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Bernhard Remmers Institut für Analytik GmbH

Microscopic analysis





Analysis of mould, house-decay fungus and asbestos

Microscopic analyses are used by BRIfA mainly in four areas. These are the determination of the fungi that cause mould and house-decay, asbestos and artificial mineral fibres. In addition the layer thickness of paints and coating materials can be examined on the microscope.

Dark stains

It happens often that in interiors dark stains appear on tapestry or other surfaces. There are several causes that might be responsible, such as a fogging effect or the growth of mould fungi on the surface. To determine what the cause is in a concrete instance, an examination under the microscope is necessary. The fungal spores of mould are found practically everywhere. While they can survive a long time under unfavourable conditions, they start to grow when the surrounding environment is right. In particular this requires the presence of a certain level of moisture inside the building material or on its surface. The required water content varies on the type of fungus and must be available for a sufficiently extended period of time. The growth of mould fungi is determined by essentially three factors: humidity, availability of nutrients and temperature. High levels of moisture in buildings can be caused by insufficient drying after building measures, incorrect heating and ventilation, especially in air tight buildings, as well as condensation.

Wood destroying fungi in buildings

Wood destroying fungi can cause considerable damage in buildings by causing the wood to rot. This rot can damage wood structures and severely impair their mechanical properties. The most often encountered wood destroying fungi include Serpula lacrymans which causes dry rot, Coniophora puteana and Donkioporia expansa. For a correct planning of restoration measures it is essential to identify the exact species that caused the damage to be reapired.

Asbestos

Asbestos is naturally occurring, fibrous silicate mineral. The use of asbestos and asbestos-based formulations has been banned in Germany since 1993. Materials that contain as little as 0.1% of asbestos are hazardous substances classified as category 1 carcinogens. To assess the level of risk involved with the use of asbestos-containing material, the German Technical Rules for Hazardous Substances, TRGS 519, the determination of the type of the asbestos, the des content of asbestos fibres in the material and determination of the density of the material itself, in which the asbestos is contained.

Microscopic analysis

  • Analysis of moulds, house-decay fungi and asbestos
  • Extraction, dimensions and packaging of samples

Microscopic examination

Sample size, quantity and quality

Moulds

Identification of moulds

Samples size, quantity and quality

  • Representative parts of the entire sample
  • The sample material of the affected surface should be at least approx. 10 x 10 cm in size and always contain a portion of the substrate

Packaging and labelling of the sample

  • Please label every single sample at the moment of sampling
  • Packaging: please allow wet material to dry in open air before shipping.
  • To avoid further decomposition, samples should not be packaged in plastic bags/cans.
  • Suitable packing material: envelopes, newspapers, carton etc.
  • Univocal identification of the single containers
  • Accompanying document with further information for each sample identification

Important information/photo documentation

  • Information on the building and on the emergence and causes of the damage (water ingress, lack of ventilation, etc.) as well as pictures of the contamination or the point where the sample was collected could also help and accelerate the examination process
  • Position of the examination (outside wall, behind cabinets, etc.)
  • Nature of the contaminated substrate (tapestry, joint compound , etc.)
  • Odour
  • Description of the rooms (basement, floor, ceiling, attic, etc.)

Artificial mineral fibres t and asbestos

Scanning electron microscope examination for the identification of asbestos in building materials

Samples size, quantity and quality

  • Representative, compact part of the entire sample
  • Surface of at least 100 cm², min. 1.5 cm thick

Packaging and labelling of the sample

  • Plastic bag
  • Univocal identification of the single containers
  • Accompanying document with further information for each sample identification

Safety advice:

Take appropriate measures to avoid the inhalation of asbestos or artificial mineral fibres that might be released into the ait during sampling!





Hausfäulepilze

Identification of wood-decay fungi

Samples size, quantity and conditions quality

  • The sample material should be at least approx. 10 × 10 in size and always contain a portion of the substrate
  • Different looking mycelia should possibly be collected form one sampling point
  • Please package and label every single sampling point separately
  • Please collect the wood samples at the transition area between contaminated and sound wood For the exact determination fruiting bodies fruiting bodies or characteristic mycelia are necessary.
  • Decayed wood without mycelia is not sufficient
  • Differentiated (i.e. old, strand-like) surface mycelia that can be detached from the substrate is ideal for microscopic determination
  • If there is only sparse mycelia, please collect as much as possible and be careful to possibly find and collect strand-like mycelia (long filaments)

Packaging and labelling of the sample

  • Plastic bag Univocal identification of the single containers
  • Packaging: please allow wet material to dry in open air before shipping
  • To avoid further decomposition, samples should not be packaged in plastic bags/cans
  • Suitable packing material: envelopes, newspapers, carton etc.
  • Univocal identification of the single containers
  • Accompanying document with further information for each sample identification

Important information/photo documentation

  • Information on the building and on the emergence and causes of the damage (water ingress, lack of ventilation, etc.) as well as pictures of the contamination or the point where the sample was collected could also help and accelerate the examination process
  • Position of the collected mycelia (distance from the wood, masonry)
  • Wood species (hardwood or softwood) Are other types of fungi present (e.g. slime mould or types of mould)
  • Description of the rooms (basement, floor, ceiling, attic, etc.)

For further information, please see the detailed  Service Overview Microscopic Examination (PDF).

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