Jommi Suonketo

Microbial growth inside insulated external walls as an indoor air biocontamination source.

ABSTRACT The association between moisture-related microbial growth (mesophilic fungi and bacteria) within insulated exterior walls and microbial concentrations in the indoor air was studied. The studied apartment buildings with precast concrete external walls were situated in a subarctic zone. Actinomycetes in the insulation layer were found to have increased concentrations in the indoor air. The moisture content of the indoor air significantly affected all measurable airborne concentrations.

Practical Experiences from Several Moisture Performance Assessments

This study analysed the moisture performance assessment reports of 76 buildings: 56 schools, nine healthcare buildings, three daycare centres and five office buildings. The researchers’ practical experiences from moisture performance assessments were also made use of in the study. The aim of this study was to determine the methods used to detect moisture and mould damage in the building stock. The results of the study show that most moisture and mould damage is detected by a surface moisture indicator (Annila et al. in Proceedings of the 1st international symposium on building pathology, pp 115–122, 2015a). That is an important finding since these indicators enable easy measuring of large sections of structures and targeting of more detailed inspections, moisture measurements and material samplings based on mapping with them.

Assessment of State-Supported Mould Renovations in Finland

Moisture and mould damage in structures are causing health issues in many schools, kindergartens, hospitals and other public buildings in Finland. The Finnish Government required quality assurance procedures in a terms and conditions of the state grants that were handed out from the supplementary budgets of 2012 and 2013. Meaning of the measures was to secure successful outcome in removing the indoor air quality (IAQ) problems of the building and also to help Regional State Administrative Agencies in allocation of the grants. This research studied the benefits and impact of the process.