Rising damp from the ground can also be a problem and is usually where a damp course is defective. Because if neglected, it will affect the building structure adversely and will create unhygienic condition for the persons living in that building. Molds and other microbial agents favor damp indoor environments, and excess moisture may initiate the. With an emphasis on existing buildings and some coverage of the design of new build, this publication lists the causes of dampness and explores its effects. While the jury on mold is still out, clinical evidence has drawn a link between damp buildings and the appearance of. Ashrae position document on limiting indoor mold and. Preventing occupational respiratory disease from exposures caused by dampness in office buildings, schools, and other nonindustrial buildings cdc pdf file high humidity leads to loss of infectious influenza virus from simulated coughs john d. Dampness in buildings brewers know how the decorating. The following offers a more technical analysis of dampness within buildings.
For adults, dampness remediation in homes was associated with reduced respiratory and asthma outcomes, including asthma medication use, often with odds ratios of approximately 0. Aiha position statement mold and dampness in the built environment the approximately 10,000 members of the american industrial hygiene association aiha serve in the occupational and environmental health and safety profession, practicing industrial hygiene in industry, government, labor, academic institutions, and independent organizations, primarily in the united states and canada. Dampness in buildings causes of dampness in buildings remedial measures topics definitions causes of dampness effects of dampness remidial. It is continuous layer of impervious material applied to prevent moisture transmission. Understanding dampness download ebook pdf, epub, tuebl, mobi. Introduction moisture, in all its physical forms, is commonly regarded as the single greatest threat to durability and longterm performance of the housing stock. Dampness in buildings the highest airborne mold concentrations are found in buildings where significant mold infestation has occurred, usually as a result of severe water intrusion or flood damage. Too much moisture and condensation in your home can lead to damp and mouldy conditions. Harriman iii, chair masongrant portsmouth, nh carl grimes, cie healthy habitats llc denver, co k. Good design measures are essential to keep the moisture out of the building, but when these measures are inadequate, dampness can enter the building materials to cause their deterioration. Introduction o dampness in habitable buildings when unplanned for is a serious concern.
Dampness is one of the most common causes of building failure and it frequently entails expensive remedial work. Only when we understand how moisture moves within the fabric of a building can we predict how moisture will move after retrofitting works have been carried out. Not only is excessive dampness a health problem by itself, it also contributes to several other potentially problematic types of. Rising moisture of the ground,from the external walls, top of walls, condensation, prevention of dampness. California department of public health statement on. Dampness in buildings december 8th, 2016 preventing or curing dampness is still the biggest, most frequently encountered maintenance problem, and it is essential to find the real trouble before spending money on remedial work. The substantial fraction of time that populations spend in buildings underlines the importance of indoor air. Structural dampness is the presence of unwanted moisture in the structure of a building, either the result of intrusion from outside or condensation from within the structure. Department of building technology, accra polytechnic p. Dampness and mold assessment tool school buildings.
Effects of dampness, sources of dampness, prevention of. The water rises through the pores capillaries in the masonry by a process loosely termed capillarity. Campian, 2005 methods for elimination of dampness in old masonry building walls, traditional craft in 21 st century architecture, conference proceedings isbn 8392190300, szczecin university. Not only is excessive dampness a health problem by itself, it also contributes to several other potentially problematic types of situations. Understanding dampness effects, causes, diagnosis and. Sources of dampness in buildings o dampness in buildings are often due to. Almost all homes, apartments, and commercial buildings will experience leaks, flooding, or other forms of excessive indoor dampness at some point. Causes dampness, effects of dampness, sources of dampness. Humidity control design guide for commercial and institutional buildings harriman et al. This document is in the public domain and may be freely copied or reprinted.
Dampness in buildings, the basics dampness, who is this article for. Damp and mould could occur on walls, ceilings and behind furniture. How to prevent damp, mould and condensation in your home. Open library is an open, editable library catalog, building towards a web page for every book ever published. Step 2 if the soil from outside source is brought to fill the foundation space, the soil.
Health risks of dampness or mold in workplaces substantial research has been completed to investigate the associations of adverse health effects with dampness and mold in workplaces. Capillary penetration of fluid from the ground up through concrete or masonry is known. Answers common problems in a simple way immediate practical use to professionals. If you suspect that the heatingventilationair conditioning hvac system may be contaminated with mold it is part of an identified moisture problem. Guide to identification of dampness in buildings open. Dampness in buildings will be of immediate practical use to surveyors, architects, builders, housing managers and health inspectors. Dampness in building is one of the important aspects to consider during building design. View 4dampness in buildings from ce 205 at uet lahore. Most buildings also contain moisture created internally by normal habitation or use and industrial processes. In its 2005 report to the state legislature in response to the 2001 toxic mold protection act sb 732, the california department of public health cdph concluded that sound, science. Pdf methods for elimination of dampness in building walls. Noti et al niosh cdc pdf file indoor air quality tool kit work safe alberta pdf file. Preventing occupational respiratory disease from exposures. Preventing occupational respiratory disease from exposures caused by dampness in office buildings, schools, and other nonindustrial buildings.
Health risk of dampness and mold in houses indoor air. Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by. While pels remain elusive, mounting scientific evidence on dampness and mold, much of it pub lished since 2005, supports an alternate, evidencebased approach to the assessment of health risks. Scribd is the worlds largest social reading and publishing site. For information on the health consequences of dampness and mold in schools, see the. Understanding dampness designing buildings wiki share your construction industry knowledge. The following looks first at the basics of dampness in buildings giving a non technical overview for the layperson who has dampness problems or a particular interest in this area. The four main areas of dampness in buildings are rain penetration, condensation, rising damp and moisture introduction.
O box 561 accra abstract the unacceptable access and penetration of moisture into building through its structural component such as columns, walls, floors, roofs etc. Rising damp is caused by capillary action drawing moisture up through the porous elements of a building s fabric. This book deals, first of all, with properties of the more common building materials, and then. The emphasis of this book is on existing buildings with some coverage of the design of new build. The following article looks first at the basics of dampness in buildings giving a nontechnical overview for the layperson that has dampness problems or a particular interest in this area. Guide to identification of dampness in buildings 1986.
It lists the causes of dampness in buildings and explores the consequential effects of that dampness on the fabric, the maintenance of protection against dampness, and the remedies which the detrimental results of dampness will call for. A damp substrate is one which contains a level of moisture above that expected under normal environmental conditions, which is about 50% relative humidity. Dampness or moisture may accumulate into the building structures or finishing materials via leaks in roofs, windows or piping. It is possibly a source of or a contributor to illness, and it encourages deterioration in the fabric of a building. Department of health and human services, centers for disease control and prevention. The ashrae position document on limiting indoor mold and dampness in buildings was developed by the societys limiting indoor mold and dampness in buildings position document committee formed on december 14, 2010. Rising damp, and some penetrating damp, can be caused by faults to, or the absence of a dampproof course dpc or dampproof membrane dpm. Dampness in buildings is adampness in buildings is a risk factor for health effectsrisk factor for health effects associations found with cough, asthma,associations found with cough, asthma, tiredness, airway infectiontiredness, airway infection increased relative risk.
Molds can grow on almost any surface and occurs where there is a lot of moisture from structural problems such as leaky roofs or high humidity levels. A high proportion of damp problems in buildings are caused by ambient climate dependent factors of condensation and rain penetration. Dampness in buildings, a technical article 1st associated. The devastating effects of rising damp in the construction. Statement on building dampness, mold and health that. Moisture in buildings a practical guide to avoiding. Guide to identification of dampness in buildings by g.