Indoor air pollution

Indoor air pollution

Air pollution inside buildings is mainly caused by microorganisms proliferating in a high-humidity environment. The presence of mould on indoor walls increases the risk of occupants developing:

• allergies
• asthma
• immune system disorders

Biological pollutants tend to proliferate in excessively humid and poorly ventilated indoor spaces. High humidity promotes the proliferation of mites and fungi, increasing the volume of allergens, toxins and other irritants released into the environment.

When mould is present on the walls, ventilation is the only way to reduce the concentration of humid air inside the building – but ventilation systems and air conditioning can also be harmful if not properly maintained. So, how can mould be removed from walls or preventing from forming in the first place?

FIND OUT THE SOURCE OF MOULD TO PREVENT FORMATION ON THE WALLS

Various types of mould can form on walls, including:

• mould caused by condensation
• mould caused by infiltration of water from roofs or terraces
• rising mould

It’s important to find out what’s causing the mould and then take immediate action.

The simplest cases are caused either by condensation or water leaking in from the roof. Simply find the source of the condensation or leak and put a stop to it. Water leaking in through the ceiling may be originate from the apartment above yours or from the roof. Since this is fairly common, the first thing to check is whether the upstairs neighbour has any leaks in the bathroom or kitchen. Nowadays, renovating a bathroom or kitchen is not all that difficult, making it possible to eliminate a whole host of possible causes of leaks that could damage a neighbour’s property.

CONTROLLED MECHANICAL VENTILATION SYSTEMS, VENTILATION MAINTENANCE

As mentioned above, proper ventilation allows fresh air to cycle through the home, eliminating microorganisms present in the air.

But you still have to be careful. The same microorganisms and mites floating in the air (due to mould on your walls) can end up settling on the fan blades of air conditioners and other appliances. When you turn on the air conditioner, those mites and filamentous microorganisms (i.e. moulds) are released into the air in large quantities and eventually breathed in by inhabitants.

Prana’s dMVHR (decentralised Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery) technology can reclaim the environment by deploying a combination of humidity, atmospheric, CO2 and temperature sensors to monitor the air and then bring in the required amount of clean, ionised oxygen via a copper heat exchanger; copper is not only an efficient conductor, but also features natural antiseptic properties. This process combats the formation, proliferation and propagation of mould and fungus and eliminates humidity. This system does not have the disadvantage of mites accumulating inside filters, since filters are not a standard part of the system – although filters are available if required.

Prana recuperator/ventilation units utilise an innovative system of sensors to monitor, correct and control the airflow in any indoor environment. These sensors can detect changes in atmospheric pressure, temperature, air quality, CO2 build-up and humidity, enabling Prana to easily outperform rival systems on the market.