Sentinel-Haus® Institut is an initiative of the middle class for the middle class. Since 2005 and with the support of the German association “Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt” (DBU)¹ and middle class building contractors, the founders Peter Bachmann and Josef Spritzendorfer developed a method to allow contractors and end-customers to agree upon a contract which regulates the indoor air quality. With this agreement, common building materials of the trade are used independently from the method of construction and the building type. The concept, which was first marketed by the name of "Q3 World of Quality of Life", is now called Sentinel-Haus® Institut GmbH since 2007 and was further developed in collaboration with various university research institutions, lawyers, environmental physicians and everyone involved in the construction process. In 2009, this lead to the introduction of the certificate “Health Passport”, which includes the recommended values of a wide range of institutions.

[1] Qualitätsentwicklung für ökologische Holzhäuser und Holzbaufachleute: Bauschadensresistenz, Raumlufthygiene und Beachtung gesundheitlicher Aspekte der Bewohner, Az: 23593, Deutsche Bundesstiftung Umwelt, 2005.