations (1960s–1980s), asbestos-containing fillers, tile adhesives or fibre-cement panels were often installed.
Asbestos Testing →When is a pollutant check necessary?
Not every older building is hazardous. Here is a guide:
- Testing recommended: Before purchase, before renovation or demolition, when converting a loft space, if there are young children in the household
- Testing urgent: If old paint is flaking, black adhesive is visible under the parquet, or water pipes have not been replaced
- Usually not a concern: Intact brick walls, lime plaster, replaced pipework, no wood preservative treatment
Frequently Asked Questions About Pollutants in Older Buildings
The most common pollutants are lead (water pipes, paints, window putty), PAH (tar products in floors and roofing membranes) and wood preservatives (PCP, lindane — often applied retrospectively in the 1950s–1970s). Asbestos is less common in pre-war buildings, but may have been introduced during later renovations.
Very likely. Lead was the standard material for water supply lines well into the post-war period. In many older buildings, the original lead pipes are still in service. A pXRF test can detect lead directly on the pipe within seconds.
Strongly recommended. When sanding lead paints, removing old floor coverings or working on roof structures, pollutants can be released. A pollutant check before renovation protects you and the tradespeople — and is legally required for demolition work.
The site-inspection flat fee is €290 (flat, regardless of scope). Additional analysis costs apply per sample — e.g. asbestos from €69, lead in water €19. Situational analyses (PAH, wood preservatives) by quote. In a free initial consultation, we discuss which analyses make sense for your building.
Clarity from €290
In pre-1945 buildings we regularly find lead pipes, PAH-containing adhesives and wood preservatives. An assessment from €290 clarifies what is in your building — before your renovation becomes a hazard zone.
After renovation, we offer a clearance measurement to document safe sign-off. More about renovation monitoring →