Mesurament d’entorn per a la reforma biocompatible d’un edifici d’oficines
The Consell Comarcal del Vallès Oriental is renovating a building to house its headquarters and has hired Biohabita! to advise them on achieving a space with criteria of well-being, comfort and health.
This work was achieved through a public tender competing with other professionals. It should be noted that one of the differential features compared to other professionals that the convening entity has taken into account has been the fact that Biohabita! is a cooperative entity formed by a team of architects specialized in habitat biology.
The first assignment we were given was to analyze the environment in relation to fields, waves and radiation, both natural and artificial.
By natural radiation in our environment we understand the flow of electrical charges and natural electromagnetic fields that emanate from the subsoil interacting with biological processes and influencing the health of living beings that inhabit the planet. These radiations are framed within what is called geophysical disturbances. [link mesurmanent].
In relation to artificial radiations, the urban environment of our cities and towns presents potential environmental problems related to the everyday technology that we use, especially in relation to artificial electromagnetic radiation.
The most common sources of artificial electromagnetic radiation in urban space are those related to wireless communication and the supply and distribution of electricity.
The characteristics of an environment in relation to natural and artificial radiation are pre-existing physical risk factors that end up affecting workplaces and, therefore, their identification and characterization becomes critical to guide design decisions that seek to minimize their negative impact on the well-being and health of its users in the medium and long term.
The objective of this work has been to carry out three measurement campaigns on the environmental environment of the building where the offices are to be located.
1. Measurement campaign of field, wave and radiation sources in the building’s surroundings. Protocol SBM2024
2. Geophysical disturbances. Protocol SBM2024
3. Radon measurement. Protocol RD 732/2019
CONCLUSIONS OF THE MEASUREMENTS
1. Regarding protection from alternating magnetic fields, in the basement, it is recommended to separate a certain distance (1-2 m) from the electricity line that passes underground in the street.
The definitive location of the Transformation Center that is planned to be located in the building must also be taken into account to decide which work spaces can be placed around it. It is recommended to carry out a measurement once this transformation center is in operation to establish the safety distances in relation to the SBM2024 protocol.
2 Regarding protection from high-frequency electromagnetic waves, it is recommended to use shielding to reduce the effect of two telephone antennas that are near the building.
This action must be accompanied by a reduction in the waves generated within the building itself (mainly due to wi-fi or the users’ own personal telephones).
3 Regarding radon gas, the measured emission levels are within the limits specified by the CTE (<300Bq/m3) and also within the limits specified by the SBM2024 (<60Bq/m3), and therefore no measures will need to be applied.
