A Building Scientist? What is a Building Scientist? – When going to various marketing events and site assessments where many different disciplines present that are existing or potential clients such as Property Managers, Real Estate Agents, and Insurance Adjusters, and much to my dismay, sometimes even General Contractors and HVAC Contractors do not know the term or title. Or at least not entirely known. So, given my company name, Levy Building Sciences, I felt that this would be an informative and light topic for my first blog attempt.
So, what in the world is Building Scientist? The term “Building Science” can basically be defined or characterized as the broad body of knowledge that draws upon multiple scientific disciplines such as chemistry, physics, biology, life science, engineering or architecture, and material science. The combination of these disciplines is utilized to approach the physical behavior of a building as a WHOLE with several interrelated sub-systems and how the building systems will interact with itself and the occupants. This includes durability, occupant comfort, energy & efficiency, and indoor air quality (IAQ) or indoor environmental quality (IEQ).
To keep things simple, I will not list in detail every single building system, but the bottom line is that when conducting a Building Science investigation, all of the building systems must be addressed, not just a single building system deficiency.
Let us reevaluate an applicable scenario – An indoor air quality problem related to mold. No question, the number one IAQ complaint of which is the result of a moisture issue. As building scientists (who are licensed and qualified mold assessors), our goal is to 1) determine if a mold problem is present as well as the extent, 2), most importantly, find the responsible moisture source, 3) collect necessary data and 4) formulate hypothesis & conclusions and if warranted develop a mold remediation protocol which is a step-by-step guideline for a qualified mold remediator to follow. In collecting this data, all of the disciplines of building science listed above are utilized, and all relevant building systems are evaluated or considered.
For the purposes of this blog, the focus was just initially limited to an IAQ issue related to a known or suspected mold problem was used as an example. Mold and/or dampness is only one single IEQ stressor that yes can have a negative impact on building occupants. This fact has been well documented in industry guidelines; however, there are many other environmental stressors, such as other biological contaminants, chemical constituents, ventilation issues, temperature & relative humidity, or even occupant habits that can result in IAQ/IEQ problems. There can be many causes for some of these issues and as such evaluating the building as a whole system comprised of multiple related sub-systems of which many deficiencies must be identified and addressed.
This blog post was not intended to be technical in nature but rather to provide individuals with information and a general understanding of what Building Science actually is, gain some general knowledge about the term or discipline, and know what to expect when the consumer has an IAQ problem and needs hiring a qualified Indoor Environmental Professional. Below, I have provided links to industry documents on the subject of mold, moisture control, indoor air quality, and building science.
EPA: Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance
EPA: A Brief Guide to Mold, Moisture and Your Home
EPA: Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
Kesik, Ted J. PhD., P.Eng MASHRAE: Building Science Concepts 2019
If you have or suspect a potential mold problem or any other Indoor Air/Environmental Quality issues, don’t hesitate to contact Levy Building Sciences to discuss how we may be of service to your needs.
Mark E. Levy, CIEC
CE0/Principle Building Scientist
Council-Certified Indoor Environmental Consultant
Levy Building Sciences, LLC
Direct: 772-267-9671
