Airtight construction
A healthy indoor environment is a prerequisite of a building, but unfortunately, it is far from a given. Inadequate ventilation can create moisture spots, which in turn provide a breeding ground for mold and fungi. Fortunately, this is easily prevented by proper application of the right film.
Willem Koppen, Koppen Bouwexperts
The primary function of a building is to provide protection from intruders, moisture, cold and also heat. Not for nothing does the European legislator prescribe in the fundamental regulations of Council Directive 89/106/EEC of December 21, 1988, that construction works in the Netherlands (and in the rest of Europe) must be designed and executed in such a way that the hygiene and health of occupants and residents are not at risk.
You don’t have to be a “fungi expert” to know that the presence of a fungus (fungus, mushroom), for example, is a major detriment to the living environment in your home. As humans, we can be greatly inconvenienced by the millions of spores released into the air by the fungi. In addition, there is a relationship between humidity and mold and the risk of allergies in residents. A fungus is a particular type of mushroom which can occur in more than 100,000 species of which about 30 to 40 can occur indoors. Spores of these fungi are in the air and can then germinate on moist and warm surfaces. So it is important to make sure that a warm and moist surface cannot occur!
Fighting fungi
And that turns out to be not so easy in practice. Fungi can normally exist only if they can settle in a watery environment for at least six months. This is because without moisture, mold cannot survive. Moisture in the structure can only occur when there is neglect of structural requirements such as inadequate ventilation or of a defect in the structure that allows water to enter the structure from outside, for example.
Protect the structure from moisture
For this reason, roof and facade must be made water- and rain-proof as described in NEN 2778. The structure shall be constructed so that any water and/or drifting snow penetrating through the roofing is collected by a water-resistant foil and drained to the outside (NPR 2652). On the outside of a structure, we therefore recommend always using a vapor-permeable and water-resistant insulation membrane. This foil blocks rain and snow and allows moisture that has penetrated from inside the structure to find its way out. Read all about the Breathable membranes within Meuwissen Gerritsen’s range here.
In addition, it is essential to apply vapor control membrane or vapor barrier membrane to prevent moisture and mold in the structure. These are applied to the inside of the structure and ensure that moisture generated inside the building by showering, cooking or washing, for example, does not enter the structure. Here, a vapor control Construction membrane is used in areas with average moisture production such as residential or bedrooms, schools or offices, and Vapour barrier membranes are suitable for areas with climate class 4 (bathroom, sauna, swimming pools etc).
