K9 team of indoor air detection dogs sniffs out problems

Rysä, a Spanish Water Dog, is a member of Senate Properties’ indoor air detection dog team K9, which was set up at the beginning of 2019. The dogs have been trained to identify the smell of microbial metabolic products, and moisture damage indicator types are used in training. With their help, budding microbial damage can be detected and at best pinpointed.

The team, which comprises a total of 12 dogs and five experts or dog handlers, aims to improve Senate Properties’ ability to react to indoor air problems and to prevent them.

Headed by expert Risse Koponen, the team began indoor air detection dog activities back in 2015, with two Belgian sheep dogs, Nessi and Maikku, it had trained.

“Reaction from a dog results in further investigation and inspection by a dog is never the only method used. Dogs are very sensitive to even very small findings. Reaction does not necessarily mean damage, but we always investigate the matter.”

Project worker Emilia Rainetoja, who works as a dog handler, says that trainability is one key feature of an indoor air detection dog. Rainetoja joined the K9 team with its three Spanish Water Dogs Rysä, Loukku and Simo in January 2019.

“A dog needs to have a great desire to work and an ability to concentrate. A dog needs to enjoy doing the tasks assigned to it and must not be distracted even if there are unknown people or other commotion in the space.”

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When does an indoor air detection dog inspect a premises?

Senate Properties uses a dog in pro-active and prevention work even where there is no suspicion of any problem in the premises. In order to prevent indoor air problems as effectively as possible, Senate Properties conducts an indoor air inspection before new users move into facilities. Inspection by a dog is like an assurance of quality. Otherwise, inspections by a dog are carried out as needed if problems of a microbial origin are suspected.

“We act in accordance with the five-day rule. When a client reports a potential indoor air problem through our e-service Senaattila, we are able to tell the customer within five days how we will start to deal with the situation,” says Risse Koponen.

Read more: Pro-action is the best way to combat indoor air problems

How does an indoor air detection dog work?

When an indoor air detection dog enters the premises, the handler takes it to a suitable place and sends the dog off to investigate. The search is done taking into account the dog’s habits and nature of the premises either freely or at the end of a long leash.

“The dogs love their work. They understand already when leaving home that they are off on an assignment and their enthusiasm can be heard and seen already in the car,” Emilia Rainetoja says.

Intensive sniffing is very hard work for a dog. This is why an indoor air detection dog works for around 20 minutes at a time, after which it needs an egually long break. The handler usually has at least two dogs so that the work can continue without interruption with one dog working while the other is resting.

”How long a dog is able to continue depends on the circumstances and the day. Dogs are living creatures, not robots. Like us, they, too, have their off days.”

In what other way does Senate Properties investigate indoor air quality?

Inspection by a dog is never the only way to measure indoor air quality and the K9 team uses a comprehensive set of measuring equipment to be able to study more than ten different variables at once.

Risse Koponen says that technical indoor air measurement takes an average of around 24 hours, during when measurements determine whether there are too many microparticles, too much carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide or moisture in the air.

“The amount of carbon dioxide tells how well the ventilation is working, whereas carbon monoxide generally comes from exhaust gases, hydrogen sulphide from sewer leaks and ammonia from moisture damage.”

Spanish Water Dog Rysä is one of 12 indoor air detection dogs employed by Senate Properties. His handler Emilia Rainetoja says that Rysä regularly has physiotherapy, osteopathy and where needed acupuncture.

How is a dog trained?

Training an indoor air detection dog starts by teaching it to react to the smell of moisture damage microbes. The dogs are also taught search technology so that they can go through the premises accurately and in an orderly manner. According to Emilia Rainetoja, in training it’s important to use many different types of mould that grow on different building materials.

“There are hundreds of types of mould and when found in areas of moisture damage, they usually appear in mixed growth communities. This means a dog learns new types when it comes across them in those it already recognises. The material on which the mould grows also affects the smell picked up by the dog.”

“If we find microbial or mould growth in a building, we often take a sample of it for training purposes. Besides this, we make use of moulds cultivated in the laboratory in training.”

Read more: Dog´s life at Senate Properties

What do indoor air detection dogs do when not working?

When the dogs are not at work or training, they lead a normal dog’s life. Indoor air detection dogs live with their handlers.

“The dogs are firstly family members and are very well looked after. Secondly, they’re also my best colleagues,” Emilia Rainetoja says.