MONITORING OF MICROCLIMATIC CONDITIONS AND THE OCCURRENCE OF MICROMYCETES IN CRAWL SPACE
Keywords:
airborne fungi, crawl space, relative humidity, micromycetesAbstract
The risk of creating suitable microclimatic conditions for the growth and development of micromycetes in a crawl space is relatively high. Spores of micromycetes can infiltrate the living space through leaks in ceiling construction of the crawl space due to pressure conditions. The study is focused on monitoring microclimatic conditions and the occurrence of micromycetes in the crawl space in the Czech Republic. Samples were taken from the crawl space structures (ceiling structure and foundation walls) using sponges. Additionally, sedimentation methods were used to monitor the indoor microclimate (in the crawl space) and the outdoor microclimate. In the crawl space, spores of micromycetes of the genera Alternaria, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Didymella, Epicoccum, Sarocladium, Sordaria and Penicillium were detected. The relative humidity in the crawl space ranged from 50% to 95% during the model year. In total, 6,659 hours were spent in the crawl space with a relative humidity of about 75%.
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