E-mail: m-skaria@tamu.edu http://primera.tamu.edu/kcchome/faculty/ms.htm Moisture Challenges & Solutions: Proactive Construction Strategies
62 nd Annual Convention of the International Builders Show Orange County Convention Center Orlando, Florida January 11-14, 2006
Why Mold growth Happens? Where? How? Moisture Challenges & Solutions An Outline of the Presentation Proactive Construction Strategies Speaker Background House Project What is mold? Impact on Human Health A Practical Solution Moisture Moisture condensation Of exterior windows Water leak (indoor) Pipelines Appliances Proactive Strategies Used Foundation Membranes Roof membrane Bluewood construction Wood inspections on site IInsulation Roof overhang Exterior baseplate Drylock toilets Paperless wallboards Appliance installation HVAC System Sources of Moisture in Residential Buildings Condensation of HVAC System Components Stucco wrap Proper installation Window wrap Visual Inspections High power vacuuming Moisture from Foundation Water leak in faulty showers Poor Installation of Appliances, toilet Metal plates at pipelines Hydrophobic limestone Education Demonstration Moisture intrusion from roof (leak) Moisture leak through exterior walls & windows Poor Installation of Appliances, toilet Drying-in process Inspection RH Measurements Other
Proactive Construction Strategies Speaker Background House Project 16 years of building inspection University faculty working on mold Multi-million dollar problem investigations Slides 1-26 are to teach what is mold, where it occurs, and when Slides 27 to 44 shows what I have done during the construction Process to avoid mold growth and other human allergens. A lot of precautions to avoid moisture
Mold: Real World Experience
It is a Living organism Part of the nature Cause problem in Buildings Grow on Organic matter Mani Skaria, Ph.D. Professor
Aspergillus Cladosporium
Bean plant with mildew Mold grown in culture plate Lung from kidney transplant patient with Aspergillus fumigatus infection of lungs. Arrows Indicate necrotic and hemorrhagic lesions. Moisture Condensation Water leaks
Mold growth on shoes Mold growth in HVAC plenum Mold growth around light fixture Mold growth on bed
Mites carry mold spores on their body, shown here through fluorescence microscopy
MYCOTOXINS Several fungi produce mycotoxins. Examples are some of the common and widespread fungi such as Aspergillus, Penicillium, Fusarium, and Stachybotrys, Chaetomium, Memnoniella
DO WE HAVE MORE MOLD PROBLEM NOW? DO WE HAVE NEW MOLD PROBLEM?
What is Fungi? 1. Home owners home insurance 4. Building contractors move to a hotel children to doctor s office mold stigma, house value 5. Mold remediators good business 2. Golf course superintendent a threat to his/her job 3. Real estate agent reduced sales 6. Mold attorneys mold = gold
2 Bill Boards One City Population 25,000
Close up of corrosion of copper pipe.
All these foundation penetration pipes may be sources of Water leak and mold growth, if poorly installed
Wood is a Good Food Source for Mold Growth
Stachybotrys chatraum
Water damage & Mold Mold, Stachybotrys under wall paper, mainly on the exterior wall
Water damage mold & documents
Mold growth on metal surface Cockroach Dust Mite
HVAC duct Water stain on HVAC duct line
Concentric water damage circles on ceiling tile and mold growth in the center
Attic temperature reading, above moldy office, indicating HVAC duct leak and source of water condensation and mold growth
HVAC duct air leak Causes water condensation and mold growth Temperature Temperature (F) 100 80 60 40 90 85 80 Mean 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 Thermostat set at 68 F Room temperature near thermostat 66.9 F Attic temperature outside HVAC duct 54.2 F Expected attic temperature 20 Mean inside temperature (average 26 readings) 71.6 F 0 90 85 80 75 70 65 60 55 50 45 Manager s Office, 2 nd Floor
Wet wood and insulation The Culprit -- blockage of HVAC drain with insulation fiber glass
Initial sign of water damage on sheetrock in an unsuspected location away from water line Water damage on ceiling
Strategies Used
Membranes Foundation Membrane
Proper membranes installed
A typical picture of wood around construction site
Front view of the project house under construction
Roof membrane Proper installation Window wrap Proper installation Stucco wrap
Hydrophobic Limestone Water retention Control with non-hydrophobic property Sealing window Imapsse a termite blocker
Flex wrap around windows Proper procedure Sealing Instruction
Foam insulation on walls and roof
Icynene Insulated July 9, 2005 68.3 35 33.2 37.7 36.8 36.1 38.9 39.9 42.1 43.1 47.9 47.6 47.6 55.7 56.2 53.6 62 64.2 Outside Foyer Kitchen Family room Master bedroom Master bathroom Up TV room Up N.Bedroom Up Middle Bedrrom Up South Bedroom Office Dining room Bar Under Stairs Patio Garage Attic closet Attic 80 70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0 Relative humidity(%) New Construction, 2x4 exterior wall, Icynene (DO NOT REPRODUCE WITHOUT PERMISSION) Relative humidity(%)
Windows wrapped Pipe penetrations wrapped Wrap joints tape sealed
Mold growth is inevitable, but removing it is also inevitable Foundation membrane: The left and right (better) compared
Alternative to copper pipe pitting Roof overhang keep water away Efficient HVAC System Improved duct line system
1.Shower wall and floor water proofing 2.Tankless water heater 3. Vacuuming 4. DryLock toilet
1. A clean workplace 2. Keep plants at least 2 ft away from walls 3. Improved with antimicrobial
Education
Education
Rod Santa Ana, Communications Specialist, Texas A&M University News Media Effect