Toxic Mould Investigation
The Ideal Group’s property care services provide unique mould diagnostics and investigative services which we can use to classify the types of mould colonies present in your commercial or residential establishment.
We will also seek to locate areas with high moisture content using our advanced surveying tools. Typically, moisture mapping is undertaken with a wide variety of surveying equipment, including infra-red cameras and various types of radio and conductive meters.
Damp ceiling tiles and walls are probable locations of mould, a problem which can pose serious health risks. It is estimated that toxic mould effects well over 3 million homes within the UK.
Rapid DNA Based Identification Service
The Problem
Moulds are microscopic filamentous naturally occurring fungi which are mostly surface growing and reproduce by spores. They are not bacteria and they are not plants as they have their own diverse Kingdom.
Moulds are quite commonly found in bathrooms, kitchens, under floors, inside wall cavities, behind fitted units, in cellars and in areas that are poorly ventilated.
Surface mould growth is an indicator of moisture or problem – for example, condensation, poor ventilation damp and water leaks etc. – which is regularly the result of insufficient insulation ventilation and or heating, and which should be dealt with immediately.
Mould growth has be proven to be related to ill health, predominantly among the most vulnerable the elderly and the young, and those with asthma.
There are two types that are potentially a high risk to health- Stachybotrys and Aspergillus Ideal Property Care can deliver rapid, precise identification of the type of mould existing in your property and confirm if it is toxic or not.
Surveying for Mould
Mould growth typically happens at about 17-21°C where humidity above 65% generally our investigations find one of two causes; life style- Or a building defect
Life style
Inefficiently ventilated kitchens and bathrooms. All properties, old and new, have the potential to be at risk as a consequence of modern insulation methods. We are sealing our buildings in a drive to reduce our energy consumption thus causing modern lifestyles issues which produce large amounts of water/ steam vapour. That creates the ideal conditions for mould spore to germinate
Building defect
A building defect has the greatest potential to cause mould damage or create ideal conditions for the mould spores to reproduce. Especially if the water damage incident unnoticed for a long period of time or the incident is not dealt with in the correct manner.
Mould can go unnoticed for a long period; Mould prefers dark, moist conditions where it won’t be disturbed when the problem is a building defect. Mould will flourish in inaccessible areas such as wall cavities, under floorboards or insulation..
Mould Identification
It is not easy to group the visible mould in non- toxic, or toxic, species using traditional microscopic examination. An innovation in Molecular Biology now assists in the exact fungi characterisation.
Mould Testing and Inquiries
The Ideal Group’s property care services provide unique mould diagnostics and investigative services which we can use to classify the types of mould colonies present in your commercial or residential establishment. We will also seek to locate areas with high moisture content using our advanced surveying tools. Typically, moisture mapping is undertaken with a wide variety of surveying equipment, including infra-red cameras and various types of radio and conductive meters.
Mould investigations must focus on several different aspects of apparent and hidden growth in both live and dead spores.
We typically work independently from builders, property owners and insurers in order to ensure the most objective, thorough results. We will examine and assess the causes of mould growth as well as possible health effects on building tenants.
Toxic mould inspections and surveys are specifically designed to provide answers to questions such as:
- Why is mould growing?
- What is the cause?
- Where is the source of the moisture?
- Is the problem related to human behaviour or building defects?
- What specific areas are affected?
- What specific type of mould exists?
- Are there any health hazards?
- How do we get of the mould and prevent its return?
We offer several different types of internationally renowned sampling procedures designed specifically to assess specific requirements which include:
- Infra-red surveying *Moisture level mapping
- Air and surface sampling to determine mould type.
- Total, non-viable air spore counts.
- Culture (air) sampling.
- Bulk sampling examinations (both surface and substrate)
- Swabing and tapelifting (for surface)
All of our sampling includes a full, highly detailed report.
A Sample Mould Report:
This example of a typical report displays a portion of the standard lab analysis and findings reports used to show where moisture comes into contact with plasterboard and mould begins to develop. In this sample analysis, the relatively new property carries extremely high levels of potentially toxic mould. It should be noted that spore counts of only 500 can cause very adverse health effects. The sampling protocol included in this report demonstrates both surface and air sampling methods as well as the identification of viable and non-viable, or dead, spores that are typically most likely to be more dangerous than viable spores.
