Contamination of stone façades by atmospheric pollution. The case of Valladolid, Spain

Abstract

Soiling of stony material façades because of the atmospheric pollutants is a phenomenon more and more important affecting directly on image and character of our urban around, besides it be generally bound to another damage processes of material skin. Soiling development is a complex one since it involves a lot of different variables: the particulate matter settled and bounded to the faces. The microclimate with its different meteors like wind, rain out and rain off, temperature and humidity. The materials and its features: porosity, from the obstacles to wind; size and disposition of wall planes and Windows; linking and curving of planes; projections and offsets; decorative and singular components as reliefs, facias, cornices, flashing and spouts. Building and façades specimen has been analyzed In order to know soiling state in Valladolid, using a special worksheet containing the location and look of faces; the before parameters and the damage features through the account of its syntoms and motives. The study of analytic cards and data evaluation by means of variables "risk Index" have allowed quantify outputs and propose some conclusions about the factor's influence. Moreover any suggestions for design in order to prevent most harmful soiling are proposed.