Awareness in Europe of the possible health hazards of certain building materials has increased. Many new building products have had no long-term testing, and competition leads to constant product changes. For example, asbestos-laden materials were used widely in schools, and now they must be removed or treated at great cost. Scientists and politicians have attempted to respond to the problem of health-threatening building materials. Germany's Federal Office for the Environment has created a guide describing substitutes that can be used in place of asbestos. Government civil-engineering departments also have released a planning aid on building materials. Other recommendations concerning harmful building materials and equipment have been made in operational instructions, circular orders, and building regulations. These regulations range from providing builders with a greater awareness of the dangers of some materials to refusal to provide financial backing for building projects using hazardous materials. The European Directive on Construction Products has been adopted and requires buildings to be constructed so as not to be dangerous and to meet certain standards. (JPT)