COURSE STRUCTURE AND LESSON CONTENT
The course comprises 8 lessons, as follows:
Lesson 1. Environmental Impacts On Buildings
- Scope, nature and principles of building biology.
- Environmental impacts on buildings.
- Climate, building location, radon, air quality, allergies, temperature, humidity, light, EMR.
- Creation of electric fields.
Lesson 2. Chemicals
- Air pollutants
- Cleaning chemicals
- Chemical breakdowns
- Leakages and spills
- Pesticides - household, industrial, agricultural
- Solid Waste pollutants
- Persistent organic pollutants (POP's)
- Formaldehydes
- Heavy metals
- Ammonia
- Resins
- Where different chemicals originate in a building
Lesson 3. Building Surrounds
- Creating a buffer zone
- Windbreaks, hedges, screens
- Creating shade
- Designing a healthy home garden
- Going natural in the garden
- Avoiding problem materials
- Disposing of waste
- Making compost
- Working with rather than against nature
- Energy conservation
- Solar house design
- Green principles for house design
Lesson 4. Furnishings
- Gas appliances, heaters and fireplaces
- Furniture
- Materials characteristics
- Floor coverings
- Cane
- Metals
- Fabrics
- Flame retardation treatments
- Mattresses
- Dry cleaning and mothballing
- Temperature and acoustic properties of fabrics
Lesson 5. Finishes
- Chemical reactions
- Lung disease, cancer, skin disease
- Paint
- Repainting
- Timber finishes against decay
- Varnishes and oils
Lesson 6. Pesticides & Alternatives
- Types of insecticides -inorganic and biological (organophosphates, carbamates etc.)
- Rodenticides
- Miticides, Bacteriacides, Algaecides, Termite treatments
- Understanding pesticide characteristics -toxicity, persistence, volatility, etc.
- Common chemicals used in buildings, and natural alternatives
- Common garden chemicals and natural pest/weed management
- Understanding Insect Pest Management options
Lesson 7. Managing Interior Environments
- Assessing air quality
- Ventilation
- Temperature control
- Cleaning
- Acoustics
- Electricity
- Domestic pets
- Light
- Colour
- Indoor plants
- Other hazards
Lesson 8. Consulting
- Services that can be offered to a client
- Checklist of building hazards
- Procedures and business practice for a consultant
- Setting up costs
- Operating a business
- Developing a business plan
- Determining fees to charge
Each lesson includes an assignment for submission to the school. This will be marked by the school's tutors and returned to you with any relevant suggestions, comments, and if necessary, extra reading.
LESSON AIMS
- Explain the impact of the macro-environment (location) on health.
- Develop an understanding of chemicals used in and around buildings and their impact upon human health.
- Explain the impact of building surrounds, including a garden on the interior environmental conditions.
- Choose interior furnishings that are not likely to damage human health.
- Explain the health implications of using different types of finishes, including sealers, paints, preservatives and stains.
- Explain the health implications of using alternative methods of pest control in buildings and adjacent gardens.
- Plan health-conscious management systems for interior environments.
- To develop an appreciation of the opportunities for, and implications of, advising people on the health status of buildings and recommending changes to the management of their use.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS (FAQs)
What are the benefits of studying Healthy Buildings II?
Make sustainable building decisions that support smart retrofit/exterior decisions and reduce waste.
Feel better equipped to identify why problems start, including exterior/grounds causes.
Better understand how site drainage, ground conditions, façades, roofs, and gutters drive damp, mould, and indoor air problems.
Support improvements that make buildings feel healthier and more stable year-round.
Build practical judgement for prioritising, planning, and communicating healthier fixes for buildings.
Improve your project decision-making by working with the building and its environment, not against it.
Get skills that are becoming more highly sought after by employers.
Use this course as professional development to enhance your career.
What is the course duration and format?
There are 8 lessons.
The course can be completed in approximately 10 weeks.
Each lesson includes experiential tasks, a self-assessment test, and a written assignment.
Assignments are marked by our expert tutors and returned with written feedback.
There is an optional exam upon completion of the course.
The course is self-paced. Study wherever you want, whenever you want.
How long can I access course materials?
You have all the time you want. We don't have a cut-off date. You can continue to access your course indefinitely. This is one of the ways we are different.
You can review and revisit course material as often as you like, helping to reinforce learning and improve retention.
Can I use this course as a credit toward a qualification?
Yes. This can be used as a module in a variety of certificates and diplomas with ACS or in a degree with one of our affiliate partners, Warnborough College.
Various other universities and colleges around the world have also assessed and given credits for our courses in degrees.
Who is this course for?
Property managers and building owners
Homeowners and renters
Facilities managers and maintenance workers
Damp/condensation surveyors, building pathology trainees, or people supporting those roles
Retrofit/energy efficiency professionals
Building surveyors/condition assessors (or trainees) doing more detailed inspections
Contractors/renovators and site supervisors
Housing associations/landlords
Architects/building designers
Environmental health/public health (housing) trainees
What Next?
You can start the course at any time; it is studied by distance learning. Study with the guidance and support of our highly knowledgeable specialist tutors.
If you have any questions, or want help in choosing a study path to suit your goals, get in touch. We are happy to answer your questions and outline suitable study options for you.