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VDI/DIN-Commission on Air Pollution Prevention (KRdL) - Standards Committee

Overview

Mould spores and metabolites can be inhaled via the air and cause allergic and irritating reactions and/or complex symptoms in humans. Moreover, mould growth can be associated with severe odour nuisances. This part of ISO 16000 describes suitable sampling and analysis methods together with a description of the applicability and the interpretation of the measurement results to maximize the comparability of the measured data obtained for a given measurement objective. Details on recording building characteristics or field inspections by qualified professionals which have to take place prior to any microbiological measurement are described. Possible causes of indoor mould sources are surface moisture or moisture in the building structure, but also rotting food, flowers, potted plants, biowaste collection, source separation of waste, as well as the keeping of animals in residential settings. Moisture damage can be attributable to building defects, inappropriate habits - regarding ventilation, heating or unfavourable arrangement of furniture - as well as water damage (for example, plumbing leaks or flooding events). Elevated occurrence of certain mould species in indoor environments is indicative of excessive moisture. When residential environments or occupational settings are infested with moulds, the mould source shall be located to be able to plan remedial measures. Furthermore, it should be taken into account that mould spores are not necessarily present as individual spores in the air or settled dust, but also occur in the form of spore aggregates or are particle-borne. Depending on the analysis method, they are determined individually or as spore aggregate. Materials, indoor air and house dust contain not only culturable but also non-culturable mould spores, some of which can have the same allergenic and toxic effects as culturable spores. For this reason, techniques have been developed that allow the microscopic determination of both culturable and non-culturable moulds. The sampling methods employed for detection of moulds are determined by the objective of the investigation (DIN ISO 16000-16 "Filtration" or DIN ISO 16000-18 "Impaction"). Depending on the sampling method, the moulds suffer a sampling stress during sample collection and preparation, which can lead to their drying-out or dying. Mould detection and identification are performed either after cultivation based on morphological criteria, biochemical reactions and/or molecular techniques or by direct microscopic examination. Identification based on the morphological structure (macroscopic examination, stereo-microscopy and microscopy) either after prior cultivation or by direct microscopy is still the most prevalent approach for the detection of moulds. Factors affecting the culturability of mould spores are their physiological state as well as the culture medium employed. Some mould species cannot be cultured at all under laboratory conditions (DIN ISO 16000-17 "Culture-based method"). The document is directed at representatives of supervisory authorities, testing laboratories, professional associations and planning offices as well as representatives of interior designers, furniture industry, the building industry, the paint industry, the adhesives industry or other sectors producing items for the interior. The International Standard has been prepared by ISO/TC 146/SC 6 "Indoor air" in Working Group 10 "Fungi", the secretariats of which are held by DIN and which are under German chairmanship. The responsible German committee is NA 134-03-07-04-01 AK "Bioaerosole und biologische Agenzien" ("Bioaerosols and biological agents").

Document: references other documents

Document: referenced in other documents

Responsible national committee

NA 134-04-04-05 UA - Assessment of microorganisms  

Responsible international committee

ISO/TC 146/SC 6/WG 10 - Microbial contaminants