Interior surface materials as sources of indoor hygiene defects

Institute of Technology and Business in České Budějovice, Department of Civil Engineering, Okružní 517/10, 37001 České Budějovice Czech Republic

^* Corresponding author: 14667@mail.vstecb.cz

Abstract

The building design and material selection has to respect the environmental requirements of indoor air quality and indoor hygiene parameters. As the first stage of building design is the most important for final indoor air quality more and more by clear constructional architecture the benefit of environmental safety, good indoor air quality for health and productivity are dominant. Nowadays the interior surface materials have received greatest attention as sources of indoor air pollution. The major pollutants in indoor air are volatile organic compounds emitted from materials and building products. Volatile organic compounds, or VOCs, are among the most complex and troubling indoor air pollutants. Manufactured and synthesized products often release large quantities of VOCs, some of the compounds they release, such as benzene, styrene, formaldehyde, and toluene, may be irritating, toxic, or even carcinogenic. VOCs emitted can become attached to other surfaces in the space, especially fabrics, and then be re-emitted over time. The impact of interior surface materials on air quality and indoor hygiene is discussed within the paper. The building design concerning to heath of occupants and hygienic performance regime can be realized only by interdisciplinary team of professionals respecting the environmental building and indoor design.