Resumen de Evaluation of traditional grain store buildings (hórreos) in Galicia (NW Spain): analysis of outdoor/indoor temperature and humidity relationships

O. A. Pérez García, Xoan Carlos Carreira Pérez, Emilio Carral Vilariño, M. E. Fernández, Ramón Angel Mariño Allegue

• español

  Los horreos son construcciones rurales tradicionales del norte de Espana usadas para la desecacion y conservacion de granos de cereal. Sus caracteristicas proporcionan ventilacion natural y un ambiente desfavorable para el ataque de agentes bioticos (como hongos o insectos), ademas de evitar el acceso de otros, como roedores. El objetivo de este trabajo fue estudiar las condiciones ambientales de los horreos tipo Mondonedo (zona costera norte de Galicia, noroeste de Espana). Estan construidos de madera y piedra, con una camara de grano prismatica aislada del suelo y con aberturas de ventilacion en sus paredes laterales. En tres horreos, durante un periodo de un mes, se midieron la temperatura y la humedad relativa del aire interior y exterior a lo largo del dia. Se analizaron los valores maximos y minimos durante tres periodos (noche, manana y tarde) y a tres horas determinadas (9:00, 14:00 y 21:00). Se observo que los horreos tenian un efecto amortiguador sobre la humedad relativa: Cuando la humedad exterior era . 90% o . 65%, la humedad interior era, como media, un 5,2% inferior o un 3,2% superior, respectivamente; si era ~75% el efecto era el mas reducido. Para la temperatura, este efecto no era tan destacable. Se concluye que la humedad relativa y, en menor medida, la temperatura permanecen mas estables dentro del horreo, proporcionando un ambiente apropiado para preservar el grano. Otras caracteristicas (como localizacion geografica, altitud topografica, exposicion al viento y direccion del eje longitudinal) parecen influir en el nivel de variacion experimentado por las variables.

• English

  Horreos are traditional rural buildings of northern Spain used for desiccation and conservation of cereal grains.

  They provide natural ventilation, an unfavourable environment to discourage attack by biotic agents (e.g., fungi and insects) and prevent access by others, such as rodents. The objective of this paper was to study the environmental conditions of the Mondonedo type of horreos (north coastal area of Galicia, northwestern Spain). They are built of wood and stone, with a prismatic grain chamber isolated from the ground and with ventilation openings on the side walls. In three horreos, over a period of one month, the temperature (T) and relative humidity (RH) of the indoor and outdoor air were measured throughout the day. Maximum and minimum values during three periods (night, morning and afternoon) and at three specific times (9:00, 14:00 and 21:00) were analysed. It was noted that horreos had a dampening effect on RH. When the outdoor humidity was . 90%, the indoor humidity was on average 5.2% lower. If the outdoor humidity was . 65%, the indoor humidity was on average 3.2% higher. When it was around 75%, this effect was at its smallest. This effect was not as remarkable for T. It is concluded that RH and, to a lesser extent, T remain more stable in the horreo than outdoors, providing an appropriate environment for the preservation of grain.

  Other characteristics (i.e., geographical location, topographic altitude, exposure to the wind and longitudinal axis direction) appear to influence the amount of change experienced by these parameters.