What causes mould · 1 min read
What causes mould in workplaces
Moisture is the cause. Here is where it comes from in commercial buildings, and why fixing the source and treating the mould are two different jobs.
Mould is a moisture problem with a biological consequence. Every cause of mould in a workplace is a cause of moisture.
Sources of moisture
- Roof and window leaks, often intermittent and only in certain wind directions.
- Plumbing leaks and burst pipes, including slow leaks inside walls.
- Condensation from temperature differences between air and surfaces.
- Humidity that the building’s ventilation cannot remove — particularly in tropical and coastal climates.
- Rising damp and slab moisture in older or poorly detailed buildings.
- Flooding and storm events.
- Occupant activity: showers, cooking, laundries, indoor pools and dense occupancy.
Two jobs, not one
Fixing the moisture source is a building maintenance task. Treating the mould that moisture produced is a separate task, and one that needs doing even after the leak is repaired — spores already in the air and on surfaces do not leave when the plumber does. Where the moisture source is permanent (climate, occupancy, building type), treatment needs to be ongoing.