Method of improving indoor air quality by thermally inactivating fungi on building surfaces

A method of improving the indoor air quality in a building whose occupant has or occupants have symptoms ascribable to fungal contamination, the method comprising applying onto a building material surface, which includes fungal mycelia and spores, thermal energy initially contained in water vapour at a pressure exceeding 1 bar, for a period of time which is in the range of 0.01-60 sec/cm2 and in an amount which is sufficient to at least partially inactivate said fungal mycelia and spores but substantially without causing damage to a surface material.

A method of improving the indoor air quality in a building whose occupant has or occupants have symptoms ascribable to fungal contamination, the method comprising applying onto a building material surface, which includes fungal mycelia and spores, thermal energy initially contained in water vapour at a pressure exceeding 1 bar, in an amount which is sufficient to at least partially inactivate said fungal mycelia and spores but substantially without causing damage to a surface material, the thermal energy being applied by releasing pressurized water vapour to the building material surface at a distance from the building material surface which is at the most 10 cm, whereby the thermal energy is derived from a transition of the state of the water vapour from the gaseous to the liquid state at a temperature in the range of 90-110° C.

A method of improving the indoor air quality in a building whose occupant has or occupants have symptoms ascribable to fungal contamination, the method comprising applying onto a building material surface, which includes fungal mycelia and spores and visually recognizable fungal growth, thermal energy initially contained in water vapour at a pressure exceeding 1 bar, in an amount which is sufficient to at least partially inactivate said fungal mycelia and spores but substantially without causing damage to a surface material, the thermal energy being applied by releasing pressurized water vapour to the building material surface at a distance from the building material surface which is at the most 10 cm, whereby the thermal energy is derived from a transition of the state of the water vapour from the gaseous to the liquid state at a temperature in the range of 90-110° C.

A method of improving the indoor air quality in a building whose occupant has or occupants have symptoms ascribable to fungal contamination, the method comprising applying onto a building material surface, which includes fungal mycelia and spores, thermal energy initially contained in water vapour at a pressure exceeding 2 bars, in an amount which is sufficient to at least partially inactivate said fungal mycelia and spores but substantially without causing damage to a surface material.

A method of improving the indoor air quality in a building whose occupant has or occupants have symptoms ascribable to fungal contamination, the method comprising applying onto a building material surface, at a distance of 0 to 10 cm from the building material surface which includes fungal mycelia and spores, thermal energy initially contained in water vapour at a pressure exceeding 1 bar, in an amount which is sufficient to at least partially inactivate said fungal mycelia and spores but substantially without causing damage to a surface material.

A method of improving the indoor air quality in a building whose occupant has or occupants have symptoms ascribable to fungal contamination, the method comprising applying onto a building material surface, at a distance of less than 5 cm from the building material surface which includes fungal mycelia and spores, thermal energy initially contained in water vapour at a pressure exceeding 1 bar, in an amount which is sufficient to at least partially inactivate said fungal mycelia and spores but substantially without causing damage to a surface material.