Impact Report 21:22 - Flipbook - Page 13
2.
Paint – a story as old as time
Performance:
Paint has always had the combined
roles of decorating and protecting.
Modern paint dries to form a
film over the surface – literally a
plastic film. The polymer resins
that form this film do not however
achieve the microporosity of
traditional materials like lime, or
the penetrative characteristics of
linseed oil.
This matters because building
materials, like plaster or wood, are
dynamic and permit the passage
of moisture vapour. If this cannot
happen because the paint layer
prevents it, then damp will become
trapped. There is a measure for
‘breathability’ known as the Sd
value and most acrylic paints
cannot achieve a breathable value
of < 0.1m.
Put simply, paint does not prevent rot
People:
Air quality is now known to be a
key determinant for human health.
The focus for this has shifted
to internal, as well as external,
pollution. The entire planet is now
cloaked in a layer of particulates
which is visible as a brown haze
from any high vantage point. Less
easy to see are the ‘fumes’ in the
home. They arise from a number
of sources, generally synthetic
products and they can contribute
to ME, asthma, eczema and
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity in
humans. Probably 75% of internal
surfaces are covered in paint or
‘applied coatings’ and in Western
Europe many of us spend over 80%
of our time indoors.
With differential temperatures
paint surfaces that are not
microporous can form what is
known as the ‘dew point’ where
condensation can encourage
mould growth, leading to poor air
quality and in some people, acute
health problems or even death.
Studies have shown that some
Volatile Organic Compounds
(VOCs) from paint can persist for
a month after it has been applied
and that the issue with VOCs is
not solved by lowering the levels
if they remain persistent and are
hazardous.
Put simply, paint can cause health problems
edwardbulmerpaint.co.uk
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