The Benefits of Eco-efficient Plasters for Occupant’s Health-A Case Study

The health and comfort of building inhabitants are significantly affected by indoor air properties. Currently, there is sufficient scientific evidence associating discomfort and unpleasant indoor environment, reported by building occupants, with construction materials used inside those buildings. Hygienic and humantoxicological aspects need to be further studied in buildings to guarantee the existence of pleasant and comfortable built environments, but mainly healthy ones. Plasters, coating the surface of indoor walls and ceilings, can perform an important role on indoor conditions. In this chapter, the contribution of different plasters to the interior comfort, namely regarding the ability to regulate relative humidity by its hygroscopic capacity, is analyzed. The drying shrinkage, bulk density and mechanical performance are also compared to ensure that all the mortars can perform well when used as plasters. The analyzed plasters are made of earth, without and with low content of air lime and gypsum addition, as well as lime, gypsum and cement. It is shown that earth plasters have a more active effect on the hygrothermal balance when compared to air lime, gypsum and cement plasters, and that the addition of low binder content to earth plasters seems to be negative.