The Responsible Solutions to Mold Coalition, Chicago, has marked July as “Mold Awareness Month” by introducing a group of 50 recommendations to control moisture and therefore mold in residential and commercial buildings. Termed the Guiding Principles for Mold and Moisture Control, it is on hand on the organization’s Web site, www.responsiblemoldsolutions.org, in an interactive format in which visitors can explore mold and moisture control steps by clicking on various parts of a typical house. black mold In addition, a complete list of the Guiding Principles can be downloaded. Also, RSMC has provided its top 10 list of wetness/mold control steps, listed below, in a form that can be printed and posted on work sites.  mold problems

“From its launch at the 2006 International Builders’ Show in Orlando, Fla., we have had one simple message,” said Mike Poellinger, RSMC chairman, “If you control moisture, you’ll control mold. We think this is a fitting way to mark the second anniversary of Mold Awareness Month by introducing our Guiding Principles, which stand for the best thinking on ways to keep moisture out of buildings before, during and after construction. An Internet seek out on mold will generate more than 20 million informational sites. Our goal is to cut through the vast body of information on mold—some exact, some not—and provide science-based uncomplicated-to-use information on mold and moisture control.”  mold bleach

The Guiding Principles are divided into seven sections together with Construction/General; Design/Mechanical Issues; Interior Construction/Bathrooms & Kitchens; Construction/Exterior; Construction/Foundation; Maintenance; and Remediation.

Representative steps that can be taken to avoid moisture and mold invasion include the following:

• Ensure that moisture sensitive building resources are not stored outside or exposed to weather prior to installation; if they are delivered to the job site wet, they should be discarded.

• Roofs should be designed to drain freely and allow water to run rapidly off roofs, through gutters and downspouts and away from the building.

• Use water-resistive barriers under tub and shower tile installations so water permeating through tile grout drains back into the tub or shower pan—not into the wall cavity.

• Gypsum wallboard must be installed only when buildings are closed in from the weather.

• Before wallboard and other moisture sensitive interior components are installed in buildings that have been out to the weather, provision must be made to dry out the framing and substrate. This may be as trouble-free as providing time and ventilation to allow for drying. Depending on the climate, mechanical drying and dehumidification equipment may be required to supplement ventilation drying.

• All windows, doors, roofs and chimneys need to have flashings installed about them. These flashings, which are not high-priced or time demanding to install, are important in deflecting water away from a building.

• The earth around the building should be graded to uphold a slope of 5 percent that drains away from the building—this should be checked occasionally to make sure that settling or new landscaping doesn’t reverse the grade.

• Cover all earthen crawl spaces with waterproof plastic sheets. Do not store up anything on top of the plastic cover as this can lead to damage that will allow water vapor to enter the crawlspace from the soil underneath.

• Avoid excessive indoor humidity—run exhaust fans over stoves and in bathrooms for 10 minutes after use. Shut off heating system humidifiers in the spring.

• Watch for water stains or standing puddles in the basement, bathrooms or under kitchen sinks. Treat water leaks as you would a smoldering fire—eliminate the cause and dry up the water immediately.

“While there is discussion within the building science community over some moisture control issues,” said Anton TenWolde, supervisory research physicist, U.S. Forest Products Laboratory (retired), and RSMC member, “Rather than entering the debate, a more valuable role for RSMC is to identify and communicate commonly agreed upon guidelines—vital and effective steps that architects, builders and homeowners can take now to keep dampness—and therefore mold—out of their structures. If our recommendations are followed, we think that many moisture and mold problems can be eliminated.”

There have been many innovations in building materials over the past few years with the introduction of mold-resistant products. While many of these products are excellent, they should be viewed as a secondary protection against mold and moisture control. According to RSMC, mold-resistant products are no substitute for safe design, good building practices and ongoing preservation. If repeatedly exposed to moisture, they will lose their integrity.

“In marking the second anniversary of RSMC’s Mold Awareness Month, we offer some very simple counsel in how to deal with mold and moisture handling issues,” said Frank Nunes, RSMC vice chairman and executive director, International Institute for Lath and Plaster and Lath and Plaster Institute of Northern California. “If you’re having mold and dampness issues in your home or building—find out where the water is coming from (and stop it) and find out where the water goes. Simply replacing moldy wallboard, for example, is not the answer—you need to find out the source of the water intrusion, fix it, and follow the trail of the water to find out if it’s done damage to areas out of sight.”