During the pandemic, many of us were trapped within four walls, unable to fully walk and breathe fresh air. Before, a person spent most of his time in a confined space: from home to college or office, from office to shopping center and back home. In recent months, fleeing the virus, people have become hostages of their own homes. Is our home so safe? What kind of air do we breathe when we are in an apartment 24 hours a day?
The air we breathe
Our well-being directly depends on how and what we breathe. Fatigue, drowsiness, headaches are often associated precisely with the lack of fresh and sufficiently humidified air in the room. It has been proven that in living quarters with an unfavorable microclimate, people get sick more often.
The dry air contains a lot of dust, which leads to an exacerbation of respiratory diseases and the occurrence of allergic reactions. Excessively dry air increases the risk of infectious diseases: the eyes and mucous membranes of the body dry out, and, therefore, cannot prevent the penetration of pathogenic bacteria and viruses. Humidity less than 30% leads to dry skin, reduces immunity and performance.
In a room with excess moisture, harmful microorganisms, viruses, fungi actively multiply, mold and an unpleasant odor may appear. Against this background, the risk of colds and skin diseases increases. High humidity harms not only the human body, the building itself is destroyed, and its service life is reduced.
Staying at home, a person breathes in about 15 kg of air daily. Even with regular ventilation, the main volume is the air circulating inside the room. And, as a rule, its quality is worse than on the street. The reason for this is outdated construction technologies, unsatisfactory sanitary equipment and finishing materials, many of which constantly emit toxins and volatile organic compounds.
Baumit Healthy Home Formula
Long before the outbreak of coronavirus, specialists from the Austrian company Baumit took up the issue of creating a healthy microclimate in the house. The data obtained by the Baumit Research Center, and this is confirmed by Rospotrebnadzor and WHO, showed that building and finishing materials directly affect human health and well-being.
Baumit has studied the properties of the base materials in detail as part of the Viva Research project. Based on their many years of observations, they deduced healthy home formula:
clean air without dust, impurities and toxins, constant temperature in the region of 20-22 ° C, as well as indoor humidity of about 40-60%
It has been proven that with these three components, you can significantly reduce the risk of viral diseases, allergies and skin diseases.
Baumit is a leading European manufacturer of façade, plastering systems and innovative materials. Baumit's mission is to create healthy living spaces for people. The focus is on people and the comfort of their living. Since its founding in 1988, the company sees its main task in the formation of a new approach to construction, the main criteria of which are safety, energy efficiency and a minimum impact on the environment. Manufacturers do not just strive to reduce the damage from construction to zero, they expect a positive effect on the surrounding world and human health.
Baumit Klima - natural antiseptic
The correct interior decoration creates a healthy indoor climate. It is the surface of the walls, together with an established ventilation system, that are responsible for the purity and quality of the air. An exemplary product from the point of view of environmental friendliness and safety - the line of building materials Baumit Klima for interior decoration. The series includes plasters, putties and topcoats.
Baumit Klima materials have a natural lime base with high alkalinity (pH 12-13). Thanks to the alkaline environment, the plaster acts as a natural antiseptic. Therefore, the products of the Klima series have pronounced antifungal and antibacterial properties. The plaster contains only natural ingredients that do not emit toxic substances and volatile organic compounds, and in addition, prevent the appearance of an unpleasant odor.
Klima - air humidity regulator
Baumit research has shown that a family of four produces on average about 4 liters of moisture per day - when breathing, cooking, using the shower, watering houseplants, etc. Mineral plaster with lime binder creates an even breathable layer on the surface of the walls, which absorbs 2-3 times more moisture than traditional gypsum plasters. Due to their composition, porous structure and optimal grain size, Klima plasters are able to intensively accumulate and retain excess moisture. Moreover, we are talking not only about living rooms, but also about kitchens, bathrooms and even basements, where the humidity is quite high.
When the air is too humid, the plastered walls absorb excess moisture. When the air becomes dry - say, during the heating season - the plaster layer slowly and evenly releases the accumulated moisture back into the room air. Thus, it is possible to maintain a constant and maximally comfortable level of humidity in the room.
Baumit experts recommend applying the plaster in a layer of 1.5-2 cm. It is this thickness that reduces the risk of reproduction of microorganisms harmful to health and provides the necessary moisture absorption, eliminating the appearance of stagnant dampness and, as a result, mold, or vice versa, unhealthy dry air. With Baumit Klima, humidity fluctuations will be minimal, always staying within the recommended 40-60%.
Dust and dirt free
Cement-lime plaster can be easily applied to any building base. To achieve the best result, in addition to plaster, it is worth using putty, primer and topcoats of the same series. For example, the topcoat KlimaColor has been developed to create a smooth, mirror-like surface for walls. However, the effect of a textured, grainy surface can be achieved with a KlimaDekor topcoat.
The finishing materials of the Baumit Klima series have an antistatic effect, so that dust and dirt do not settle on the surface. As a result, the walls in the house always remain clean, the air - fresh, and the inhabitants of the house - healthy.
