The concerns related with indoor air quality (IAQ) in buildings stem from the fact that, nowadays, people spend more and more time indoors (in offices, classrooms, laboratories, etc.) and are exposed to a variety of pollutants. It is important to control and correct this reality in order to improve the quality of life of the people that use indoor spaces.
Therefore, UMinho monitors the IAQ by measuring the following parameters:
Physical-chemical parameters
| |
Unit |
Reference conditions |
Margim of tolerance (MT)
[%] 2 |
| Particular matter (fraction PM10) |
[µg/m3] |
50 |
100 |
| Particular matter (fraction PM2,5) |
[µg/m3] |
25 |
100 |
| Total of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) 1
1 |
[µg/m3] |
600 |
100 |
| Carbon Monoxide (CO) 1
1 |
[mg/m3] |
10 |
― |
| Formaldehyde (CH2O) |
[µg/m3] |
100 |
― |
| Carbon Dioxide (CO2) |
[mg/m3] |
2250 |
30 |
Table 3: Physical-chemical parameters
1. According to the total of CO and VOC parameters, if the concentrations measured are superior to the limits of protection, the verification of compliance must be carried out by conducting testes over a longer period of time, in the case of CO, and by testing the composition of pollutants present in VOC, such as benzene, toluene, among others.
2. The margins of tolerance are applied to existing and new buildings that do not have mechanical ventilation systems.
Microbiological pollutants
| |
Matriz |
Unit |
Reference conditions |
| Bacteria |
Air |
[UFC/m3] |
Total concentration of bacteria inside plus the concentration outside, plus 350 CFU/m3 |
| Legionella |
Water |
[UFC/L] |
Concentration inferior to 100 CFU/L, except in the case study of cooling towers in which the concentration should be inferior to 1000 CFU/L |
| Fungus |
Air |
[UFC/m3] |
Concentration of fungus inside is inferior to the one detected outside. |
(Decree n.º 353-A/2013, of 4 december)
