Abstract
A fungal index is a biological climate-parameter. It is measured using the growth response of the xerophilic fungus Eurotium herbariorum sealed in a test piece, the fungal detector, exposed at the survey site and the period of exposure. The index represents the environmental (climate) capacity to allow fungal growth at the survey site.
Thermo-hygrometers and fungal detectors were hung in the roofed parking space (outdoors) and in two crawl spaces, east and west side, under the floor of a house in Kamakura, Japan. The temperature and relative humidity were measured at 1-hour intervals and the fungal index was measured every week (1-week exposure) at each survey site during 2003. Fungal indices at each site were computed from the temperature and relative humidity measured with the thermo-hygrometers. The Excel software “INDEX” was used for these computations. The computed fungal index values were compared with the measured fungal index values determined using the fungal detectors. The computed indices showed similar values to the measured indices, and the seasonal variation patterns for computed and measured indices were about the same both outdoors and in the crawl spaces.
We can compute the fungal index from the climatic history if we obtain accurate data for temperature and relative humidity. We can also simulate the fungal index using simulated temperature and relative humidity at the design stage before construction of buildings in order to create a comfortable indoor environment free from fungal contamination.
