Ventilation system

Question

Hello,
At the moment we are planning to build a one-family house. In the meantime our daughter, 14 months old, has been diagnosed with CF.
Therefore the question arises, what we have to take into account concerning the building of our new house. So far, we only got the advice to install wash-basins without overflow etc.
Because of the way houses are built today (the house is totally isolated against the outside), it is recommended to install a ventilation system (not air-conditioning), which exchanges the air automatically. Is there the danger of getting Pseudomonas bacteria into such a system multiplying in there (probably because of condensating water)?

Answer

Hello,
you are talking about a topic that is really causing an increasing problem in living-rooms concerning dry, stagnant air leading to generation of mould because of better and better isolation.

Most data existis on air humidifiers; in that case I have to disappoint you concerning a humidifier for the living-room or bedroom of a CF patient. In general none of these devices have been proven to be completely safe concerning the colonization with germs. Especially the problem of Pseudomonas is not controllable for sure. You can find recent investigations from the journal “Ökotest (Germany)” about humidifiers in the internet. Most devices are described as “pools of germs” and even the devices with the result “good” have no guaranteed sterility.
In our CF-centre we do not advise any humidifiers or any other devices which cause stagnant water, like condensating water.

However, you were asking about a ventilation system for your new house. We asked several experts all over Europe about this topic. Unfortunately there is a lack of data on these special devices. In the Netherlands Deerns Consulting engineers who are responsible for building hospitals in the Netherlands were giving the information that indeed such systems exist. No water involved and it is used in houses in the Netherlands also. The Expert said that you can call their firm in Germany for more information. Their daughter firm in Germany is in Koln Schmidt-Reuter 00-49-02215741201. If that is not working out you can call the Netherlands Deerns consulting engineers 00-31-70-3957400. And ask for Mr. Engels. Information is free of charge of course. The expert said that it is better for the person involved to talk directly to the experts themselves.

În summary it is to say that due to a lack of data and the experience with other devices (like humidifiers and air-filters) none of the devices for improving the air in rooms can be advised for CF patients without concerns, not having data about the colonization of germs and other dangers. Probably the concrete firm that installs the devices has some more information.

The problem of dry air in living-rooms did increase in the last years because of new, airtight windows. However, this can be prevented by frequent airing of rooms which should be preferred to the buying of devices if there are no data on the risk of colonization with germs. We do not advise to buy a fountain for the room, either, as the problem of germs is not controllable for sure. Especially the number of Pseudomonas-bacteria in “sterile” water can exceed easily the critical border within 24 hours.
Yours sincerely,
Wolfgang Gleiber

14.12.2007