Indoor guide values – indoor air test with GSA measuring devices

Indoor guide values are an important measuring factor for assessing indoor air. The indoor climate is of crucial importance for people’s well-being and health. Indoor air tests with specially designed GSA measuring devices are therefore a suitable solution if pollutants are suspected in indoor spaces.


This makes it possible to identify possible toxins in the home, mold or the release of building materials. Hazardous fibers such as KMF, asbestos and other dangerous pollutants can be released and released into the air we breathe, especially during renovations.

The GSA Messgerätebau GmbH offers special measuring devices for sampling indoor air as well as for outdoor measurements via its online store. Depending on measuring device, these can also be used for mobile, battery-powered hazardous substance measurements. Depending on the model, the GSA measuring devices can be used to determine a wide range of (air) pollutants in indoor air. This makes it possible to determine the existing concentration of pollutants in order to check the extent to which limit values such as indoor guideline values for the substances are still being complied with.


GSA measuring devices can be used to perform precise indoor air tests for:

  • Particle measurements with the SG10-2, PM4-2 or SG10-2A measuring devices for measuring the various dust fractions such as A-dust or E-dust
  • Fibre measurements in accordance with VDI 3492 for the measurement of asbestos fibers and KMF (ceramic fibers and glass fibers) with the SG12 measuring device
  • Measuring gases with the SG350ex measuring device
  • Measure components such as PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons), PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls), mold and other pollutants.

In addition to one-off measurements, regular indoor air quality measurements are also recommended in some cases in order to protect people’s health, well-being and occupational safety. The health protection of people at the workplace plays a particularly important role here.


Indoor guide values and guide values for pollutants

The Committee for Indoor Air Quality (AIR) has established a health assessment of numerous pollutants in indoor air. The AIR is generally made up of experts from the federal government and the federal states, who are appointed on a mandate from the Working Group of the Supreme State Health Authorities (AOLG).

The AIR has defined three different categories for individual pollutants with regard to their health effects in indoor air. These are

  • Indoor guide values
  • Hygienic conductance
  • risk-related benchmarks.

The indoor guide values as well as the hygienic guide values are used for the health assessment of concentrations of a chemical in indoor air. Risk-related guide values refer to carcinogenic chemicals in indoor air.


Indoor air quality is crucial for human health

It is very important to be able to assess indoor air quality according to defined limit values. Given that almost all of our lives take place indoors, around 90% of the time, it is necessary to assess the impact of pollutants on people’s health. Due to furniture, building materials, heating, appliances and many other things indoors, the indoor air we breathe in can contain numerous pollutants that are hazardous to health. As most pollutants in indoor air can hardly be perceived by people – they are often invisible dusts or odorless gaseous substances – the limit values are very important.

In order to assess pollutants in“indoor spaces“, the German Advisory Council on the Environment (SRU) has clearly defined “indoor spaces”. These are

  • Private apartments with living rooms, bedrooms, craft, sports and cellar rooms, kitchens and bathrooms
  • Workrooms in buildings that are not subject to the scope of the Hazardous Substances Ordinance (GefStoffV) with regard to hazardous substances, such as offices
  • Interiors in public buildings (hospitals, schools, daycare centers, sports halls, libraries, restaurants, theaters, cinemas and other public event spaces)
  • Interiors of motor vehicles and public transportation

An overview of individual pollutants that can affect indoor air with the respective indoor values and guiding principles is summarized in detail by the Federal Environment Agency at: www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/gesundheit/kommissionen-arbeitsgruppen/ausschuss-fuer-innenraumrichtwerte#ausschuss-fur-innenraumrichtwerte-air.


Sources:

Image source: 123rf.com © mavoimage , image no. 91895940

www.bmk.gv.at/themen/klima_umwelt/luft/innenraum/rl_luftqualitaet.html

www.innenraumluft.nrw.de/4_schadstoffe/index.php

www.umweltbundesamt.de/themen/gesundheit/kommissionen-arbeitsgruppen/ausschuss-fuer-innenraumrichtwerte#richtwerte-fur-die-innenraumluft

www.umweltbundesamt.de/galerie/die-richtwerte-i-ii-fuer-stoffe-in-der