Spanish Regulations Research Articles

Characterisation and technical feasibility of using biomass bottom ash for civil infrastructures

Biomass is a renewable energy source that is increasingly being used worldwide. However, because of recent increases in production, waste products from biomass combustion are becoming a relevant environmental and economic problem.In the present research, the technical feasibility of bottom ash from various Andalusian power plants is analysed to evaluate their potential use in civil engineering infrastructures. The physical, chemical and mechanical characteristics of this by-product is evaluated, and these parameters are compared to the technical specifications for roads imposed by Spanish regulation. It was determined that biomass bottom ash possesses acceptable properties to be used as a filler material in the core of road embankments over 5m in height without additional precautionary measures, such as the construction of road shoulders.

Potential use of biomass bottom ash as alternative construction material: Conflictive chemical parameters according to technical regulations

The production of energy from renewable resources, such as biomass, is increasing rapidly. Therefore, environmentally friendly and economic solutions to recycle the resulting by-products are essential. The present study was performed to search for possible applications of the biomass bottom ashes that result from biomass combustion at three biomass combustion plants located in the Andalusia region of southern Spain. The analysis of chemical parameters indicated the applicability of biomass bottom ashes as an alternative material in civil construction. Thus, the limiting chemical parameters were analysed according to Spanish regulations. According to the results, biomass bottom ashes could be used as filler in road embankments, cement-treated materials or non-structural concrete, depending on the replacement percentage. This study determined that a review of the chemical parameters specified by the limiting regulations is recommended to promote the use of biomass bottom ashes as a building material in applications that do not require high structural strength.

Development of smart gypsum composites by incorporating thermoregulating microcapsules

Abstract Smart gypsum composites were manufactured by adding different kinds of microcapsules containing phase change materials (PCMs) in order to develop building materials with high thermal energy storage (TES) capacity useful for being applied in high comfort constructive systems. The physical, thermal and mechanical properties of these composites such as density, porosity, thermal stability, thermal conductivity (k), equivalent heat capacity (cp), the accumulated heat power (qacc) and the maximum compressive strength were studied. Results showed that the higher the microcapsules content, the lower the density and k and the higher the cp and qacc, due to the PCM action. Besides, the addition of 15 wt% of microcapsules respect to the hemihydrate would allow to save 4.5 kWh of energy per operating cycle in a standard room covered with 1 m3 of this gypsum. This energy is equivalent to the energy spent by three incandescent light bulbs of 60-W kept on all the day and a reduction of 1.395 kg of CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. The addition of these thermoregulating materials to gypsum decreases their compressive strength but all the developed materials satisfied the Spanish mechanical regulations for gypsum as building material, being possible to increase the total amount of added microcapsules.

Facade typologies as a tool for selecting refurbishment measures for the Spanish residential building stock

Today, the building sector alone accounts for 40% of the total energy consumption in the European Union (EU). In most EU member states, about 70–90% of the buildings were constructed at least 20 years ago. Due to this, these buildings have a worse energy efficiency behavior than the new ones that comply with current regulations. As a consequence, acting on the existing building stock is needed, developing special methods on assessment and advice in order to reduce the total energy consumption. This article addresses a procedure allowing the classification and characterization of existing buildings facades. It can help researchers to achieve in-depth knowledge of the facades construction and therefore knowing their thermal behavior. Once knowing that, the most appropriate upgrading strategies can be established with the purpose of reducing the energy demand. Furthermore, the classified facade typologies have been verified, complying with current and future Spanish regulations and according to the results obtained, a series of upgrading strategies based on the opaque part and those in the translucent part, have been proposed. As a conclusion, this procedure helps us to select the most appropriate improvement measures for each type of facade in order to comply with current and future Spanish regulations. This proposed method has been tested in a specific neighborhood of Madrid, in a selected period of time, between 1950 and 1980, but it could be applicable to any other city.

The Influence of Openings on Energy Demand of Buildings: Analysis of their characteristic parameters using LIDER software (Spain)

Openings on buildings facades perform several functions, namely, illumination, ventilation, vision, and communication with outside conditions. Furthermore, when energy efficiency is to be considered, the opening plays a major part in the energetic balance of a building. This article studies the opening as a specialized low technology system which regulates the external climatic conditions having an impact on the building energy demand. First, it was analysed the main parameters that characterize the opening as an element of solar reception in order to indentify the influence of each of them with regard to energy demand. By means of LIDER software calculation method the opening is studied as a solar gain element. LIDER is a recognized free computer programme of Spanish Building Regulation (Codigo Tecnico de la Edificacion, CTE). The contribution of 14 specific parameters of the opening to energy demand is evaluated, specifically, orientation, window-to-wall ratio, frame percentage, degree of absorption, glazing g-value, frame U-value, glazing U-value, overhangs, returns, louver blinds, awnings, air permeability, infiltration and air change rate. With this approach, it was obtained the relative relevance of the 14 parameters under study with regards to energy performance of a simulated space considering the conditions set in the analysis. The alteration in those parameters allows for variations in energy demand estimated at the range 10-60% in heating, and between 2-150% in cooling. The outcomes are more important in qualitative than in quantitative terms due to the limitations of the method and to the working hypotheses of the onset conditions.

Parametric study of the operational and economic feasibility of Stirling micro-cogeneration devices in Spain

This paper analyses the operational and economic viability of Stirling engine-run micro-cogeneration units in single-family houses in Spain. Thermal demands for the reference dwelling, sited in three different and representative climatic zones, are obtained based on heating and domestic hot water requirements. By carrying out dynamic simulations of both the conventional and cogeneration installations, their performances are obtained and compared. Additionally, based on the results obtained in the simulations, economic viability of the Stirling engine-based micro-CHP is evaluated, taking into account Spanish regulation and economic framework, particularly fuel and electricity prices.Finally, a sensibility study is carried out in order to evaluate how economic results of these plants are affected by both variations in fuel and electricity prices as well as in initial investment costs.It is concluded that there is no opportunity for these devices to be feasible in new and retrofitted single-family dwellings sited in any climatic zone of Spain but in the coldest ones, where the micro-CHP plants could become viable if the Stirling engine investment cost decreases.

Implicaciones de la reciente normativa de aguas: Valoración de la respuesta de los planes territoriales andaluces

The implementation of the Water Framework Directive meant important changes in the water regulation at European level. This Directive has introduced new principles and new objectives for the water management and watershed planning. Within these innovations, the need of a better integration of water management and spatial planning is significant. Therefore, the achievement of the WFD objectives will have implications for the territory. This paper aims to achieve two main goals: (1) to identify the territorial consequences of the implementation of the WFD, the Spanish Regulation of Watershed Planning and the Andalusian Water Law; (2) to find out, through the check of four specific Andalusian Sub-regional Plans, if the spatial planning is ready for answer the new circumstances.

Niveles de referencia de dosis en radiología intervencionista

This article discusses the diagnostic reference levels for radiation exposure proposed by the International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) to facilitate the application of the optimization criteria in diagnostic imaging and interventional procedures. These levels are normally established as the third quartile of the dose distributions to patients in an ample sample of centers and are supposed to be representative of good practice regarding patient exposure. In determining these levels, it is important to evaluate image quality as well to ensure that it is sufficient for diagnostic purposes. When the values for the dose received by patients are systematically higher or much lower than the reference levels, an investigation should determine whether corrective measures need to be applied. The European and Spanish regulations require the use of these reference values in quality assurance programs. For interventional procedures, the dose area product (or kerma area product) values are usually used as reference values together with the time under fluoroscopy and the total number of images acquired. The most modern imaging devices allow the value of the accumulated dose at the entrance to the patient to be calculated to optimize the distribution of the dose on the skin. The ICRP recommends that the complexity of interventional procedures be taken into account when establishing reference levels. In the future, diagnostic imaging departments will have automatic systems to manage patient dosimetric data; these systems will enable continuous dosage auditing and alerts about individual procedures that might involve doses several times above the reference values. This article also discusses aspects that need to be clarified to take better advantage of the reference levels in interventional procedures.

Biogas from MSW landfill: Composition and determination of chlorine content with the AOX (adsorbable organically bound halogens) technique

An exhaustive characterization of the biogas from some waste disposal facilities has been carried out. The analysis includes the main components (methane, carbon dioxide, nitrogen and oxygen) as well as trace components such as hydrogen sulphide, ammonia and VOCs (volatile organic compounds) including siloxanes and halogenated compounds. VOCs were measured by GC/MS (Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry) using two different procedures: thermal desorption of the Tenax TA and Carbotrap 349 tubes and SPME (Solid Phase Micro-Extraction). A method has been established to measure the total halogen content of the biogas with the AOX (adsorbable organically bound halogens) technique. The equipment used to analyze the samples was a Total Organic Halogen Analyzer (TOX-100). Similar results were obtained when comparing the TOX (Total Organic Halogen) values with those obtained by GC/MS. The halogen content in all the samples was under 22 mg Cl/Nm3 which is below the limit of 150 mg/Nm3 proposed in the Spanish Regulations for any use of the biogas. The low chlorine content in the biogas studied, as well as the low content of other trace compounds, makes it suitable for use as a fuel for electricity generating engines.

The Spanish regulation of the photovoltaic demand-side generation

It is usually expected that demand-side generation gains momentum in places where retail grid parity is being reached. This is, for example, the case of photovoltaic generation in Spain. However, many different support schemes can be implemented. In Spain, the PV promotion policy gave priority to the ground-mounted installations. For years, the coupling of customer-side generation with excess energy exports was never specifically considered. Nonetheless, some months ago this option was suggested as a way to recover Spain's PV sector from the current moratorium on the RES-E policy. A first decree draft on on-site generation was issued, its central point being the consideration of electricity exports as delayed consumption rights. But several barriers hindered its entry into force. Finally, a second decree draft was issued in July 2013, which is expected to enter into force soon. This second draft impedes the economic viability of demand-side generation, thus complicating the recovery of the Spanish PV sector.

Road-corridor planning in the EIA procedure in Spain. A review of case studies

The assessment of different alternatives in road-corridor planning must be based on a number of well-defined territorial variables that serve as decision making criteria, and this requires a high-quality preliminary environmental assessment study. In Spain the formal specifications for the technical requirements stipulate the constraints that must be considered in the early stages of defining road corridors, but not how they should be analyzed and ranked. As part of the feasibility study of a new road definition, the most common methodology is to establish different levels of Territorial Carrying Capacity (TCC) in the study area in order to summarize the territorial variables on thematic maps and to ease the tracing process of road-corridor layout alternatives.This paper explores the variables used in 22 road-construction projects conducted by the Ministry of Public Works that were subject to the Spanish EIA regulation and published between 2006 and 2008. The aim was to evaluate the quality of the methods applied and the homogeneity and suitability of the variables used for defining the TCC. The variables were clustered into physical, environmental, land-use and cultural constraints for the purpose of comparing the TCC values assigned in the studies reviewed. We found the average quality of the studies to be generally acceptable in terms of the justification of the methodology, the weighting and classification of the variables, and the creation of a synthesis map. Nevertheless, the methods for assessing the TCC are not sufficiently standardized; there is a lack of uniformity in the cartographic information sources and methodologies for the TCC valuation.

Una propuesta para considerar aspectos sanitarios en la regulación cinegética

Armenteros, J.A., Barasona, J.A., Goadella, M. Acevedo, P., Górtazar, C., Vicente, J. (2013). A proposal to consider animal health aspects in the regulation of game management. Ecosistemas 22(2):54-60. Doi.: 10.7818/ECOS.2013.22-2.09 Game species share diseases with humans, livestock and wildlife, hence their relevance. However, game species health is not considered in current Spanish hunting management regulation. This paper lists the main weaknesses of game management from the sanitary point of view: (1) insufficient enforcement of current animal health and movement regulations, (2) lack of a clear definition and classification of game farms, (3) uncertain status of interior wild boar fences or “cercones”, (4) lack of a proper classification of the hunting estates, (5) inadequate wildlife population monitoring, (6) lack of regulation on artificial feeding, (7) health risks associated to overabundance; (8) big game waste conflicts (9) poor veterinary inspection of hunted animals (10), lack of regulation of pharmaceutical treatments on game species, and (11) poor information flow within the administration departments. For each point, we propose changes to the hunting regulation, based on Spanish and international scientific literature.

Technical, financial and location criteria for the design of land application system treatment

Conventional water treatments when downsized to cover the demands of small and scattered populations are costly and ineffective. In fact, many small towns cannot afford the high average treatment costs nor provide the skill and complex management requirements. Even when these facilities are available, waste water might not be properly treated. Land application system treatments (LAST) have been shown to be preferable on the basis of their technical effectiveness and financial viability. The recently approved Spanish regulations (RDL 1620/2007, pp 50369–50661) represent an opportunity for the implementation of well-designed LASTs. This paper presents an assessment methodology for the design of LASTs by combining technical, financial and location criteria. The method is applied to the design of LASTs to cover the water disposal demand of twelve municipalities located within the protected natural landscape, and surrounding areas of ‘El Rebollar’, Salamanca, Spain.

No effects of Bacillus thuringiensis maize on nontarget organisms in the field in southern Europe: a meta-analysis of 26 arthropod taxa

Maize with the insecticidal properties of the entomopathogenic bacterium Bacillus thuringiensis Berliner, known as Bt maize, has been sown in Europe since 1998. For several years, EU and Spanish regulations have required laboratory and field trials to assess risks of genetically modified crops for nontarget organisms prior to their authorization. Thirteen field trials were conducted in Spain to measure the effects of Bt maize on a broad range of arthropod taxa; no effects were found in accordance with most literature records. However, statistical analyses of single trials rarely have the statistical power to detect low effect sizes if they do not have a sufficient sample size. When sample size is low, meta-analysis may improve statistical power by combining several trials and assuming a common measure of effect size. Here we perform a meta-analysis of the results of 13 independent field trials conducted in Spain in which effects of single or stacked Bt traits on several arthropod taxa were measured with no significant results. Since the taxa included in each single trial were not the same for all trials, for the meta-analysis we selected only those taxa recorded in a minimum of six trials, resulting finally in 7, 7, and 12 taxa analyzed in visual counts, pitfall traps and yellow sticky traps, respectively. In comparison with single trial analysis, meta-analysis dramatically increased the detectability of treatment effects for most of the taxa regardless of the sampling technique; of the 26 taxa analyzed, only three showed poorer detectability in the meta-analysis than the best recorded in the 13 single trials. This finding reinforces the conclusion that Bt maize has no effect on the most common herbivore, predatory and parasitoid arthropods found in the maize ecosystems of southern Europe.

Proposal of a Model of Teaching Quality Assessment at University Level

Globalization has generated a high level of competition worldwide between universities. Students’ mobility to study abroad and, above all, graduates’ mobility to work in an international setting has forced universities to acquire a level of quality at least comparable to those of their counterparts in other countries. Thus, the culture of quality has become a basic pillar of any university. Based on the objectives of the European Union education policy and the Spanish university regulations on education, this paper proposes a model of teaching quality assessment at university level: the different functions of faculty members’ teaching activities are evaluated, the sources of information needed for the implementation of the model are revised, and the weighting that those sources should have to get the final quality evaluation are assessed.

Geochemical simulations to assess the fluorine origin in Sierra de Gador groundwater (SE Spain)

AbstractSierra de Gádor is a complex, Triassic age aquifer system formed by dolostones and limestones with interbedded gypsum. On top, a thick Neogene‐Quaternary series gives rise to shallow aquifers. F‐Pb‐Zn stratabound deposits are found within the Triassic carbonate formations. Their mineral paragenesis includes sphalerite, galena, pyrite, marcasite, fluorite and barite. The Sierra de Gádor groundwater is the principal water resource for this semiarid environment, and the population is potentially exposed to hazardous elements related to mining activities and wastes. In October 1966, an intensive precipitation event (190 mm day−1) broke several old tailing structures, flooding part of the Berja village with polluted sludge. Fluorine values in some boreholes and springs were found higher than 1.5 mg l−1, the maximum value permitted by Spanish regulation for human consumption. Hydrogeochemistry data, statistical tools and geochemical simulations were used in this study to assess the physicochemical processes and the fluorine sources within this carbonate aquifer. Most of the analysed water samples are close to equilibrium with respect to carbonate minerals but are undersaturated with respect to fluorite and gypsum. About 39% of the samples have fluorine concentration higher than the regulatory limit. A statistical analysis indicates that fluorine has a low correlation with other variables. Inverse and mixing models, performed with the code PHREEQC, differentiate the predominance of water–rock interaction processes within the carbonate aquifer and water mixing between the carbonate and shallow aquifers. The results indicate that some fluorite dissolution must occur in the carbonate Triassic aquifer, whereas the shallow aquifers leach fluorine from mining wastes. Both types of aquifers are interconnected, and their waters mix below the flooded area. There, the high fluorine values appear to have two sources: (i) the regional fluorine enrichment due to the mineralization; and (ii) the polluted 1966 flood that reached the deep carbonates via the shallow aquifer.

Arrendamiento o compra de inmovilizado utilizando el endeudamiento

This work introduces the VNA (Clear Advantage of the Lease) criterion with the goal of letting any company that wants to incorporate fixed assets into his productive process, know whether it is better to realize it by means of a lease or through a debt-financed purchase. After analyzing the main lease types, the VNA criterion is applied to two different assumptions which also include an approximation to the legal Spanish regulation. Anyway, given its flexibility, the above mentioned criterion can be adapted to different cases and regulations. All kinds of results are obtained in this work, depending on the assumption adopted and on the variability granted to the different parameters used. In this respect, far from making hasty a priori affirmations on the convenience of leasing or buying fixed assets by means of debt, we recommend an ad hoc analysis in every case.

Combined use of wind-driven rain and wind pressure to define water penetration risk into building façades: The Spanish case

This article defines a new index to characterise the risk of atmospheric water penetration into building enclosures. This risk index integrates the two most relevant exposure parameters for this phenomenon into a single value, combining the water supply presented by driving rain and simultaneous wind pressure on the surface of the enclosure. Compared with the usual wind-driven rain exposure maps, the inclusion of driving rain wind pressure in this index permits a more complete assessment of the risk of penetration. Therefore, this index represents a powerful tool for defining more appropriate façade solutions for exposures that result in atmospheric water penetration. This risk index was calculated for 80 Spanish sites scattered around the Iberian Peninsula and the Canary and Balearic Islands using daily precipitation averages and wind speed averages for each location collected over 30 years. As a result, a risk index map has been produced for Spain. The risk characterisation obtained in this study enables an objective improvement of current Spanish building regulations governing the design of façades against the penetration of atmospheric water.

Analysis and Repercussions of the Updating of the Spanish Regulation Regarding Ventilation and Infiltration

The Spanish Technical Building Code is one of the three royal decrees that were approved in Spain as a consequence of the transposition of the European Directive on the energy performance of buildings (2002/91/EU, 2002). One basic document of the Technical Building Code deals with the limitations of building energy demands. Nowadays, due to the recast of the European Directive on the energy performance of buildings (2010/31/EU, 2010), a revision process of the current regulations has begun, starting with the Technical Building Code, with its first revision envisaged for 2012. In this paper we, as collaborators in this updating process, describe and analyse the main changes regarding ventilation and infiltration that the “new” Technical Building Code (TBC) is going to introduce. These main changes cover:1. The calculation methodology;2. The ventilation technologies that can be considered;3. The default values and the data that the user can supply to assess particular cases.Basically, these changes make it possible to move from a previous regulation that considered:1. One indoor pressure and one outdoor pressure, assuming all the indoor spaces as a single-zone (calculation methodology EN 13465 (2004));2. A constant extraction flow for 24 hours a day, without the possibility of using a control system;3. No possibilities of changing the sizing of vents, default behaviour curve of the vents and air permeability of opaque elements according to EN 13465 (2004).To a new regulation that considers:1. One indoor pressure and one outdoor pressure (calculation methodology EN 15242 (2007)) but keeping indoor zoning that allows calculating (using mass conservation) the airflow between zones;2. The possibility of using a control system allowing different flows each hour for a demand controlled ventilation scheme and pre-heating of supply air flow;3. The possibility of sizing vents, using self-regulating vents and changing the air permeability of opaque elements, for example if a blower-door test has been carried out.

Typification of Fires in Buildings in Spain

Although the Direccion de General de Proteccion Civil (DGPC), an agency of the Spanish government, has been responsible for the collection of data and the statistical analysis of fires since 1985, it has not as yet issued any reports. It is true that a couple of studies have been made, but in neither case did they use a standardized methodology but relied simply on the heterogeneous information provided by the fire brigades which cooperated in the studies. At that time Spanish fire brigades did not have special units for professional fire investigation, nor was the information derived from standardized methodologies suited to research purposes. In addition, information was extremely scarce and basic, focussed only on the fire, the use of the building and personal data of the victims. In this context, the project for a Fire Investigation Unit in the Fire Brigade of Malaga (the sixth largest Spanish province in inhabitants) was set up. Although inspired in the methodologies used in the USA and in the UK, the aim was to create a customized methodology for the first scientific investigation of fires in Spain. Our research was conducted in 2007. Using the methodologies of the USA and the UK, our own methodological approach and the Spanish regulations, we drew up a questionnaire with 110 variables arranged into 6 modules. We studied 96 fires out of the 154 emergency fire calls received in 2007, having omitted some emergency calls for various reasons. Our results revealed that it was necessary to generalize the installation of fire extinguishers in residential buildings, to train the general public in the use of these devices, to promote the use of fire and smoke detectors in residential buildings, to encourage the inspection and control of old electric installations and to monitor the new installations, to generalize the implementation of emergency and evacuation plans and to design new systems and materials for the cabinets where hand-held extinguishers are stored.