Sensitivity of Humidity and Mould Growth to Occupier Behaviour

This Final Report Sensitivity of Humidity and Mould Growth to Occupier Behaviour in Dwellings Designed to the New Air Tightness Requirements, CI 71/6/11 (cc 2424) aimed to:

• Study the links between ventilation and asthma/house dust mites (HDM)
• Investigate the likelihood of serious problems relating to mould growth in housing with multiple occupancy and low air-leakage rates.

The project involved the following work:

• A review of the available published information from UK and overseas on respiratory problems in dwellings to identify any linkages with ventilation rates.
• A review of published information on mould growth and hygiene problems in housing with high occupancy and high levels of air tightness.
• A review of the latest research data on the impact that new air-tightness standards may be having on exacerbating mould growth and hygiene problems.
• An interpretation of existing UK data sets where respiratory health has been monitored or inferred.
• A one-day workshop to discuss the issue of mould and occupant density and air tightness.
• Theoretical modelling of a typical dwelling to predict the impact that changes in ventilation will have on the occurrence of house dust mite (HDM) populations in a bed and mould growth.
• An assessment of the scope for using Building Regulations guidance to reduce the level of mould growth and respiratory problems.

People

PI: Ian Ridley

Co-Is: Tadj Oreszczyn and Michael Davies

Rs: Marcella Ucci and Dejan Mumovic 

Output

The following academic publications and reports were delivered as a result of the work undertaken for this project:

• M Ucci, I Ridley, S Pretlove, D Mumovic, M Davies, T Oreszczyn, M McCarthy, J Singh (2004) Ventilation Rates and Moisture and Moisture Related Allergens in UK Dwellings, International WHO Symposium, September 2004, Vilnius.
• Davies, M., Ucci, M., McCarthy, M., Oreszczyn, T., Ridley, I., Mumovic, D., Singh, J. and Pretlove, S. (2004) A Review of Evidence Linking Ventilation Rates in Dwellings and Respiratory Health – A Focus on House Dust Mites and Mould, The International Journal of Ventilation, Vol. 3, Number 2, September 2004. 
• Ridley, I., Pretlove, S., Ucci, M., Mumovic, D., Davies, M., Oreszczyn, T., McCarthy M., Singh, J. (2004) Sensitivity of Humidity and Mould Growth to Occupier Behaviour in Dwellings Designed to the New Air Tightness Requirements, CI 

Impact

The Final Report delivered for ODPM Building Regulations Division under the Building Operational Performance Framework

71/6/11 (cc 2424), DCLG, London 

Links

For further information please contact: Dejan Mumovic