Building biology measurement technology

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Building biology measurement technology is the umbrella term for different measurement methods in which physical , chemical and biogenic influences and environmental pollution in indoor spaces that are used extensively by people, especially in living areas, are determined and verified with scientific and reproducible measurement techniques.

General description and integration in the sciences

Stress and illnesses can occur due to physical influences such as B. sound or vibrations, chemical loads such. B. pollutants or the indoor climate, or biogenic influences appear. Building biology measurement technology or environmental analysis is required to recognize these loads and thus effectively eliminate them . This involves a wide variety of measurement methods that are used to analyze the living or working environment. Pollutants and other hazards can thus be determined effectively.

Building biology measurement technology in building biology (recognition, assessment, removal)

Environmental pollution affects human life. This is particularly dangerous for one's own organism in children's rooms and bedrooms, the actual rest and regeneration rooms, workplaces and long-term living rooms. Physical influences (e.g. electromagnetic fields and sound), pollutants, mold , bacteria and allergens are the main points of exposure . These are often caused by faulty or outdated electrical installations, the release of chemical substances from building materials and furnishings, immissions (e.g. traffic noise or exhaust fumes) and structural damage caused by moisture.

Development and history

Building biology, the teaching of correct and healthy building, has been known to man for hundreds of years. In ancient Rome, at the time of Emperor Augustus, it was said: “An architect must know the theory of sounds and its mathematical laws and must not be ignorant of health.” Vitruvius . When industrialization began at the beginning of the 19th century, architecture faded into the background and architecture was geared towards rapid growth and for the benefit of large profits.

Mankind is now increasingly sensitized to synthetically produced building materials and begins to think about the destruction of the environment. This means that new ways of building and living responsibly are being sought. The basics of building biology emerged. At the beginning of the 1980s, at the request of the Institute for Building Biology IBN, the journalist, author and building biologist Wolfgang Maes, supported by engineers, chemists, biologists and medical professionals, began developing the standard building biology measurement technology SBM, which was first published in 1992. This SBM was last updated in its 8th edition in 2015.

"Properties" of the measurement technology (reproduction, traceability, checking in case of doubt)

If there is any suspicion that health is compromised, then this should be identified and quantified. An assessment is then carried out and a renovation recommendation is made. The results of previous examinations can also be secured. The success of a renovation can also be confirmed by a measurement or shows where there are still problems.

Whether and to what extent room air, material and drinking water analyzes, laboratory tests of the building fabric or further analyzes are necessary will be discussed in an initial on-site visit. Sometimes just a few glances from a building biology measurement technician are enough to assess the type and scope of possible pollution or to explain health complaints. Material analyzes, room air measurements or other analyzes are usually carried out.

In building biology measurement technology, all results must be reproducible under the same conditions. They must also be able to be understood by other experts and environmental measurement technicians and checked in case of doubt. This rules out incorrect renovation and brings optimal success. After the measurements have been carried out, it is now time to analyze and evaluate them. Then it can be decided what the following renovation will look like.

Different analysis methods

Visible mold infestation, wet areas or smells can give the first signs and give rise to suspicion. Certain health symptoms that only occur in polluted rooms can be an indication. For the analyzes z. For example, certain prior knowledge is required for the detection and assessment of a mold: the identification of the species and knowledge of the ecological conditions of individual molds and their indicator function.

Analysis of the room air (short-term, long-term measurement methods, rapid tests)

An analysis of the indoor air gives the first signs of suspected pollutants and can also be used to check the success of a renovation. As a rule, they are necessary to determine the urgency of the renovation and the risk potential. With the help of short-term and long-term measuring methods or quick tests, indoor air pollution can be determined. Indoor air pollution are z. B. PCP ( pentachlorophenol ), lindane, DDT ( dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane ), dioxins and furans , formaldehyde , VOC (volatile organic compounds), asbestos , molds, etc.

The concentrations of asbestos fibers in the air, before and after the renovation, can be measured using specially equipped light microscopes or scanning electron microscopes . Molds or microbial contamination can be recognized and assessed relatively easily if their growth is visible. Material tests are carried out here, i. H. A sample is taken and analyzed. Air examinations can also be carried out on hidden molds. They also help to prepare an initial risk assessment. These are then also helpful in determining the general hygienic status of the living area.

House dust sampling and analysis

House dust examinations are suitable for estimating potential pollution. With this method, larger areas can be checked with just a few samples. Medium to low volatile organic compounds settle in house dust and can thus be recognized. Furthermore, heavy metals such as lead , cadmium , thallium and tin also contained in house dust such as arsenic . Since house dust is also a magnet / sink for mold, these can also be measured. However, there is the problem that the molds can live for different lengths of time in the house dust, making it more difficult to evaluate the species using cultivation methods .

A house dust test can only give indications of pollution and serve as a supplement to the indoor air analysis, as it reflects the pollution over a longer period of time. However, the results are not sufficient to draw up an accurate risk assessment.

Analysis of the materials used

The dangerous substances include: PCP mixtures, bitumen, tar, formaldehyde, inorganic substances such as lead, copper and mercury, asbestos, etc. When analyzing the materials used, in addition to the measuring instruments, some knowledge of the health-endangering building materials from different times is required that also help to classify the potential danger. Some of the pollutants known today were only used in buildings for a certain period of time and were banned after a certain year. These years of the most common pollutants are compiled in various tables. For example, sprayed asbestos was banned from 1979 and PCB paints or sealants from 1948. The ban on PCP in open use came into effect in 1978.

Drinking water analysis

The shelf life of drinking water is limited and is further reduced by influences such as frequent heating, which prevents a reduction in germs and causes greater contamination of Legionella. The drinking water can also be contaminated with lead or bacteria.

As with the analysis of the room air, house dust analysis and the analysis of the materials used, there are various methods of determining the content and the risk potential. In the Legionella test, the CFU (colony-forming units) are measured per 100 ml and thus provide comparative values ​​that describe the size of the contamination with the help of tables.

In the event of contamination with heavy metals, the "Ordinance on the quality of water for human consumption" (Drinking Water Ordinance - TrinkwV 2001) applies.

Measurement errors and their causes

As with almost all measurements, errors can also occur in building biology measurement technology. The most common reasons for this are faulty devices and incorrect use of these devices by people.

Measurement errors of the devices

If a device is used frequently and is exposed to various conditions, such as: B. dust, temperature fluctuations, transport, etc., the device must be readjusted or replaced if necessary. In order to prevent errors, the devices should be checked regularly, ideally in the context of round robin tests, which are initiated by the professional association of German building biologists VDB eV. In addition, maintenance and calibration can be recorded by keeping a measuring device manual.

Measurement errors by people

The settings on the device and the handling of this can be a reason for errors as well as errors in the device itself. Therefore, building biology measurement technicians take part in further training and proficiency tests in order to get to know and better assess personal measurement errors and thus optimize the reproducibility of the measurement result.

Do-it-yourself tests and specialist measurements

New measuring devices are constantly being developed to expand and improve the detection options in environmental analysis. Various “do-it-yourself” test methods are available on the market, which do not necessarily indicate the amount and degree of the problem, but give an initial suspicion of pollutants or molds. Although these tests cannot always give clear answers, they are in any case indicators and call for a building biology specialist to be consulted if the result is positive.

Assessment and evaluation of the results

The evaluation and assessment of the hazard potential and the associated following measures are based on some standards and recommendations. The precautionary values ​​of the standards of building biology measurement technology SBM 2008, the recommendations of the AGÖF or those of the Federal Environment Agency are to be named for example. However, you should always do what is individually feasible to reduce the damage and to prevent further damage.

Consequences and measures

There are temporary and long-term measures. The preliminary include measures such as ventilation or drying. Achieving long-term success, and thus the liberation from negative influences and burdens in the living environment, can usually only be achieved by consistently removing the burden. After completion of the renovation work, success is checked by clearance measurements and compared with the inventory. The rooms are checked again for the previously existing pollutants and pollution. If the natural conditions are largely restored, the renovation can be documented as successful and finally completed.

See also

literature

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Wolfgang Maes: STANDARD of building biology measurement technology Lecture by Wolfgang Maes, expert for building biology / journalist DJV. (No longer available online.) In: Referat. Archived from the original on March 18, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.maes.de
  2. ↑ Wolfgang Maes: STANDARD OF BUILDING BIOLOGICAL MEASUREMENT TECHNOLOGY SBM-2015. (No longer available online.) In: Referat. Archived from the original on March 21, 2016 ; accessed on October 8, 2017 . Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.maes.de