How to Prevent Mold in Structures?

We are well aware that exposure to various types of mold can cause serious health issues. Though you should always be on the lookout for potential sources of mold growth.  

Mold counts are higher in humid conditions than in dry conditions and there could be some mold present indoors. Commercial HVAC systems control climate and moisture in buildings, which in turn prevents mold growth.  

Poorly maintained commercial HVAC systems can serve as both a laboratory for growing mold and a highway system for transporting mold spores throughout a building. It is important to ensure that a building can stand up to moisture intrusion to avoid mold growth in the structures of buildings.  

 

Where Does Mold Come From? 

  Mold can grow anywhere and everywhere especially on materials such as drywall, carpeting, fabrics, and wood. Commercial buildings that are designed to maintain a constant interior temperature provide desirable conditions for mold growth. When the temperature outside fluctuates and indoor air is heated, condensation is formed on windows producing moisture.  

Too much interior moisture creates an environment in which mold thrives. As mold grows it frees a huge number of spores, which are tough and can survive freezing and drying. 

 

What’s Bad with Mold? 

Molds ain’t bad. In fact, some molds are actually used to make delicious cheeses and lifesaving drugs like penicillin.  

But interior black mold that becomes ugly can cause serious illness in humans and structural damage to buildings. 

 Some workers are sensitive to mold in the workplace and have allergic reactions when exposed to mold spores. Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores can cause allergic reactions such as coughing, sneezing, nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, and skin rash.  

Workers who are extremely sensitive to mold or have asthma, are more prone to the building-related illnesses mold can cause. In short, interior mold is nothing to mess around with and can have adverse effects on the productivity and health of your workforce. 

 

Ways to Prevent Mold Growth Indoors 

There are several ways to prevent indoor mold from taking over your building. 

1. Keep humidity under control: The ideal humidity for a building is between 30% and 50%. Relative humidity can be measured with inexpensive moisture or humidity meter.
2. Clean at the core: Your building’s heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) can improve the blowing around of mold spores. While it may not be 100 percent unavoidable, you can lessen the transfer of spores by cleaning the HVAC system and ducts regularly.
3. Fix Leaks: Always keep a check on the leaky roofs, foundations, faucets, and pipes on a regular basis and make sure that they aren’t providing extra moisture to expand in these areas. Leaks should be fixed as soon as they are found.
4. Watch for groundwater: Examining the exterior of buildings regularly helps in avoiding the accumulation of groundwater, which can cause mold. If found, route water away using downspouts and re-grade to slope water away from the building.
5. Remove moisture: If a building has experienced water damage, it is recommended to remove all porous items, such as carpet, upholstery, drywall, and ceiling tiles within 48 hours. If an area larger than 10 square feet has been affected, the EPA recommends hiring a qualified mold remediation specialist to help with removal. 

 

With a basic understanding of mold, it’s easy to see how poor building maintenance and poorly maintained HVAC systems could contribute to mold growth in commercial facilities. 

 Mold is typically considered a problem when it is visible, but at that point, a commercial building’s air quality has already been compromised. By understanding the conditions that cause mold to thrive and spread, you can prevent mold growth in commercial facilities. 

Also, keep in mind the above-discussed tips to make sure there is no mold in your building structures.  

 Mold Remediation is oftentimes better left to professionals. Consult a professional mold remediation company regarding your building’s issues before deciding if you can provide the appropriate level of response needed. 

 When you need professional help, you can contact www.dryeffect.com for effective yet affordable solutions.