An air quality plan is a very important document developed in the initial stages of the development being assessed in accordance with Breeam. The Indoor Air Quality Plan describes the steps that will be taken during the design, construction, commissioning and handover of the new development to ensure that the indoor air quality is acceptable. [...]
Indoor air quality plan for sport training facility
Breeam guidance notes specify the individual requirement of an indoor air quality plan for specific types of developments. There are many specific points which need to be addressed in an air quality plan but in this article I will focus only on the requirement specifying the need for the dilution and control of contamination source. [...]
Mould and water damage in a penthouse
Newly constructed properties suffer from leaks and mould problem probably as frequently as old buildings. The difference is that in the old buildings the water damage and mould often develops after a failure of particular components due to age or lack of maintenance in the new building the water damage is usually caused by inadequate [...]
Breeam indoor air quality test in school
As public awareness about the importance of indoor air quality grows the construction industry had to adapt to satisfy customers that their buildings are safe and healthy to live in. There has been a number of schemes developed for the construction industry which ensure that the newly constructed building do not represent a long term [...]
Loft contamination by mould in newly constructed property
Newly constructed properties are sometimes far from being contaminants free. Sometimes lack of expertise in a particular area or a simple architectural error can lead to myriad of problems. I have been call to inspect a newly constructed property in the Manchester area which was affected by a significant mould problem in the roof space. [...]
Rising damp and dry rot in a converted property
I have recently inspected and interesting residential property in the heart of French countryside. The house was a two storeys building with render stone walls and pitched tiled roof. It consisted of a kitchen and a dining room area and the new extension sitting room and an electric cupboard. The new extension was a conversion [...]
Indoor air quality plan for new industrial units
New developments constructed in accordance with the Breeam scheme require a creation of a robust air quality plan referred to as IAQ plan. The purpose of the air quality plan is to limit the amounts of air contaminants on site during the construction phase and post construction or the benefits of the future occupants. Briefly [...]
Breeam indoor air quaity testing in sports trainning facility
Indoor air quality is becoming more and more important for people. The construction industry is recognising the importance of the good air quality and has introduced many measures to improve the air inside newly constructed buildings. Because we spend more than 80 percent of our time indoors the exposure to various contaminants can have significant [...]
Bacteria and mould contamination of working environment following a deep clean.
Following my previous assessment of bacteria and mould contamination in the workplace of this major manufacturer I have been asked to return to the factory and carry out a second evaluation following a major deep clean of the working areas. The employers has decided to clean the working areas despite the fact that the proviso [...]
Possible contamination of an industrial environment by high levels of moulds and bacteria
A major manufacturer has been receiving complains from his employees about incidents of frequent, often respiratory, illnesses in the workplace. The employees were concerned that maybe a high level of pathogenic bacteria and moulds on the work surfaces may be responsible for their illnesses. I have been appointed to evaluate the atmospheric concentration of viable [...]