Importance of ventilation to comply with the CTE HS Health

The Technical Building Code (CTE) is the compilation of regulations (Basic Documents) according to which the construction of our country must be governed. In effect since 2006, it stipulates the basic requirements regarding safety and habitability. It is a code that requires buildings to offer a series of provisions, regardless of the techniques used to achieve the results. This factor allows for continued innovation in the field of construction, as long as the established objectives are met.

Field of application and Basic Documents

In general terms, complying with the CTE is mandatory for new construction buildings. In rehabilitation, expansion, or modification interventions, it will depend on the degree of action and the level of protection that the buildings have.

There are three Basic Safety Documents (Structural Safety, Fire Safety, and Safety of Use and Accessibility) and three Basic Habitability Documents (Health, Protection against noise, and Energy savings). In this article, we explain the requirements of the CTE DB HS, Health.

CTE DB HS, Health

The CTE DB HS, Health aims to minimize the risk that building occupants suffer ailments or health disorders as a result of poor design, construction, and maintenance of both the building and its installations. It also establishes standards to prevent deterioration of both the building itself and its surrounding environment. It consists of five Basic Documents.

CTE DB HS 1, Protection against humidity

High relative humidity levels inside our buildings can cause numerous health problems for individuals. As stated in the document, the risk of water or humidity appearing inside must be limited, whether this comes from condensation, infiltration, or capillarity. A controlled mechanical ventilation system will help prevent its appearance or eliminate it if it has already occurred.

CTE DB HS 2, Collection and disposal of waste

This section outlines the characteristics that storage and waste collection spaces and means in buildings must have.

CTE DB HS 3, Indoor air quality

This chapter emphasizes the need to renew the air inside the rooms. The renewal must occur due to the sweeping produced by the entry of clean air through the intake openings located in dry rooms (bedrooms, dining rooms, and living rooms) and the extraction of stale air through the extraction openings located in wet rooms (kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry rooms). To ensure proper air renewal, the document establishes a minimum ventilation flow rate for each of the rooms.

The CTE dictates that homes must, therefore, have a hybrid ventilation system (inhalation occurs naturally and extraction through mechanical means) or mechanical ventilation (both inhalation and ventilation are carried out through mechanical processes). The second ventilation system, being a hermetic and controlled system, will ensure clean and pure air within the recommended parameters of relative humidity.

CTE DB HS 4, Water supply

The water supply to the building must be provided with all health guarantees, ensuring that the water is suitable for consumption. The supply means will be produced sustainably to encourage savings and prevent contamination of the network. In the case of systems that produce ACS (hot sanitary water) incorporating storage devices, they will be designed to prevent the proliferation of pathogens.

CTE DB HS 5, Wastewater evacuation

This section details the characteristics of wastewater and stormwater evacuation systems.