Heating, Ventilation & Services; Interiors


Mould & Damp Proofi ng Feature


Cost effective ventilation systems are readily available, and can be quickly and easily fitted into existing properties to provide tenants with improved indoor air quality and comfort


flow axial fans suitable for wall, ceiling and window installation. As an example, the Nuaire Faith-Plus dMEV has been specifically designed and built to achieve the ventilation rates set out in Part F and L Building Regulations. In a typical three bedroom house, requiring a 31 l/s trickle rate, two Faith-Plus fans – one in the bathroom and one in the kitchen – will deliver the air flow required. For properties where condensation is a major issue and mould is present,


Te emphasis in the new guidance is on finding long term solutions. As the guidance states, landlords should “identify and tackle the underlying causes of damp and mould, including building deficiencies, inadequate ventilation and condensation. Simply removing surface mould will not prevent the damp and mould from reappearing.” When it comes to ensuring effective ventilation, landlords should check that


existing measures in place – such as extractor fans and mechanical ventilation with heat recovery (MVHR) systems – are fully operational and up to the job, and that tenants are informed of how to use them. Bathroom and kitchen extractor fans are generally replaced around every six


years as part of planned maintenance. With an increase in minimum air flow rates stipulated in the revised Part F of Building Regulations, you may well need to replace them with more powerful fans, such as a Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) fan. Tese are mostly continuous running mixed


Airtech helps landlords comply


Condensation and mould specialists, Airtech Solutions, is off ering expert advice and help to social housing


providers and addressing and private


landlords following the publication of the Government’s guidance, ‘Understanding


the


health risks of damp and mould in the home’. T is follows on from the Rt Hon Michael Gove, Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, writing to council leaders and social housing providers regarding damp and mould aſt er the tragic death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak due to a mouldy home, and the subsequent Coroner’s report.


01823 690 292 www.airtechsolutions.co.uk HMM12_Vent-Axia_Heating & Ventilation - Mould / Damp Proofing_PR.indd 1 UltraCare products join Mapei Zero LineHMM12_Consort_PR.indd 1 13/12/2023 12:09


Seven treatments from the UltraCare range have joined Mapei UK’s Zero Line – a range of low environmental impact products. T ey include six UltraCare surface maintenance products and UltraCare Smooth Silicone. T e extended portfolio, which also includes installation and building products, provides safe and sustainable high- performance solutions with CO2


fully off set in the entire life cycle. CO2 emissions – measured throughout the


life cycle of products from the Zero line in 2023 using Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) methodology, verifi ed and certifi ed with EPDs – have been off set through the acquisition of certifi ed carbon credits in support of renewable energy and forestry protection projects. T e portfolio demonstrates Mapei’s commitment to the planet, to people and to biodiversity. Formulated in the Mapei Research Laboratories, and designed for professional and end-user application, Mapei’s UltraCare series provides a solution from installation, to the protection and maintenance of surfaces in private and commercial settings. Treatments are formulated for all types of natural and engineered stone and tile fi nishes and are tailored to a tile’s fi nish and individual characteristics. T e new Zero Line products include: UltraCare Multicleaner; UltraCare HD Cleaner; UltraCare Keranet; UltraCare Acid Cleaner; UltraCare Kerapoxy Cleaner; UltraCare Grout Cleaner; UltraCare Smooth Silicone.


info@mapei.co.uk zero.mapei.com 30 | HMM December/January 2024 | www.housingmmonline.co.uk HMM12_Mapei_Interiors - Tiling_DPR.indd 1 07/12/2023 09:04


waiting for planned maintenance is no longer an option. An immediate solution is required, which could mean more powerful extractor fans, as mentioned, but may require a different solution in the form of a Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) system. PIV systems eliminate condensation dampness, while filtering any harmful outdoor air pollutants. A highly cost-effective solution, they are easily installed in a loſt, in under an hour, and provide fresh air to the whole home. Tey are inexpensive and long lasting.


A MOUNTAIN TO CLIMB With the English Housing Survey estimating around 904,000 homes in England alone had damp problems in 2021, it’s a mountain of a problem that can no longer be ignored. But it’s not an insurmountable one: proven, cost effective ventilation systems are readily available that can be quickly and easily fitted into existing properties to provide tenants with improved indoor air quality and comfort, and provide landlords with the peace of mind that comes from knowing they are compliant.


Wendy Tomas is residential product manager of Nuaire DF2E downfl ow fan heater


Consort Claudgen’s new DF2E downfl ow fan heater off ers many features, including a seven-day timer with six temperature settings daily, open window detection, a digital lock, a large LCD screen, and a reliable battery backup to keep the clock running during power outages. T e heater continues its heating programme aſt er power is restored. T e heater off ers quick warmth and allows you to choose between 1 kW or 2 kW heat output during the installation. For safety, the DF2E has an automatic safety cut-out and will stop operating if the fan or temperature sensor malfunctions.


01646 692172 www.consortepl.com 13/12/2023 12:07


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