Mould testing

To completely eliminate mould, it is necessary to identify the causes. We use 5-7 methodologies that pinpoint the exact mould situation and help you choose an effective eradication method.

Thermal imaging studies

These are devices that display electromagnetic thermal radiation emanating from surfaces, which is characteristic of all bodies with temperatures above zero.

The intensity of the emitted energy on the thermal imaging display is expressed as a colour gamut called a thermogram.

Lighter colours indicate a higher temperature and darker colours, usually dark blue, indicate a lower temperature.

With a thermal imager, we can measure the temperature of any point and see the entire temperature distribution on the surface at which the thermal imager camera is pointed.

The resulting image shows the coldest points through which cold and moisture from outside the building penetrate, so the device not only reveals weaknesses and defects in the thermal insulation, but also potential mould hotspots, which are usually caused by concentrated moisture and cold interacting with each other.

Relative humidity

This is an indicator of how much water vapour is present in the air at a given temperature compared to the maximum possible amount. The higher the temperature, the more moisture the air can hold, and as the temperature drops, the moisture starts to condense.

The ideal indoor humidity should be 50-55%. When the relative humidity exceeds this limit, the likelihood of mould growth increases significantly. This is especially true in winter and early spring, when cold surfaces cause moisture to condense: in the corners of rooms, around windows, and in other places where cold bridges are formed.

Why is this important? Condensation in these areas, combined with poorly moving air, attracts dust and organic matter, which is the perfect breeding ground for mould growth. As well as spoiling the aesthetic appearance, mould starts to spread spores into the environment, posing a health risk.

How to avoid mould?

Maintain relative humidity in the range 50-55%.
Ventilate rooms, especially those prone to moisture accumulation.
Ensure adequate air circulation at cold bridges.
Use a humidity meter to monitor and control the indoor microclimate.

Controlling and preventing moisture will not only make your home more aesthetically pleasing, but also healthier to live in!

Surface, ambient temperature

A thermal imager or laser temperature meter detects temperature changes that lead to lower temperatures and cold bridges, which are the right conditions for mould to grow.

In old five-storey buildings, corners often become mouldy due to deterioration of the roof structure, and walls also become mouldy due to cracking of external seams.

The lower wall temperatures in such areas are indicative of the potential for these changes, which allows targeted preventive measures to be taken to prevent mould from occurring again in the future.

The ambient temperature in individual confined spaces is also one of the key risks for mould formation, as lower temperatures in such areas allow condensation to form more quickly.

Dew point formation

The dew point is the temperature at which water vapour in the air condenses to form water and the relative humidity at this point is 100%.

This means that at a certain temperature, the air can no longer accept any more water molecules, which combine with each other to form dew, water.

If the temperature on any surface in the home drops below the internal dew point, moisture starts to condense, and the most common places for this to happen are windows, corners of walls, and poorly insulated and ventilated rooms.

Such places are the perfect breeding ground for mould, which can spread rapidly by drawing water from the environment and by feeding on dust and other organic debris from the surroundings, especially if the temperature and relative humidity are higher.

Adequate insulation to prevent condensation and the associated heat loss is essential to not only prevent mould growth, but also to make indoor spaces more energy efficient.

Air flow control

Everyone with a heat recovery system needs to fine-tune the airflows, which determines the efficiency and benefits of the appliances.

The size of the rooms, airtightness, thermal performance of the building, structural characteristics, partitioning and furniture layout all have an influence on airflow.

Often, installers build and connect heat recovery systems without properly regulating airflows, resulting in sub-optimal temperature and humidity in some parts of the building, and sub-optimal air quality by not fully removing sources of contamination including mould spores.

However, mould often appears in the bathroom, on tile gaps and silicone, and is often the result of a too-weak or malfunctioning bathroom extract fan that is not powerful enough to extract excess moisture and stagnant air.

When the humidity is too high and the temperature is higher than in other rooms, mould spores start to multiply on the silicone, at the junction between the bath, shower and tiles, and on the tile grout (gaskets).