An Assessment of the Influencing Factors Promoting the Development of Mould in Buildings, A Literature Review

Abstract

There are few literature evaluations that analyse the growing environment of indoor mould, despite its health risks and building management burden. This paper examines the most significant factors influencing indoor mould growth and risk levels through a literature review. It was discovered that relative humidity, temperature, time, and nutrients in the substrate were the most significant factors affecting the growth of moulds and that the development of the majority of mould species depended heavily on the relative humidity and temperature values. The optimal ranges for mould growth in terms of temperature and relative humidity are 30°C to 35°C and 95% to 99%, respectively. In order to prevent the growth of indoor mould, this review suggests that the indoor environment of future buildings should pay particular attention to the control of the thermal and humid environment, as well as the accumulation of nutrients and time within the interior of walls.