Increasingly people are referring to a phenomenon know as ‘Sick House Syndrome’ which irritates the nose, eyes and throat and is thought to be caused by a large percentage of pollutants, pesticides and paint in the home. Some of these are brought into the home post construction, but many are inherent in the construction materials.

There is now the option for self-builders to have a home individually designed to provide an allergy-free and ecological living environment for themselves. The concept, called ‘Alloekh’ was developed by the German Institute for Environment and Health (IUG) in conjunction with German house manufacturer WeberHaus, who have produced timber frame self build houses for over 48 years.

Over 15 million people suffer with allergies in the U.K, affecting 30% of adults and 40% of children. Scientists believe this increase is due to our changing environment and the response from our immune systems.  The most common allergies are rhinitis (including hay fever), eczema and asthma.  Many materials and chemicals can cause allergic reactions, so WeberHaus’s designers have created a home that minimises ‘interior pollution’.

All WeberHaus homes are timbe frame custom built to the customers’ specification, and constructed ‘off-site’.  The initial consideration for any allergy free home is location.  When a site has been selected, a biologist with a specialist knowledge of the construction industry assesses the area in terms of exposure to pollinating trees and grassland and distance from electro-magnetic fields such as power lines and radio masts.  Armed with the report on the environmental surroundings and the customer’s allergic sensitivities, the home is constructed to minimise the offending allergens.  

The timber frame that the homes are built from is also important.  Timber, which is both environmentally friendly and renewable, is the primary resource in all WeberHaus homes. Following the production of the house panels, construction is swift, with a home erected in a matter of days.  The advantage of this process is that it is ‘dry’ as the materials are not exposed to the elements during manufacture.  This deters pests such as dust mites, which thrive in moisture.

For people suffering from hay fever for example, a number of solutions can be added to reduce the amount of pollen entering the home.  A sophisticated aeration and de-aeration system can be installed, which filters and expels pollinated air whilst retaining heat.  Areas where a large amount of pollen enters the house, such as the front porch, can also be protected by adding an air trap.  For those suffering with a dust allergy, customised flooring minimises trapped dust, and tilting radiators which can be thoroughly cleaned can be installed.  A vacuum cleaning central unit can also be fitted. To improve the chances of a good night’s sleep, a ‘walk-in’ wardrobe is located outside of the master bedroom.

Following the construction of the timber frame house, the air in the living room and first floor master bedroom is tested for over 10 harmful emissions and substances.  Only when these results are within stringent guidelines can the house be approved by the Institute for Environment and Health and have the ‘Alloekh’ quality seal. The report is then given to the owner, with a detailed list of all the materials used in the home’s construction plus additional fittings