The international consultancy Carl Bro plans to locate an international development centre, for the study of sick buildings, in Stockholm. One of the reasons for this location is that Sweden, from an international perspective, is on the forefront of research into sick buildings. Another reason, as Tom Follin of the consultancy Carl Bro Barab suggests, is that Sweden boasts internationally recognised expertise in decontamination of affected buildings.

The problem with sick buildings is an international one. Intensive research is ongoing in many countries as to why these problems arise and what can be done to prevent them. Sweden has long been a research leader into this complex of problems.

"There is a wealth of knowledge in the research community, with which we work very closely," says Tom Follin who will head the development centre. "Access to research has always been an important part in our development work so we can find even better methods for examination and remedy."

Carl Bro Barab, which has worked with sick buildings for about two decades and carried out over 20,000 investigations, has long-standing collaborations with researchers around the world. Tom Follin believes that the new development centre will reinforce the partnership while giving the company more resources to develop new methods.

"Finding the causes and taking the proper steps to remedy them is a process requiring solid technical knowledge of construction and understanding of measurement technology, microbiology, chemistry, humidity physics and a clear and well-prepared investigation strategy," says Tom Tom Follin. "Without this, an investigation most often ends up being both misleading and expensive, particularly as the proposed remedies are frequently ineffective."

In many cases, sick buildings are created by several complex problems. Carl Bro Barab, which carries out about 1,000 investigations annually, uses an investigation methodology that has been adopted as international guidelines by ISIAQ, The International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate.

Carl Bro Barab is a company in the Swedish Sycon group, which is owned by the international consultancy Carl Bro.


For more information, please contact:
Tom Follin, International Manager, BSc
Carl Bro Barab
Smedjegatan 8
SE-131 34 Nacka, SWEDEN
Mobile: +46 708 418 155
E-mail: tom.follin@barab.se
Website: www.barab.se

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