HEALTH & SAFETY
WHY DON’T PEOPLE
TAKE MOULD
SERIOUSLY?
alk around almost any controlled building to below 50% and you
W
recently vacated will greatly reduce the risk of mould and
commercial building – also of illness among those who work in
there are a few more the building.
than usual of those right The presence of mould can cause civil
now – and you will see mould somewhere. actions to be brought against you and can
Mould is in a sense a product of modern cost you a great deal in compensation.
heating solutions, and is usually present in Mould reduces property values, and
areas of inadequate ventilation and poor makes it less likely that, in these troubled
maintenance of the fabric. times, a new lessee will be found. So why
Mould is a serious health risk, and not bite on the bullet and deal with the One place where you can find such
one that has to be dealt with if somebody problem? Properly. Once and for all. experts is the SitexOrbis Mould Eradication
– usually the landlord or his agent – is to Moulds develop a complex root Service. Their four-stage solution has been
avoid prosecution. The spores released by system in the structure of a building that proved over many successful contracts to
mould can both cause and aggravate can extend, without being visible, for as be thorough, professional and permanent.
asthma, and mould is officially classified much as a metre in all directions around Stage One is when experienced surveyors
as a Category One risk to health. The visible surface mould. As with an iceberg, diagnose the type of mould (there are
Environmental Protection Act (1990) states what you see on the surface is a fraction many) and the reasons for its presence.
that mould is a statutory nuisance that of the problem. Unless you eradicate the Sophisticated instruments measure
must be treated. Not dealing with a root, the mould will return. Painting over moisture. Where necessary, laboratory
statutory nuisance can result in mould will never work permanently – the investigation establishes a definite
prosecution. You must not, and cannot mould simply returns through the paint, diagnosis.
afford to ignore it. and the cost of repeatedly painting the Stage Two begins with fully trained
Mould is caused by fungi growing same wall or area can easily cost more technicians washing the surface with a
from both aerially transmitted and water than doing the job properly in the first bacterial detergent to eradicate surface
borne spores, contained in the fabric of place. mould and prevent more spores escaping
the building, which thrive in humid So dealing with mould in a into the air. SitexOrbis makes the point
conditions. High humidity also suits many commercial (or any other) property is no that all their technical staff are trained in a
other pathogens, allergens and micro- job for Bob the Builder. Identifying and training programme that is endorsed by
biological pollutants, such as those which eradicating mould takes scientific City and Guilds, and that all staff working
are known to cause asthma. Reduce the understanding and resources if it is to be on customers’ premises are CRB checked.
humidity in any air-conditioned or climate- removed for good. You need experts. “It is crucial that everybody working to
SUSTAINABLE FM | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2009
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