TOXIC MOULD AND CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS HARMING PUBLIC HEALTH

Posted Wednesday 20th January, 2010

Building Forensics (www.buildingforensics.co.uk ) has been inundated with requests to investigate sick or tight building syndrome since a recent appearance on ITVs 'Buildings From Hell'. The programme highlighted the new and worrying - but previously unrecognised - building defects which can be identified from modern construction techniques and which create ideal conditions for toxic mould . with consequent serious health concerns.

The quest for reduced carbon emissions from buildings - and therefore a lower level of air changes - has in recent times created a general increase in 'building tightness': new and restored buildings fail to 'breath' properly, leading to a general moisture build-up which in turn results in the health concerns of mould and rot or decay. Typically, Building Forensics has found that the application of new building tightness conditioning such as BREEAM, LEED and part L of the Building Regulations, coupled to poor construction management, is increasingly causing such building defects and health issues.

Jeff Charlton of Building Forensics states: "Building Forensics has found increasing evidence that construction management is failing to control quality standards or, indeed, even to comply with manufacturers' or architects' design or installation requirements. Worse still, we've found that few surveyors or inspectors have the equipment or training to undertake non-intrusive investigation or to be able identify hidden defects such as missing insulation, thermal bridging and the presence of toxic chemicals."

He continues: "And Building Forensics is further finding that facility managers are increasingly mis-diagnosing design and build faults which cause condensation or pooling and mould. They wrongly attribute these symptoms to presumed leaks which insurers then wrongly pay to fix. And meanwhile the health problems continue to get worse."

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 result in the growth of toxic mould such as Penicillium, Tricoderma and Stachybotrys.

While visible mould is a good indicator of the health risk, it should be recognised that the moisture required for mould growth, sometimes from leaks but usually from condensation, often occurs out of sight in voids or behind plasterboard cavity walls.
The problems start with the building or renovation of buildings with no regard to the historic knowledge that buildings need to breath and remove moisture, especially in a cold wet climate.

And as was shown in US timber frame construction 10 years ago, identifying the problems generally requires more equipment than a standard two pin wood moisture meter and current inspection techniques.
Jeff Charlton is available for comment and interview on the findings of Building Forensics, and more information on typical health concerns and construction defect can be found at http://www.buildingforensics.co.uk .

This article was posted on Wednesday 20th January, 2010.

Categories: Construction & Engineering

David Miliband has told GPSJ that he 'feels sick' about what the government has done to the 'Building for Schools' program and sais he felt it was 'absolute vandalism' in an interview with editor Stuart Littleford. Speaking at a party meeting in Manchester Mr Milliband also said that 'New Labour' wasn't new any more and labour politics needed re-inventing and what really mattered was the substance. » Read More

» Pet goat tortured in brutal and sickening attack

A pet goat has had its horns ripped from its head and left in agony with broken and dislocated legs in what is being described as a barbaric and sickening attack. The goat known as 'Sid' was attacked late on Thursday night and found in his field early on Friday morning in agony. » Read More

» Nineteenth Century technology could save Councils millions by reducing their electricity costs

Jobs are being lost that could be saved - one local authority employee said. -We've had energy efficiency proposals sat on our desk for two and a half years. If we'd actioned them, we could have kept the key staff members we're about to loose. Considering all of this this, it is surprising how few energy efficiency measures have actually been deployed. So what barriers are making it hard for the public sector to act? » Read More

» Having your photo taken - is it right up your street?

You're out in the street and someone takes your photo without asking. What can you do? And do you have any control over what they do with that image? » Read More

find out about advertising opportunities online and in print

TOXIC MOULD AND CONSTRUCTION DEFECTS HARMING PUBLIC HEALTH

Further Reading

» DONATIONS FLOOD IN FOR OWNERS OF TORTURED GOAT

» Miliband tells GPSJ - I feel sick about what the government has done to our schools

» Pet goat tortured in brutal and sickening attack

» Nineteenth Century technology could save Councils millions by reducing their electricity costs

» Having your photo taken - is it right up your street?