Conversation with timber construction pioneer Erwin Thoma

In the new brochure "Finishing and Designing with Renewable Raw Materials" published by the Agency for Renewable Resources (Fachagentur Nachwachsende Rohstoffe e. V.). (FNR) provides a compact overview of bio-based building and furnishing products for interior designers, renovators and builders. The topics range from floor coverings, paints and wood protection systems to wooden windows and furniture for indoor and outdoor use. A chapter on the subject of 'Indoor climate and healthy living' and a brief classification of bio-based materials round off the brochure.
The brochure is available for 3 Euro (plus shipping costs) at mediathek.fnr.de and is available there as a free download.

A small excerpt of the contents:

Floors made of renewable raw materials hardly tend to build up static charge and are therefore suitable for house dust allergy sufferers: In rooms with a natural hair carpet, a cork or wooden floor, fewer dust particles float in the room air.
Casein inks, also known as quark inks, are now also available on the basis of vegetable proteins. After alkaline digestion with borax, soda or hydrated lime, they have a particularly high adhesive strength and can also be pigmented well.
Wooden windows are already available today with thermal insulation. Researchers at ift Rosenheim have discovered that an alternative could be offered in the future by woods with a low bulk density, such as poplar or fir, which are suitable for the production of highly thermally insulating windows without any additional insulating materials.

(as of 6/20/2016)

Keywords:
Building Biology, Building materials / Construction, DE-News, Wood construction, NaWaRohs, New books and studies