Building Forensics warns on toxic mould growth

Building Forensics has experienced increased demand to investigate sick or tight building syndrome.

The company has been inundated with requests since a recent appearance on the television programme Buildings From Hell, which highlighted the new, previously unrecognised building defects which can be identified from modern construction techniques.

Such defects can create optimum conditions for toxic mould, resulting in consequent serious health concerns.

The current focus on carbon emissions reduction from buildings, and therefore a lower level of air changes, has created a general increase in building tightness.

This can lead to a general moisture build-up which in turn results in the health concerns of mould and rot or decay.

Building Forensics has found that the application of new building tightness conditioning such as BREEAM, LEED and Part L of the building regulations, along with poor construction management, is increasingly causing such building defects and health issues.

The combination of high cellulose materials and misuse of vapour barriers, thermal bridging from poor or missing insulation or failure to seal the building envelope properly can lead the growth of toxic mould such as Penicillium, Tricoderma and Stachybotrys.

Building Forensics says that moisture required for mould growth often occurs out of sight in voids or behind plasterboard cavity walls, and the problems start with the construction or renovation of buildings with no regard to the knowledge that buildings need to breath and remove moisture, especially in a cold wet climate.

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