What is it?
Dust mites are tiny microscopic arthropods found naturally in many indoor environments. They develop mainly where they find food, moisture and favourable environmental conditions.
In the field of healthy buildings, they are one of the biological factors that may form part of an indoor environment assessment when the characteristics of the building or the objectives of the study require it.
Their presence depends on relative humidity, temperature, textile materials, the build-up of dust and the way the building is used and cleaned, so the assessment is always interpreted within the overall context of the property.
Where can it be found?
They are usually found in mattresses, pillows, bedding, carpets, upholstery, curtains, fabric-covered furniture, soft toys and accumulated dust. Also on other surfaces with conditions favourable to their development.
Bedrooms receive particular attention during the assessment, because of the time spent in them and the abundance of textile materials in this type of room.
How is it assessed?
What the inspection looks at
The technical inspection examines the characteristics of the building, the hygrothermal conditions and the materials present in the different rooms.
What is recorded for each measurement
Equipment, quantity, unit, location, date, measurement conditions and duration, together with the relevant limitations and the interpretation criterion applied.
How this factor is measured
When the scope of the assessment requires it, dust sampling or other representative samples may be taken using specific methodologies.
Interpretation considers the analytical results, the technical inspection and the overall behaviour of the indoor environment together.
In assessments intended as expert evidence, appropriate procedures and, where applicable, calibrated instruments are used to ensure the reliability and traceability of the process.
Criteria
The assessment brings together the information obtained during the inspection, laboratory results where available and the environmental conditions observed in the building.
Interpretation always considers all the factors present and avoids drawing conclusions from a single isolated parameter.
This guide does not publish values or thresholds. Technical criteria, legal limits and recommendations are different things and are not presented as equivalent.
Improvement measures
Work always begins by understanding and, where possible, reducing the source, before acting on the path or on the space. Measures are prioritised by expected effect, feasibility and proportionality, and no products are recommended by default.
The action taken depends on the conditions detected during the assessment. Options that may be considered include:
- Controlling indoor humidity.
- Improving ventilation.
- Optimising cleaning procedures.
- Maintaining textile materials.
Recommendations are always made after an individual assessment.
How Cemprotecta helps
This factor is not assessed on its own. It is studied together with moisture, mould, yeasts, bacteria and ventilation, because the conditions that favour its presence are the same ones that affect the others.
What an assessment gives you is knowing what is there, where it is and what can be done about it, with an ordered sequence of measures rather than a list of problems.
- Inspection of the space and of moisture conditions.
- Sampling when the scope of the assessment requires it.
- Combined interpretation with the other factors assessed.
- A report identifying the possible causes and the applicable measures.
Request an assessment
If this factor concerns you in your home or workplace, tell us about your case. The prior inspection will determine whether it is worth measuring and what else should be assessed alongside it.