Earth-based and current plasters – indoor air quality

Indoor air quality is very important for comfort but also for buildings inhabitant’s health, since poor indoor air quality can lead to adverse health effects, like allergies and chronic diseases such as asthma. Therefore it is considered that is extremely important to understand if plasters have the ability to capture indoor pollutants and contribute to the regulation of indoor air quality. In the present study, five different plasters are analysed to compare the behaviour of earth-based plasters with commonly used plasters. Before assessing the contribution of plasters to the capture of pollutants, it is necessary to characterize the m. It is possible to conclude that the addition of air lime to an earth plastering mortar decrease mechanical strength and hygroscopic capacity. Earth plasters show high sorption and desorption capacity when compared to commonly used plasters, such as cement and gypsum-based. The lower sorption capacity of plasters with current binders may induce a lower air pollutants capture capacity but that still needs to be tested.