Assessment of Rising Damp and Indoor Environmental Quality in Buildings after Torrential Rains in Mallorca, Spain

Abstract

AbstractAs a result of climate change, water-related disasters have increased in the last decade. In the month of October 2018, in the town of Sant Llorenç (Mallorca, Illes Balears, Spain), torrential rains occurred that caused the overflow of the stream that passes through the municipality, causing personal and material damages (including death). In this research, it is intended to develop a characterization of the damage produced in the middle term (seven months after the natural hazard), through the analysis of hygrothermal conditions, humidity in walls, and indoor air quality in seven houses and in one corner shop. The most used or habitable rooms are selected, analyzing a total of twenty-one rooms. The UNE 171330-2-2014 standard is considered for the determination of environmental risks for the occupants’ health. The results obtained show that the users are aware of the need of ventilating the spaces, but, although hygrothermal comfort conditions and indoor air quality are within acceptable ranges, the rising damp highest level is high, since it even exceeds 2 m high in three of the twenty-one rooms assessed. The importance of diagnosing the effects of damage and the vulnerability of buildings in the event of a natural disaster is shown.