Technical drying of parts of structures

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for drying components of a building, in particular for drying a floor construction (1), and to a HEPA filter belt (3) for use in this method. The method according to the invention comprises the following method steps: - providing an air inlet opening (11); - providing an air outlet opening (12); - flowing dry air into the air inlet opening (11) so that moisture from the floor construction (1) is absorbed by the dry air and discharged from the air outlet opening (12); - closing the air outlet opening (12) with a HEPA filter (2) or a HEPA filter belt (3).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a method for drying components of a building, in particular for drying a floor construction, and a HEPA filter belt for use in the method according to the invention.

[0002] The current state of the art in processes for technical drying or component drying, in particular of floor structures and the cavities therein or floor constructions in general, includes the following common designs.

[0003] The first known form of drying is the positive pressure drying process. Dry air, provided by an air drying system, is introduced into the floor construction through an air inlet. The introduced dry air absorbs moisture from the floor construction. The dry air, along with the absorbed moisture, escapes through edge joints between the floor construction and adjacent or nearest building walls, with the edge joints being exposed prior to drying. An edge joint is exposed, for example, by removing chair rails, insulation strips, or screed insulation strips.A disadvantage of this first embodiment is that the dry air, with the moisture absorbed in it, can also carry along microorganisms and, in particular, spores, mold, and pollutants from the floor construction, which have arisen in particular due to the moisture contained in the floor construction and / or have been dissolved in the moisture that is removed from the floor construction with the dry air. In this possible embodiment, these microorganisms, spores, pollutants, and the like are removed with the dry air from the edge joint or an air outlet opening, which leads to a pollutant load in the air of a room in which this form of drying is used. In this sense and in the further course of this document, pollutant load means exposure to substances that can harm the human organism.In particular, this first form of drying is not suitable for interior spaces of usage classes I and II (see "Guidelines for technical component drying", Federal Ministry for Sustainability and Tourism, Vienna, 2019).

[0004] A second known form of drying is the negative pressure process. In this process, moist air is extracted from the floor construction through an air outlet, passed through a filter, and released into the environment. The moist air can be extracted selectively or in combination from individual openings in the floor construction or from the edge joint using appropriate devices. A disadvantage of this second form of drying is that, on the one hand, more energy is required for a corresponding dehumidification system than with a positive pressure process. On the other hand, cavities in the floor construction, and in particular the entire floor construction, are compressed by the applied negative pressure, so that dehumidification in this form is not only more energy-intensive but also less effective than other forms of drying based on positive pressure.Another disadvantage is that special and, under certain circumstances, complexly constructed devices for suction may be necessary, especially in the area of ​​the edge joint.

[0005] A third known drying method involves a combination of positive and negative pressure processes. In this process, dry air is introduced into a hole in the floor structure using an air supply device, and dry air with absorbed moisture is extracted from the holes and / or the edge joints using an air extraction device. The air is then extracted from the holes and / or the edge joints using appropriate devices that cover the respective holes and / or the edge joints. If necessary, the air is filtered before being removed using the air extraction device. This third known method is disadvantageous due to the high equipment and maintenance costs.Furthermore, this form of drying continues to contaminate the room air with pollutants unless the edge joint is completely sealed from the room in which the floor construction is being dehumidified, or is covered and sealed by devices that are operatively connected to the air extraction system. Such sealing is also disadvantageous because it creates a connection between the floor construction and nearby walls or building components, at least in some areas, which leads to a reduction in impact sound insulation.

[0006] As an improvement on the previously mentioned embodiment, the dry air extracted from the floor construction, along with the moisture absorbed therein, can also be discharged into the environment outside a room in which the floor construction is being dried. Nevertheless, the remaining disadvantages of such an improved method of the known third embodiment of industrial drying remain.

[0007] The object of the present invention was to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art and to provide a method and a HEPA filter belt for use in the method according to the invention.

[0008] This object is achieved by a method and a HEPA filter belt according to the claims.

[0009] The method according to the invention for drying components of a building, in particular for drying a floor construction and / or a floor substructure of the floor construction, wherein the floor construction comprises a floor covering and the floor substructure, comprises the following method steps: Providing an air inlet opening, wherein the air inlet opening is provided as a perforation through at least the floor covering of the floor construction and in particular through at least one layer of the floor substructure; Providing an air outlet opening, wherein the air outlet opening is preferably provided as a further perforation through at least the floor covering of the floor construction and in particular through the entire floor construction; Flowing dry air into the air inlet opening by means of an air supply device of an air dehumidification system, so that moisture from the floor construction is taken up or absorbed by the dry air and discharged from the air outlet opening together with the dry air; characterized in that the method comprises the following method step: Completely closing and, in particular, sealing the air outlet opening with a HEPA filter, in particular with a HEPA filter H13.

[0010] A floor substructure within the meaning of the invention can comprise several layers, such as an insulation layer and a layer of screed or screed concrete. Within the meaning of the invention, a floor structure also includes a ceiling structure. This means that the term "floor structure" can be used synonymously with the term "ceiling structure" since both are components of a building, with a floor structure being located, for example, on the ground floor of a building, and a ceiling structure being located, for example, on a mezzanine or upper floor of a building.

[0011] For the purposes of the invention, dry air is understood to mean air with a low proportion of relative humidity, although the invention is not intended to be limited to specific value ranges of the humidity content or even with regard to the temperature of the dry air.

[0012] The term HEPA is an abbreviation for High Efficiency Particulate Air and refers to particularly powerful air filters. HEPA filters can remove up to 99.95% of particulate matter from the air. Such particulate matter includes, for example, dust, dust mites, mold spores, pollen, bacteria, and similar pollutants. The H13 designation is a classification for HEPA filters, standardized according to the European standard EN 1822. It indicates how efficiently the filter removes particulate matter from the air. An H13 HEPA filter filters at least 99.95% of particulate matter with a size of 0.3 µm or larger from the air.

[0013] In the method according to the invention, all air outlet openings in an area intended for the technical drying of a building component are covered or completely and, in particular, sealed with a HEPA filter, preferably an H13 HEPA filter. Thus, moist air or dry air with absorbed moisture from the floor construction is filtered out, thereby preventing or at least sufficiently reducing the contamination of the air in a room in which the technical drying is carried out with microorganisms, mold spores, and similar pollutants.

[0014] Furthermore, thanks to the now safely applicable positive pressure process, gaps and pores in the floor substructure are not compressed or compressed by negative pressure, but are actively ventilated and flushed through by the injection of dry air, thus improving moisture absorption in the dry air and accelerating the drying of the substructure. The air supply device of the air drying system can also be positioned as desired, as the air inlet opening can be positioned accordingly.

[0015] Furthermore, due to the method according to the invention, the otherwise necessary sealing of further air outlet openings such as an edge joint of a floor construction after the technical drying of the floor bonding construction is no longer necessary.

[0016] Furthermore, it may be expedient if the air outlet opening is formed by an edge joint of the floor construction and the HEPA filter is provided as a HEPA filter tape. The edge joint is completely sealed with the HEPA filter tape, in particular with an H13 HEPA filter tape. The HEPA filter tape naturally remains permeable to air, thus sealing the edge joint accordingly. The edge joint can be exposed before sealing by removing the chair rails and edge insulation strips.

[0017] In this context, a tape, or HEPA filter tape, is a HEPA filter whose length is a multiple of its width. In particular, such a HEPA filter tape can be supplied by the meter and in the form of a rolled HEPA filter tape. This allows the edge joint to be easily covered and sealed with the HEPA filter tape.

[0018] In any case, incorporating the edge joint as an air vent offers the advantage of eliminating the need to create a new opening for the air vent. Furthermore, the edge joint does not need to be sealed, which would have far-reaching negative consequences, such as sound coupling between the floor construction and the adjacent building wall.

[0019] Furthermore, it can be provided that the sealing of the edge joint comprises the following sub-steps: Positioning the HEPA filter belt over the edge joint, wherein the HEPA filter belt has a width from a range comprising 150% to 350%, in particular a width of 200%, relative to a maximum edge joint width, wherein the HEPA filter belt is preferably positioned so as to cover the entire edge joint width and bridge the edge joint in a width direction of the HEPA filter belt; wedging or repeatedly pressing the HEPA filter belt section by section into the edge joint in the longitudinal direction of the HEPA filter belt using a tool, such that the HEPA filter belt is preferably wedged in a V-shape in the edge joint and / or fixed in position therein. This achieves a sealing closure of the edge joint, so that the escape of pollutants is further minimized.

[0020] Furthermore, the HEPA filter can be provided with an adhesive layer at least in sections, so that the HEPA filter is fixed in position relative to the air outlet opening by means of the adhesive layer when the air outlet opening is closed. This makes the complete closure of the air outlet opening or the edge joint more precise and easier for the user.

[0021] Another advantageous embodiment is one in which the HEPA filter tape can be provided with an adhesive strip on one side surface. When sealing the edge joint, the HEPA filter tape is secured in position by the adhesive strip to the structural components closest to the edge joint. This, in turn, makes the complete sealing of the air outlet opening or the edge joint more precise and easier for the user.

[0022] According to a further development, it is possible to remove an existing edge insulation strip or remnants of an edge insulation strip from the edge joint before sealing the edge joint. This allows the HEPA filter tape to penetrate deeper into the edge joint, thus reducing its shielding effect against unwanted escape of pollutants.

[0023] Furthermore, it may be expedient to leave the HEPA filter tape in the edge joint after the floor construction has been dried out, with the edge joint being left unsealed after drying. The term "unsealed" in this context means that the edge joint is not sealed with a sealing material. In any case, this ensures that the HEPA filter tape functions as an insulating strip after drying out, and thus the impact sound insulation of the floor construction is not negatively affected by the technical drying process, as the HEPA filter tape has an insulating effect and thus prevents the transmission of structure-borne sound to a nearby building wall. Furthermore, spores, microorganisms, or other pollutants from escaping from the floor substructure after technical drying.

[0024] Furthermore, it can be provided that the dry air, with the moisture adsorbed or absorbed by the floor construction, is at least partially extracted from the air outlet opening by means of an air extraction system of the dehumidification system. This improves the effectiveness of the technical drying process.

[0025] The invention further relates to a HEPA filter belt for use in the method described above, wherein the HEPA filter belt has an adhesive strip on one side surface. This allows the HEPA filter belt to be conveniently and precisely fixed in position relative to the air outlet opening(s) or relative to the edge joint, for example, to completely bridge the edge joint and subsequently be clamped in the air outlet opening or the edge joint.

[0026] According to an advantageous development, it can be provided that the HEPA filter belt has a width from a range comprising 20 mm to 180 mm, in particular a width of 120 mm, wherein the HEPA filter belt can be provided specifically as a meter-long product in the form of a HEPA filter belt roll. This allows the HEPA filter belt to be used for a variety of interior spaces during technical drying. Furthermore, its handling is improved by providing it as a HEPA filter belt roll. The thickness of the screed can be around 60 mm, for example, so it can be particularly advantageous if the HEPA filter belt has a width of 120 mm. In this way, the HEPA filter belt can be clamped into position by folding and pressing it into the edge joint, whereby the majority of the edge joint's depth is filled with the HEPA filter belt.

[0027] Advantageously, the HEPA filter tape can also have a thickness in a range of 2 mm to 12 mm, in particular a thickness of 6 mm. Thus, by folding the HEPA filter tape, an edge joint width of at least 4 mm to 24 mm can be sealed. The HEPA filter tape is naturally compressible within certain limits, thus improving the clamping effect in the edge joint.

[0028] For a better understanding of the invention, it is explained in more detail using the following figures.

[0029] They show in a highly simplified, schematic representation: Fig. 1 shows a first cross-section through a floor construction and through a HEPA filter belt; Fig. 2 shows a second cross-section through a floor construction and through a HEPA filter belt; Fig. 3 shows a cross-section through a possible embodiment of a HEPA filter or a HEPA filter belt;

[0030] By way of introduction, it should be noted that in the variously described embodiments, identical parts are provided with identical reference symbols or component designations. The disclosures contained throughout the description can be applied analogously to identical parts with identical reference symbols or component designations. Furthermore, the positional information chosen in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc., refers to the directly described and illustrated figure, and these positional information must be applied analogously to the new position in the event of a change in position.

[0031] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is an exemplary and schematically illustrated cross-section through a possible floor construction 1 and through a HEPA filter 2 or a HEPA filter belt 3 in use in the application of the method according to the invention. Furthermore, Fig. 3a cross-section through a possible design of a HEPA filter 2 or a HEPA filter belt 3 is shown schematically. The following description is a summary of the Fig. 1 to Fig. 3 to read and understand, whereby the same component designations and reference symbols are used in each case.

[0032] In the representations of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2The floor construction 1 is shown built on a foundation 4 or a floor ceiling, wherein the floor construction 1 can comprise, for example, a floor covering 5 and a floor substructure 6, wherein the floor substructure 6 in turn can comprise several layers, such as an insulation layer 7 and a layer of screed or screed concrete 8. The floor construction 1 can be spaced from a nearest structural part 10 by an edge joint 9. Usually, an edge insulation strip or an insulation strip can be provided in the edge joint 9, which insulates the floor construction 1 from the nearest structural part 10, which can be, for example, a building wall, so that, among other things, no impact sound is transmitted from the floor construction 1 to the nearest structural part 10. This insulation strip is not included in any of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2To cover the edge joint 9, a chair rail is usually provided, which, however, is not included in any of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 is shown.

[0033] It may now happen that parts of the floor construction 1, or in particular parts of the floor substructure 6, contain moisture due to previous water damage. This moisture can have a damaging effect on the floor construction 1, so that the moisture must be removed. To carry out this so-called technical drying, the method described below is proposed.

[0034] There are dehumidification systems by means of which dry air can be provided. In order to be able to introduce dry air into the floor construction 1, an air inlet opening 11 can be provided or provided, for example, as a breakthrough through at least the floor covering 5 of the floor construction 1 and specifically through at least one layer, in particular through all layers of the floor substructure 6. Alternatively, or possibly also additionally, the air inlet opening 11 can be designed, for example, in the case of technical drying of a component in a mezzanine of a building, as a breakthrough through a ceiling construction or through a ceiling. In any case, it should be ensured that dry air can be provided in the area of ​​the insulation layer 7 through the air inlet opening 11. Dry air can now be provided by means of an air supply device of the dehumidification system and introduced into the air inlet opening 11.In this context, dry air refers to air with a low relative humidity, although the method according to the invention is not limited to specific value ranges in this regard. Rather, any conventional dehumidification system can be used for the method according to the invention.

[0035] In order to channel the dry air through the floor construction 1, an air outlet opening 12 must also be provided. As shown in the present example, the air outlet opening 12 can be formed by the edge joint 9, provided that any existing screed insulation strip and any existing chair rails are removed prior to the technical drying process. The dry air can now flow through the floor construction 1 from the air inlet opening 11 to the air outlet opening 12, so that moisture from the floor construction 1 is adsorbed or absorbed by the dry air and can thus be expelled from the floor construction 1 through the air outlet opening 12.

[0036] Since mold, microorganisms, or other pollutants could have formed due to the moisture in the floor construction 1, it is not advisable to freely discharge the dry air, with the moisture absorbed therein and any spores, mold, or microorganisms absorbed therein, through the air outlet opening 12 into a room or the room air. This would lead to pollutant contamination of the room air and be harmful to the human organism. According to the invention, the air outlet opening 12 or the edge joint 9 is therefore sealed or completely closed or tightly closed by means of a HEPA filter 2 or, in particular, by means of a HEPA filter band 3. In particular, a HEPA filter 2 or a HEPA filter band 3 of class H13 can be used for this purpose.

[0037] By completely closing the edge joint 9 or all air outlet openings 12, it can be prevented that mold, spores, microorganisms or other pollutants are carried out from the floor construction 1 into a room in which the technical drying is carried out.

[0038] The HEPA filter tape 3 can, for example, be in the form of a HEPA filter tape roll. In this sense, a HEPA filter tape is understood to be a HEPA filter whose length is many times greater than its width. Such a tape can be provided as a wound roll, as is common, for example, with a screed insulation strip. In order to completely seal an edge joint 9, such a HEPA filter tape can, for example, be applied along the entire length of an edge joint 9 such that the edge joint 9 is covered by the HEPA filter tape. For this purpose, the HEPA filter tape can have a width from a range comprising 150% to 350%, in particular a width of 200%, relative to a maximum edge joint width, so that now preferably the entire edge joint width is covered by the HEPA filter tape, wherein the edge joint 9 is bridged by the HEPA filter tape 3. In any case, Fig. 1the HEPA filter belt 3, as it is positioned with respect to the edge joint 9 in such a way that it covers or bridges the edge joint 9.

[0039] In order to be able to fix the HEPA filter 2 or the HEPA filter band 3 relative to the air outlet opening 12 or the edge joint 9, the HEPA filter 2 can, for example, have an adhesive layer 13 at least in sections, so that the HEPA filter 2 or the HEPA filter band 3 can be fixed in position relative to the air outlet opening 12 or the edge joint 9 by means of the adhesive layer 13 when the air outlet opening 12 or the edge joint 9 is closed. This at least partially adhesive layer 13 can be formed, for example, on a long side 16 of the HEPA filter 2 or the HEPA filter band 3.

[0040] Alternatively, or in combination therewith, it can further be provided that the HEPA filter band 3 or the HEPA filter 2 has an adhesive strip 14 on a side surface 15, wherein the HEPA filter band 3 can be fixed in position to the structural parts 10 closest to the edge joint 9 by means of the adhesive strip 14 when closing the edge joint 9. A possible embodiment of the HEPA filter 2 or the HEPA filter band 3 corresponding to the previous description is shown in Fig. 3 shown schematically. It can also be provided that at least the adhesive strip 14 is covered with a removable film, so that the adhesive strip 14 is protected from dirt, provided the HEPA filter tape 3 is provided as a HEPA filter tape roll.

[0041] In order to finally close the edge joint 9, the HEPA filter band 3, which has been positioned covering the edge joint 9, can now be repeatedly pressed into the edge joint 9 in sections using a suitable tool, such as a spatula, so that the HEPA filter band 3 is finally wedged in a V-shape in the edge joint 9 and thus completely closes the edge joint 9. This state is in Fig. 2 shown schematically.

[0042] This ultimately prevents pollutants from a damp floor construction 1 from entering the room air during technical drying.

[0043] As an alternative to the previous description, it can also be provided that, as air outlet opening(s) 12, as an alternative to the edge joint 9, one or more air outlet opening(s) 12 are provided as opening(s) through the floor construction 1 or at least through the floor covering 5, which in turn are each covered and thus closed by means of a HEPA filter 2, i.e., if necessary, not by means of a HEPA filter band 3.

[0044] Finally, it may also be provided that additional dry air with adsorbed or absorbed moisture from the floor construction 1 is extracted by means of an air extraction system of the dehumidification system.

[0045] In any case, it may be advisable if, after the technical drying or drying out of the floor construction 1, the HEPA filter 2 or the HEPA filter tape 3 remains in the air outlet(s) 12. This prevents subsequent escape of pollutants and, in addition, restores the impact sound insulation.

[0046] The embodiments show possible embodiments, whereby it should be noted at this point that the invention is not limited to the specifically illustrated embodiments thereof, but rather various combinations of the individual embodiments with each other are also possible and this possibility of variation lies within the skill of the person skilled in the art in this technical field due to the teaching of technical action by means of the objective invention.

[0047] The scope of protection is determined by the claims. However, the description and drawings must be used to interpret the claims. Individual features or combinations of features from the various embodiments shown and described may represent independent inventive solutions. The problem underlying these independent inventive solutions can be derived from the description.

[0048] All information on value ranges in this description is to be understood as including any and all sub-ranges thereof, e.g. the information 1 to 10 is to be understood as including all sub-ranges starting from the lower limit of 1 and the upper limit of 10, ie all sub-ranges begin with a lower limit of 1 or greater and end with an upper limit of 10 or less, e.g. 1 to 1.7, or 3.2 to 8.1, or 5.5 to 10.

[0049] For the sake of clarity, it should finally be pointed out that, in order to better understand the structure, some elements have been shown out of scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. Reference symbol list

[0050] 1Floor construction 2HEPA filter 3HEPA filter tape 4Foundation 5Floor covering 6Floor substructure 7Insulation layer 8Screed concrete 9Edge joint 10Structural component 11Air inlet opening 12Air outlet opening 13Adhesive layer 14Adhesive strip 15Side surface 16Long side

Claims

1. A method for drying components of a building, in particular for drying a floor construction (1) and / or a floor substructure (6) of the floor construction (1), wherein the floor construction (1) comprises a floor covering (5) and the floor substructure (6), or a ceiling construction, the method comprising the following method steps: - providing an air inlet opening (11), wherein the air inlet opening (11) is provided as a breakthrough through at least the floor covering (5) of the floor construction (1) and in particular through at least one layer of the floor substructure (6); - providing an air outlet opening (12), wherein the air outlet opening (12) is preferably provided as a further breakthrough through at least the floor covering (5) of the floor construction (1) and in particular through the entire floor construction (1);- flow of dry air into the air inlet opening (11) by means of an air supply device of an air dehumidification system, so that moisture of the floor construction (1) is absorbed by the dry air and discharged from the air outlet opening (12); ; characterized in that the method comprises the following method step: - Completely closing and in particular sealing the air outlet opening (12) with a HEPA filter (2), in particular with a HEPA filter (2) of class H13.

2. Method according to claim 1, characterized in that the air outlet opening (12) is formed by an edge joint (9) of the floor construction (1) and the HEPA filter (2) is provided as a HEPA filter belt (3), wherein the edge joint (9) is completely closed with the HEPA filter belt (3), in particular with a HEPA filter belt (3) of class H13.

3. Method according to claim 2, characterized in thatclosing the edge joint (9) comprises the following sub-steps: - positioning the HEPA filter belt (3) over the edge joint (9), wherein the HEPA filter belt (3) has a width from a range comprising 150% to 350%, in particular a width of 200%, relative to a maximum edge joint width, wherein the HEPA filter belt (3) is preferably positioned so as to cover the entire edge joint width and to bridge the edge joint (9) in a width direction of the HEPA filter belt (3); - wedging or, in the longitudinal direction of the HEPA filter belt (3), repeatedly pressing the HEPA filter belt (3) section by section into the edge joint (9) by means of a tool, such that the HEPA filter belt is preferably wedged in a V-shape in the edge joint (9) and / or is fixed in position therein.

4. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in thatthe HEPA filter (2) has an adhesive layer (13) at least in sections, so that the HEPA filter (2) is fixed in position relative to the air outlet opening (12) by means of the adhesive layer (13) when the air outlet opening (12) is closed.

5. Method according to one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that the HEPA filter band (3) has an adhesive strip (14) on one side surface (15), wherein the HEPA filter band (3) is fixed in position on the structural parts (10) closest to the edge joint (9) by means of the adhesive strip (14) when the edge joint (9) is closed.

6. Method according to one of claims 2 to 5, characterized in that an existing edge insulation strip or remnants of an edge insulation strip are removed from the edge joint (9) before the edge joint (9) is closed.

7. Method according to one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in thatthe HEPA filter tape (3) is left in the edge joint (9) after drying out the floor construction (1), whereby the edge joint (9) is left unsealed after drying out.

8. Method according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the dry air with moisture of the floor construction (1) adsorbed or absorbed therein is at least partially extracted from the air outlet opening (12) by means of an air removal system of the air dehumidification system.

9. HEPA filter belt (3) for use in a method according to one of claims 2 to 8, characterized in that the HEPA filter band (3) has an adhesive strip (14) on one side surface (15).

10. HEPA filter belt (3) according to claim 9, characterized in thatthe HEPA filter band (3) has a width from a range comprising 20 mm to 90 mm, in particular a width of 50 mm, wherein the HEPA filter band (3) can be provided in particular as a meter-length product in the form of a HEPA filter band roll.

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