By Wendy Thomas, Residential Product Manager of Nuaire
Damp and mould in homes, especially in social housing, has become headline news. Awaab’s Law, introduced as part of the Social Housing (Regulation) Act, has now passed and is designed to ensure social housing landlords fix damp and mould to set deadlines. Those who don’t, and fail to meet the standards required, could face unlimited fines.
Mould: more than a cosmetic issue
The NHS states that: “if you have damp and mould in your home, you’re more likely to have respiratory problems, respiratory infections, allergies or asthma. Damp and mould can also affect the immune system”. Everyone is potentially at risk from living in these conditions but some are more vulnerable than others, including the young and old, those with existing skin and respiratory problems (including asthma), and those with a weakened immune system. Mould is so much more than a cosmetic issue.
Why does condensation and mould form?
Everyday activities, such as cooking and cleaning, creates moisture in a home. In winter, when windows are shut, the moisture is trapped if there is inadequate ventilation. When the trapped moist, warm air meets a cold surface like a window or external wall, it turns to condensation. Too much condensation, combined with a warm home, are ideal settings for mould spores to grow. In most cases, ventilation is the solution to removing the damp air from our homes.
Cost-effective solutions for existing properties
Building Regulations allows for ‘natural’ ventilation systems – such as intermittent extract fans, trickle vents and airbricks – in less airtight homes. Recent revisions to Building Regulations has led to in an increase in the size of background vents and sometimes the number as well. For extract fans, that means replacing existing ones with more powerful and efficient models, such as Nuaire’s Cyfan extract fan, used in conjunction with Decentralised Mechanical Extract Ventilation (dMEV) fans, such as our new Nuaire Faith-Plus.
Some properties will require extra measures. In these instances, Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) systems, such as the Nuaire Drimaster-Eco, can be fitted. Installed in a loft, with a small hole cut through the ceiling for the vent, PIV systems draw fresh air into the loft space directly from outside which is then filtered before gently dispersing into the home via a central diffuser at a continuous rate, encouraging movement of air from inside to outside. Tried and tested, PIV systems are highly effective at preventing condensation dampness.
Damp and mould need to be banished from our homes. We have the knowledge and the technology to achieve this and with Awaab’s Law we now have a renewed urgency in place.
Nuaire has been delivering effective ventilation solutions for over 50 years.
