The implications of toxic mould for facilities management and building services

Abstract

Is toxic mould the new phenomenon, after asbestos and legionnaires' disease? This paper describes toxic mould and its implications on people and property for managers of the built environment. The basis of the paper is to advise facilities managers and building services engineers on the main facts about mould, as related to the built environment, how to avoid the conditions in which mould growth thrives and which areas within typical buildings have the greatest likelihood of supporting mould growth. The paper includes reference to the highly publicised compensation claims as completed in the USA and responds to the debate surrounding innovations in design and construction techniques being criticised for causing the increased occurrence of mould in newer buildings. From this background position, the paper describes the depth to which remedial procedures may be developed by facilities managers and building services engineers in terms of time and cost and concludes with advice on how to conduct such actions should mould deposits be detected.