DE102004004979A1 - Joint sealing as a barrier against micro-organisms, especially mold, and other air pollutants - Google Patents

Abstract

joint sealing and / or surface sealing as a barrier against microorganisms, especially molds, as well as against smells, Dust particles and other air pollutants with a the joints or the openings a surface covering layer, with the joints and / or the openings a surface under the covering layer wholly or partly with an adsorbent, that for binding liquid and / or gaseous Substances and / or solid particles is filled, are filled, and the covering layer is a non-woven fabric or a film each with breathable and / or dust-binding properties is.

Description

The The invention relates to a joint seal and / or surface seal as a barrier against microorganisms, especially molds, as well as against smells, Dust particles and other air pollutants with a the joints or the openings of a area covering layer.

Of Furthermore, the invention relates to a skirting board for breathable Cover of floor joints and openings in wall and floor areas as well a method of preventing and controlling mold infestation in floor and expansion joints.

Under The expert understands air pollutants in addition to odors and Dust particles Air pollutants, the term of the air pollutant various particulate solid and / or liquid Includes substances (aerosols), that are so light that they float in the air. Gaseous air pollutants up to a size of 5 Micrometer, can be very questionable in terms of health because they are able to to penetrate deep into the lungs. Larger particles that only into the respiratory tract against trigger of allergies.

When Air pollutants need also the gaseous ones of metabolic products produced by mold fungi, which are considered as Microbial Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs). These are common the cause of Smell abnormalities. Molds and their components and their metabolites, such as mold toxins, may occur in persons with a weakened immune system Cause allergies and infections. Even the constituents of killed molds have toxic potential and can lead to allergic reactions.

molds sat down from a root-like Braid, the mycelium, the fruiting body and the spores that serve as dissemination unit together. The size of the spores can be from 2-25 Micrometer range. In addition to the MVCOs, heat-stable mycotoxins, which come from a variety of mold types, such as Penicillium, Aspergillus and Fussarium molds, are toxic. toxic The decay products have an effect, especially on the skin and mucous membranes from the cell wall of mold called glucans become. Particularly toxic and also carcinogenic are aflatoxins.

to Formation of mold fungi in closed rooms usually occurs after moisture damage or insufficient ventilation. Humidity damage can, for example due to poor insulation in the outer wall area or by condensation as well as water damage indoors, z. B. caused by leaking pipes underfloor heating become.

Out The state of the art is for dust-tight foreclosure of mold fungus affected areas of a building the use of metal foils, in particular wallpaper-like aluminum foils, known. Are disadvantageous These metal foils are not breathable, so the moisture is trapped without fighting its cause. It should be remembered in particular that due to the susceptibility to wear and tendency of metal foils to crack not from a permanent one Gas tightness can be assumed.

to Removal of air pollutants already released in the room air Especially in critical areas such as operating theaters and high-tech clean rooms (Chip production) adsorption materials such as activated carbon and mineral silicates used. In appropriate filter devices be an adsorption of granular activated carbon and / or Mineral silicate high-performance suspended particle filter (HEPA filters) downstream. The disadvantage of room air purifiers, the circulation of the room air work, is currently in the circulation of the room air. It will be the pollutants emanating from a pollutant source before their energy-consuming elimination disadvantageously at least partially transported through the room and can due to transverse air currents.

meaningful would be a preferably early elimination the pollutants, the latest should be done before leaving the room. An approach to Solution of this Task is known from the prior art in the form of a wallpaper, their back with a layer of spherical Activated carbon is applied. The adsorptive properties of activated carbon bind chemical pollutants when exiting the wall area. In this case, the adsorption-active layer per unit area has a uniform Strength and thus a unified activity on. The local increase the adsorption activity at elevated Accumulation of air pollutants, such as on a mold infested expansion joints in the wall, is disadvantageous with the wallpaper not possible. The same applies the more common mold fungal floor joints.

While the known from the prior art methods for keeping the Room air generally aimed at the elimination of air pollutants However, there is no solution for sustainable control and neutralization of mold infestation in wall and floor joints closed rooms, avoiding a costly general refurbishment.

The The object of the invention is the construction of a seal of floor and wall joints as well as smaller openings in floor and wall surfaces like for example cracks. The plane Waterproofing in the ground area relates in particular to floating screed floors under which mold has formed, the screed plate not only opens in the area of the wall-side floor joints to the room, but in the area of the entire floor area smaller and larger cracks can have. Through these cracks, the odors and Mold components escape. The seal should be the complete or at least partial elimination of mold spores, odors and Allow air pollution and at the same time as a breathable barrier against the release of residual, non-eliminated air pollutants act, especially in buildings, which have a treatable mold infestation without a Total renovation is mandatory.

• – die Fugen und/oder die Öffnungen einer Fläche unter der abdeckenden Schicht ganz oder teilweise mit einem Adsorptionsmittel, das zur Bindung flüssiger und/oder gasförmiger Stoffe und/oder fester Partikel geeignet ist, verfüllt sind, und
• – die abdeckende Schicht ein vliesartiges Gewebe oder eine Folie mit atmungsaktiven und/oder staubbindenden Eigenschaften ist.

The object is achieved by a joint seal with two-part construction, characterized in that

• - the joints and / or the openings of a surface under the covering layer are completely or partially filled with an adsorbent suitable for binding liquid and / or gaseous substances and / or solid particles, and
• - The covering layer is a non-woven fabric or a film having breathable and / or dust-binding properties.

The Joint seal according to the invention consists of a layer of the adsorbent or the Adsorptionsmittelgemischs and the covering layer. Before applying the covering layer the joints are completely or partially filled with the adsorbent. there become the existing in the joints MVOCs as well as the mold components in the porous cavities and on the surface bound the adsorbent. To the outside, the gap is finally through a non-woven fabric or covered by a perforated film. The cover should be breathable, so for gaseous compounds of the air and for Water vapor permeable so that moisture does not build up again in the joints can. Furthermore, the cover should have dust-binding properties, so the pollutant particles not bound by the adsorbent can not leave the joint area. The thermal conductivity of the covering layer should, however, as possible be low to the release of heat to the outside wall to prevent.

Of the The core idea of the invention is the combination of an adsorbent, the liquid and / or solid particles and air pollutants of various kinds Art binds with a fabric that seals the breathable seal enabled with air pollutants adsorbent. In addition to the property of breathability is the covering layer Have properties that cause leakage of the adsorbent and also not yet bound by the adsorbent air pollutants should prevent. In contrast to a total renovation, the inventive seal and the method according to the invention an effective and advantageously very cost effective solution to Treatment of mold problem and other moisture problems represents.

In various embodiments The invention is in principle the use of all known in the art Adsorbent conceivable, which is undesirable for the removal gaseous and liquid, and smaller solids are suitable. Under activated carbon understands one carbon structures from smallest graphite crystals and amorphous Carbon with porous Structure and interior surfaces that be a multiple of the outer surface. These Properties also include soot. Aluminum oxides also have a high specific surface and a correspondingly good adsorption capacity. Under the silicate minerals Silica gel and zeolites are particularly suitable for their excellent adsorption properties known. Silical gels, also called silica gels, are colloidal silica of firmer Consistency with loose to dense pore structure and high adsorption capacity for gases and vapors and Liquids. Zeolites are crystalline, hydrous silicates of alkali or alkaline earth aluminosilicates. Zeolites give the water when heated steadily and without change the crystal structure and therefore have in the dried state an enormous capacity for water and other substances. The crystal lattices of the zeolites are made of tetrhexene Silicon tetraoxide units built, which linked via oxygen bridges in a spatial arrangement uniform channel-like cavities form.

of course is conceivable that when filling the Also joints a mixture of the various known in the art Adsorbent is used.

In a development of the invention, a fine dust filter is provided as the covering layer. Particularly preferred is the use of a high performance particulate arresting (HEPA) filter. Such high-performance filters are characterized by the fact that particles whose size does not fall below 0.3 microns are retained with an efficiency of up to 99.5%. The filter effect of such filters is not only caused by the pore size, but also by the electrostatic charge of the filter. Be Due to the electrostatic charge, the effective pore size is additionally reduced compared to the actual pore size.

In another embodiment of the invention is provided, the covering Layer on the back and bottom edge of a skirting board to fix. Depending on the location of the joint is of course conceivable that the covering Layer only on the back or only on the lower edge of the skirting board is attached. With installation of the invention Gleitleist is the former infested with mold and now with adsorbent filled Joint sealed. It is conceivable that the final layer, the e.g. in a hepafilter can already exist during the Production with the skirting board get connected. To guarantee air exchange serve on the back of the floor panel in longitudinal and transverse grooves, starting at certain intervals from these grooves an opening is provided to the front or top of the floor side.

The Invention also includes a method of binding microorganisms, especially molds in border and expansion joints. It will be the joints depending on the strength the mold infestation in whole or in part with an adsorbent filled, before the covering layer is applied to seal the joint becomes.

In a development of the method is provided, the adsorbent after an incubation period, the duration of which may be variable and of The type of adsorbent may be dependent, in whole or in part by applying a vacuum to remove. Following the Removal of the adsorbent are infested by the mold Joint areas dried. Naturally Drying can be considered as a step in combating the cause of mold fungus treatment in any case and in particular prior to introduction of the adsorbent respectively. The drying takes place, by heating the rooms, whereby the air escaping from the joints to prevent spreading the molds by a equipped with high-performance dust filters Be sucked dust filter. After drying, the joint areas become again completely or partially filled with adsorbent. The distance and refilling of the adsorbent can of course done several times in a row. It can not with adsorbent filled Floor joint each with 70-80% ethyl alcohol or another disinfectant be treated. In the final The process step will be the openings the joints with a covering layer, the breathable and / or has dust-binding properties covered.

For the filling of Joints is provided in a development of the method, the Adsorbent under pressure, preferably under atmospheric pressure after to introduce the principle of sandblasting technology into the joints. The the adsorbent leading Pressure lines have for this purpose on the output side to the Geometry and opening width adapted to the joints shape.

in the The following are intended to provide further details and features of the invention using an example closer explained become. However, the example illustrated is not meant to be the invention restrict but only explain.

1 Floor joint on a house wall

2 baseboard

1 shows the outer wall 4 a house. The with insufficient external insulation out to the outside led ceiling plate 5 undesirably acts as a thermal bridge and promotes the formation of moisture in the interior of the room. The inside between the wall and the ceiling plate 5 with overlying flooring 6 formed floor joint 3 is for binding liquid, gaseous and also smaller solid particles with an adsorbent 1 filled. By introducing the adsorbent 1 under pressure can also be under the bottom plate 6 remaining free spaces 7 with the adsorptive agent 1 be filled. In the example shown are not all open spaces 7 with adsorbent 1 filled. The opening of the floor joint 3 is sealed by a breathable film-like or filter-like fabric (covering layer) so that no air pollutants or particles from the floor joint 3 can escape. Over the covering layer 2 a skirting board is applied, the reverse side of which is structured and allows the exchange of air. As part of a mold remediation in the example shown, in addition to the attachment of the joint seal according to the invention, the attachment of an improved, the ceiling plate 5 covering, exterior wall insulation displayed.

2 shows a skirting board 8th with a covering layer applied to the back and bottom 2 which is breathable as a non-woven fabric or as a film and / or has dust-binding properties. The air exchange on the at the skirting board 8th adjacent side of the fabric 2 is through groove-shaped depressions 9 in the skirting board 8th ensured. Of course, the air exchange can also only by a not completely smooth, but ribbed structure of the skirting board 8th be ensured on the back and bottom. The edges connected to the skirting board 10a and 10b limit the longitudinal sides of the covering layer 2 and surround the fabric or film. It is conceivable that at the bottom joint adjacent edge of the bottom bar 8th rounded or flattened and in the resulting space additional adsorbent is introduced.

Claims (15)

Joint sealing and / or surface sealing as a barrier against microorganisms, in particular molds, and against odors, dust particles and other air pollutants with a the joints ( 3 ) or the openings of a surface covering layer ( 2 ), characterized in that - the joints ( 3 ) and / or the openings of a surface under the covering layer ( 2 ) in whole or in part with an adsorbent ( 1 ), which is suitable for binding liquid and / or gaseous substances and / or solid particles, are filled in, and - the covering layer ( 2 ) is a non-woven fabric or a film, each with breathable and / or dust-binding properties. Joint seal and / or surface seal according to claim 1, characterized in that the adsorbent ( 1 ) Activated carbon or carbon black or aluminum oxide or a silicate mineral, in particular a zeolite. Joint seal and / or surface seal according to claim 1 and 2, characterized in that the adsorbent ( 1 ) is a mixture of two or more of the adsorbents mentioned in claim 2. Joint seal and / or surface seal according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering layer ( 2 ) is a filter, in particular a fine dust filter is. Joint seal and / or surface seal according to one of claims 1 and 4, characterized in that the covering layer ( 2 ) is a High Efficiency Particulate Arresting (HEPA) filter. Joint seal and / or surface seal according to one of claims 1, 4 and 5, characterized in that the filter ( 2 ) for particles whose size does not fall below 0.3 microns has a filter efficiency of at least 95%. Joint seal and / or surface seal according to one of claims 4, characterized in that the covering layer ( 2 ) is film-like and perforated. Floor seal for joint sealing according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the covering layer ( 2 ) is attached to the back and / or bottom of a skirting board. baseboard according to claim 8, characterized in that the skirting boards from the back and / or bottom outgoing vents exhibit. baseboard according to claim 8, characterized in that the skirting boards at the back and / or bottom along grooved vents exhibit. Method for binding microorganisms, especially molds, as well as odors, dust particles and other airborne contaminants in joints ( 3 ) or in the openings of a surface, characterized in that - the joints ( 3 ) and / or the openings of a surface in whole or in part with an adsorbent ( 1 ) are filled according to one of claims 1 and 2, and - the openings of the joints ( 3 ) or surface with a covering layer according to one of claims 1 and 4 to 7 are covered. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that - the adsorbent ( 1 ) is completely or partially removed after incubation, and - the joints ( 3 ) and / or the openings of a surface before the final application of a covering layer ( 2 ) according to one of claims 1 and 4 to 7 wholly or partly with fresh adsorbent ( 1 ) according to any one of claims 1, 2 and 3 are filled. Method according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the adsorbent ( 1 ) under pressure, in particular under atmospheric pressure, into the joints ( 3 ) and / or the openings of a surface is introduced, wherein the adsorption agent ( 1 ) leading the pressure lines on the output side to the geometry of the joints ( 3 ) and the openings of the surfaces have adapted shape. A method according to claim 12, characterized in that the removal of the adsorbent ( 1 ) is carried out under vacuum, wherein the extracted air is filtered before exiting into the room air with a fine dust filter. Method according to one of claims 11 and 12, characterized in that the mold areas affected by the mold ( 3 ) and / or openings in a surface respectively before introduction of the adsorbent ( 1 ) are dried.