BPI HHE key terms

A structured walk-through and testing process that identifies conditions in a house that may affect occupant health, comfort, durability, or safety, and prioritizes corrective actions.

A systematic, non-invasive inspection of a home's interior and exterior using sight, smell, and touch to document moisture, deterioration, pest, and safety conditions before any testing.

The practice of ordering recommended fixes by health risk, severity, and cost so that life-safety and contamination issues are addressed before cosmetic or comfort improvements.

A written description of what an evaluation or remediation project will cover, including areas inspected, tests performed, deliverables, and limits on liability or access.

A documented, unbroken record of who collected, handled, transported, and stored a sample, used to show that laboratory results reflect conditions at the home.

The study of how heat, air, and moisture move through building assemblies and how those flows interact with materials, occupants, and mechanical systems.

The continuous plane of the building enclosure that resists air movement, separating conditioned indoor air from unconditioned or outdoor air; gaps in it drive infiltration and pollutant transport.

The material or assembly that limits uncontrolled air leakage through the enclosure; it must be continuous and sealed at joints, penetrations, and transitions to be effective.

Upward air movement caused by buoyancy differences between warm indoor and cooler outdoor air, creating positive pressure high in a building and negative pressure low in it.

A path of relatively high heat conductance through the enclosure, such as a steel stud or concrete slab edge, that lowers interior surface temperature and can cause condensation.

The temperature to which air must be cooled, at constant moisture content, to become saturated; surfaces below it collect condensation.

The amount of water vapor in air expressed as a percentage of the maximum it could hold at that temperature; it changes with temperature even when moisture content stays the same.

A material that slows the diffusion of water vapor through an assembly; its placement depends on climate and must not trap moisture inside the wall or roof.

Liquid water entering a building through leaks, failed flashing, or poor grading; it is usually a larger and faster source of damage than vapor diffusion.

A diagnostic test using a calibrated fan to depressurize a house and measure air leakage, while also revealing hidden leakage paths and pressure imbalances.

Reversal of combustion gas flow down a vent or flue into the home, caused by depressurization or blocked venting, which can create a serious carbon monoxide hazard.

The overall condition of a home's interior air, moisture, thermal comfort, light, and acoustics as they affect occupants' health and well-being.

Reducing or removing pollutants at their origin, such as sealing a crawlspace or eliminating a moldy material, rather than relying on dilution or filtration afterward.

Intentional supply or exhaust of outdoor air to dilute indoor pollutants and control moisture; it must be balanced against energy use and pressure effects.

Collecting a measured volume of air for laboratory analysis of particles, mold spores, or chemicals; results depend heavily on method, location, and timing.

Solid or liquid particles suspended in air, classified by size; fine and ultrafine fractions penetrate deep into the lungs and are linked to respiratory and cardiac effects.

Filtration rated to capture at least 99.97 percent of particles near 0.3 micrometers, used in vacuums and air cleaners to reduce airborne particles without generating ozone.

A carbon-based chemical that evaporates at room temperature, such as formaldehyde or solvents from paints and adhesives, and can irritate eyes and airways.

The release of volatile chemicals from new or damp materials, including furniture, flooring, and coatings, often highest shortly after manufacture or installation.

A handheld instrument that estimates moisture content in building materials by electrical resistance or capacitance, used to confirm dampness and track drying progress.

Use of an infrared camera to show surface temperature differences that may reveal hidden air leakage, missing insulation, or wet materials, which must be verified by other means.

Containment, removal, cleaning, and drying of mold-affected materials, followed by verification, with work area isolation scaled to the extent of contamination.

The domain of practice focused on preventing injury and illness in homes, including falls, poisoning, burns, electrical shock, and exposure to biological or chemical agents.

A colorless, odorless gas produced by incomplete combustion that binds hemoglobin and can cause headache, nausea, collapse, and death at low concentrations over time.

The space containing fuel-burning equipment, evaluated for adequate air supply, venting, and pressure so that combustion gases are not drawn back into the home.

A radioactive gas that seeps from soil into buildings through foundation cracks and openings; prolonged exposure is a leading cause of lung cancer among nonsmokers.

Deteriorating lead paint, dust, or soil contamination in older housing that can cause neurological harm, especially to young children through ingestion of dust and chips.

A group of fibrous minerals used in older insulation, flooring, and joint compounds; when disturbed, airborne fibers can cause serious lung disease decades later.

Respirators, gloves, eye protection, and protective clothing worn to reduce a worker's or occupant's exposure to dust, mold, chemicals, and other hazards during evaluation or repair.

Any condition increasing the risk of a fall, such as missing stair rails, loose handrails, uneven walking surfaces, or inadequate lighting, common in homes with older occupants.

Measuring draft, spillage, and carbon monoxide in flue gases of fuel-burning appliances under worst-case conditions to confirm that gases leave the home safely.