Pioneer aerophytic microorganisms on outer building surfaces - a comprehensive approach
Abstract
Biological growth on façades and other external building components became more evident in recent years and is increasingly recognized as a topic of scientific and industrial concern. There is still significant uncertainty regarding the composition, the taxonomic structure of different types of microbiological growth and their ecophysiologic and environmental prerequisites. In addition to biological research, chemical/physical processes are investigated and documented as a part of interdisciplinary collaboration at the Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics (IBP). Influences of global change, modifications in construction as well as alterations in the composition of air pollution are discussed. Based on the taxonomic differentiation of observed biological communities the conditions for the development of pioneer growth can be assessed. More than 120 different taxa have been documented and investigated as essential colonisers of external building components so far.
