Damp in buildings - Revision history

Designing Buildings at 06:28, 11 March 2025

2025-03-11T06:28:00Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 06:28, 11 March 2025
Line 3:		Line 3:
	= Introduction =		= Introduction =

−	Excess ~~water/~~moisture in all its forms (vapour, liquid, and flooding) is still the most common problem in housing. Damp in buildings may be apparent from:	+	Excess moisture in all its forms (vapour, liquid, and flooding) is still the most common problem in housing. Damp in buildings may be apparent from:

	* Damp patches.		* Damp patches.
Line 15:		Line 15:
	* Damage to equipment, or electrical failure.		* Damage to equipment, or electrical failure.

−	Successful treatment can only be achieved if the type of damp is correctly diagnosed. The complexity of existing buildings means that damp is ~~very~~ often misdiagnosed, leading to future problems, cost and disruption to the occupants.	+	Successful treatment can only be achieved if the type of damp is correctly diagnosed. The complexity of existing buildings means that damp is often misdiagnosed, leading to future problems, cost and disruption to the occupants.

	The most common causes of persistent damp in buildings are:		The most common causes of persistent damp in buildings are:
Line 43:		Line 43:
	= Identifying damp =		= Identifying damp =

−	When identifying damp and its causes, ~~architects, surveyors and project managers need to~~ consider the current condition and the expected post-construction condition of the building. There are a number of established methods for diagnosing damp:	+	When identifying damp and its causes, consider the current condition and the expected post-construction condition of the building. There are a number of established methods for diagnosing damp:

−	~~===~~ Observation ~~===~~	+	* Observation: Manual viewing is the least costly, but potentially least reliable method of diagnosis.
		+	* Moisture meters: Moisture meters can be used to confirm the observed diagnosis. In skilled hands with regular site calibration moisture meters can be a good starting point, however, depending on the complexity of the building, the materials used, its present condition and maintenance history, moisture meters can lead to misdiagnosis. For more, see Carbide meter or Electrical resistance meters.
		+	* Laboratory techniques: Drilled samples and moisture contents can be subjected to techniques such as a carbide meter, oven drying and soluble salt analysis. These can be used to confirm the results of thermal imaging and thermo hygrometry.
		+	* Temperature and humidity measurement: Recording the relative humidity (RH) and temperatures in a series of rooms and outside using half hourly sampling can be an effective way of diagnosing damp.
		+	* Thermal imaging is used to accurately record the temperature of building fabric and isolate areas that are either close to, or below dew point. These areas will suffer interstitial condensation and damp.

−	~~Manual viewing is the least costly, but potentially least reliable method of diagnosis.~~	+	A thorough understanding of the relationship between temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity is essential. RH and temperature can vary wildly, yet the moisture content of the air stays the same. Good, dry air should be around 7 grams/cubic metre. At 12 g/m3 building fabric is susceptible to interstitial condensation. This same total moisture content (TMC) can also start to raise the moisture content of timber to the point where beetle attack and fungus can take hold.
−		+
−	~~=== Moisture meters ===~~	+
−		+
−	Moisture meters can be used to confirm the observed diagnosis. In skilled hands with regular site calibration moisture meters can be a good starting point, however, depending on the complexity of the building, the materials used, its present condition and maintenance history, moisture meters can lead to misdiagnosis.	+
−		+
−	~~For more, see Carbide meter or Electrical resistance meters.~~	+
−		+
−	~~=== Laboratory techniques ===~~	+
−		+
−	Drilled samples and moisture contents can be subjected to techniques such as a carbide meter, oven drying and soluble salt analysis. These can be used to confirm the results of thermal imaging and thermo hygrometry.	+
−		+
−	~~=== Temperature and humidity measurement ===~~	+
−		+
−	~~Recording the relative humidity (RH) and temperatures in a series of rooms and outside using half hourly sampling can be an effective way of diagnosing damp.~~	+
−		+
−	Thermal imaging is used to accurately record the temperature of building fabric and isolate areas that are either close to, or below dew point. These areas will suffer interstitial condensation and damp. A thorough understanding of the relationship between temperature, relative humidity, and absolute humidity is essential. RH and temperature can vary wildly, yet the moisture content of the air stays the same. Good, dry air should be around 7 grams/cubic metre.	+
−		+
−	At 12 g/m3 building fabric is susceptible to interstitial condensation. This same total moisture content (TMC) can also start to raise moisture content of timber to the point where beetle attack and fungus can take hold.	+

	= How to avoid damp - Improving air quality within the home =		= How to avoid damp - Improving air quality within the home =
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	There are several steps you can take to enhance the quality of the air inside your home. By carrying out these actions, you can improve your quality of life and protect your health. Steps you can take to improve air quality include preventing condensation, keeping an eye on the temperature and ensuring enough air gets inside your home.		There are several steps you can take to enhance the quality of the air inside your home. By carrying out these actions, you can improve your quality of life and protect your health. Steps you can take to improve air quality include preventing condensation, keeping an eye on the temperature and ensuring enough air gets inside your home.

−	Make sure your home is well-aired	+	* Make sure your home is well-aired: One of the reasons so many people complain about poor quality air is that the buildings of today tend to be tightly sealed. This means less fresh air gets inside homes than in the past, resulting in air pollutants lingering. You can get rid of pollutants by keeping your home well-aired. Just remember that pollution from outside can also get inside. One thing you can do to reduce the amount of pollution that gets into your home is to check your local air pollution levels on a regular basis. You should also keep your windows closed when the Daily Air Quality Index is high.
−		+	* Opening your windows: You should make your windows are left open for at least five minutes numerous times a day. If you ever have building work carried out on your home, find out how your home will be aired. If dust will be present, it may be wise to stay elsewhere whilst the work is being carried out. The wet and cold weather that we are so often faced with can cause serious problems with mould and damp. Damp is a cause of condensation, which itself results in fungi including mould.
−	One of the reasons so many people complain about poor quality air is that the buildings of today tend to be tightly sealed. This means less fresh air gets inside homes than in the past, resulting in air pollutants lingering. You can get rid of pollutants by keeping your home well-aired. Just remember that pollution from outside can also get inside. One thing you can do to reduce the amount of pollution that gets into your home is to check your local air pollution levels on a regular basis. You should also keep your windows closed when the Daily Air Quality Index is high.	+	* Fighting condensation: Condensation is more likely to occur in the colder rooms of your home. You can prevent condensation by taking steps to prevent leaks and other forms of water damage, by ensuring your home remains well-aired and by drying your laundry outside whenever possible. It’s also helpful to use extractor fans when cooking or showering as these remove moisture from the air. You should also wipe your windowsills on a daily basis as this will help you reduce condensation and make sure any mould that you do find is removed immediately.
−		+	* Monitoring solutions: High and low temperatures can both affect your breathing. Make sure the rooms you use remain at a comfortable temperature and close your windows at night during the colder months of the year. Technology has made it easier for us to monitor air temperature and humidity within our homes, and there are various solutions available that will help with this.
−	Opening your windows	+
−		+
−	You should make your windows are left open for at least five minutes numerous times a day. If you ever have building work carried out on your home, find out how your home will be aired. If dust will be present, it may be wise to stay elsewhere whilst the work is being carried out. The wet and cold weather that we are so often faced with can cause serious problems with mould and damp. Damp is a cause of condensation, which itself results in fungi including mould.	+
−		+
−	Fighting condensation	+
−		+
−	Condensation is more likely to occur in the colder rooms of your home. You can prevent condensation by taking steps to prevent leaks and other forms of water damage, by ensuring your home remains well-aired and by drying your laundry outside whenever possible. It’s also helpful to use extractor fans when cooking or showering as these remove moisture from the air. You should also wipe your windowsills on a daily basis as this will help you reduce condensation and make sure any mould that you do find is removed immediately.	+
−		+
−	~~When~~ to ~~seek~~ help	+

	If a problem with damp or mould becomes too difficult for you to deal with, it’s a good idea to get help from a professional. If you rent your home, let your landlord know about the issue so they can put a solution in place. A large amount of the moisture found inside homes is a result of drying clothes. If it is not possible to dry your clothes outside, make sure your utility room has sufficient ventilation.		If a problem with damp or mould becomes too difficult for you to deal with, it’s a good idea to get help from a professional. If you rent your home, let your landlord know about the issue so they can put a solution in place. A large amount of the moisture found inside homes is a result of drying clothes. If it is not possible to dry your clothes outside, make sure your utility room has sufficient ventilation.

−	~~Monitoring solutions~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings =
−		+
−	High and low temperatures can both affect your breathing. Make sure the rooms that you use remain at a comfortable temperature and close your windows at night during the colder months of the year. Technology has made it easier for us to monitor air temperature and humidity within our homes, and there are various solutions available that will help with this.	+
−		+
−	~~-----~~	+
−	This article was originally based on [http://brebuzz.net/2016/06/20/diagnosing-the-causes-of-dampness-in-buildings/ Diagnosing the causes of dampness in buildings], published by BRE Buzz in June 2016. It has subsequently been edited by others.	+
−		+
−	~~--[[User:BRE_Buzz\|BRE Buzz]]~~	+
−		+
−	~~--[[User:AtlantisDamp\|AtlantisDamp]] 17:16, 30 May 2019 (BST)~~	+
−		+
−	= Related articles on Designing Buildings ~~Wiki~~ =	+

	* Assessing moisture in porous building materials.		* Assessing moisture in porous building materials.

Designing Buildings at 08:55, 29 March 2021

2021-03-29T08:55:50Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:55, 29 March 2021
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	* Moisture.		* Moisture.
	* Penetrating damp.		* Penetrating damp.
		+	* Rainwater.
		+	* Rainwater goods.
	* Rising damp.		* Rising damp.
	* Rising damp in walls - diagnosis and treatment (DG 245).		* Rising damp in walls - diagnosis and treatment (DG 245).

Editor at 19:08, 26 October 2020

2020-10-26T19:08:21Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:08, 26 October 2020
Line 53:		Line 53:
	Moisture meters can be used to confirm the observed diagnosis. In skilled hands with regular site calibration moisture meters can be a good starting point, however, depending on the complexity of the building, the materials used, its present condition and maintenance history, moisture meters can lead to misdiagnosis.		Moisture meters can be used to confirm the observed diagnosis. In skilled hands with regular site calibration moisture meters can be a good starting point, however, depending on the complexity of the building, the materials used, its present condition and maintenance history, moisture meters can lead to misdiagnosis.

−	For more, see Carbide meter.	+	For more, see Carbide meter or Electrical resistance meters.

	=== Laboratory techniques ===		=== Laboratory techniques ===
Line 112:		Line 112:
	* Dry rot fungus.		* Dry rot fungus.
	* Efflorescence.		* Efflorescence.
		+	* Electrical resistance meters.
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.
	* Interstitial condensation.		* Interstitial condensation.

Editor at 17:21, 16 October 2020

2020-10-16T17:21:07Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 17:21, 16 October 2020
Line 52:		Line 52:

	Moisture meters can be used to confirm the observed diagnosis. In skilled hands with regular site calibration moisture meters can be a good starting point, however, depending on the complexity of the building, the materials used, its present condition and maintenance history, moisture meters can lead to misdiagnosis.		Moisture meters can be used to confirm the observed diagnosis. In skilled hands with regular site calibration moisture meters can be a good starting point, however, depending on the complexity of the building, the materials used, its present condition and maintenance history, moisture meters can lead to misdiagnosis.
		+
		+	For more, see Carbide meter.

	=== Laboratory techniques ===		=== Laboratory techniques ===
Line 100:		Line 102:
	* Assessing moisture in porous building materials.		* Assessing moisture in porous building materials.
	* Building damp-free cavity walls.		* Building damp-free cavity walls.
		+	* Carbide meter.
	* Cold bridge.		* Cold bridge.
	* Condensation.		* Condensation.

Designing Buildings at 09:46, 24 September 2020

2020-09-24T09:46:33Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:46, 24 September 2020
Line 126:		Line 126:
	* Water vapour.		* Water vapour.

−	[[Category:Construction_techniques]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Construction_techniques]]

Designing Buildings at 10:34, 18 July 2020

2020-07-18T10:34:31Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:34, 18 July 2020
Line 98:		Line 98:
	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =		= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =

		+	* Assessing moisture in porous building materials.
	* Building damp-free cavity walls.		* Building damp-free cavity walls.
	* Cold bridge.		* Cold bridge.

Designing Buildings at 09:19, 18 July 2020

2020-07-18T09:19:30Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:19, 18 July 2020
Line 69:		Line 69:
	There are several steps you can take to enhance the quality of the air inside your home. By carrying out these actions, you can improve your quality of life and protect your health. Steps you can take to improve air quality include preventing condensation, keeping an eye on the temperature and ensuring enough air gets inside your home.		There are several steps you can take to enhance the quality of the air inside your home. By carrying out these actions, you can improve your quality of life and protect your health. Steps you can take to improve air quality include preventing condensation, keeping an eye on the temperature and ensuring enough air gets inside your home.

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	Make sure your home is well-aired		Make sure your home is well-aired

−	~~<br />~~
	One of the reasons so many people complain about poor quality air is that the buildings of today tend to be tightly sealed. This means less fresh air gets inside homes than in the past, resulting in air pollutants lingering. You can get rid of pollutants by keeping your home well-aired. Just remember that pollution from outside can also get inside. One thing you can do to reduce the amount of pollution that gets into your home is to check your local air pollution levels on a regular basis. You should also keep your windows closed when the Daily Air Quality Index is high.		One of the reasons so many people complain about poor quality air is that the buildings of today tend to be tightly sealed. This means less fresh air gets inside homes than in the past, resulting in air pollutants lingering. You can get rid of pollutants by keeping your home well-aired. Just remember that pollution from outside can also get inside. One thing you can do to reduce the amount of pollution that gets into your home is to check your local air pollution levels on a regular basis. You should also keep your windows closed when the Daily Air Quality Index is high.

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	Opening your windows		Opening your windows

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	You should make your windows are left open for at least five minutes numerous times a day. If you ever have building work carried out on your home, find out how your home will be aired. If dust will be present, it may be wise to stay elsewhere whilst the work is being carried out. The wet and cold weather that we are so often faced with can cause serious problems with mould and damp. Damp is a cause of condensation, which itself results in fungi including mould.		You should make your windows are left open for at least five minutes numerous times a day. If you ever have building work carried out on your home, find out how your home will be aired. If dust will be present, it may be wise to stay elsewhere whilst the work is being carried out. The wet and cold weather that we are so often faced with can cause serious problems with mould and damp. Damp is a cause of condensation, which itself results in fungi including mould.

−	~~<br />~~
	Fighting condensation		Fighting condensation

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	Condensation is more likely to occur in the colder rooms of your home. You can prevent condensation by taking steps to prevent leaks and other forms of water damage, by ensuring your home remains well-aired and by drying your laundry outside whenever possible. It’s also helpful to use extractor fans when cooking or showering as these remove moisture from the air. You should also wipe your windowsills on a daily basis as this will help you reduce condensation and make sure any mould that you do find is removed immediately.		Condensation is more likely to occur in the colder rooms of your home. You can prevent condensation by taking steps to prevent leaks and other forms of water damage, by ensuring your home remains well-aired and by drying your laundry outside whenever possible. It’s also helpful to use extractor fans when cooking or showering as these remove moisture from the air. You should also wipe your windowsills on a daily basis as this will help you reduce condensation and make sure any mould that you do find is removed immediately.

−	~~<br />~~
	When to seek help		When to seek help

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	If a problem with damp or mould becomes too difficult for you to deal with, it’s a good idea to get help from a professional. If you rent your home, let your landlord know about the issue so they can put a solution in place. A large amount of the moisture found inside homes is a result of drying clothes. If it is not possible to dry your clothes outside, make sure your utility room has sufficient ventilation.		If a problem with damp or mould becomes too difficult for you to deal with, it’s a good idea to get help from a professional. If you rent your home, let your landlord know about the issue so they can put a solution in place. A large amount of the moisture found inside homes is a result of drying clothes. If it is not possible to dry your clothes outside, make sure your utility room has sufficient ventilation.

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	Monitoring solutions		Monitoring solutions

−	~~<br />~~
−	~~<br />~~
	High and low temperatures can both affect your breathing. Make sure the rooms that you use remain at a comfortable temperature and close your windows at night during the colder months of the year. Technology has made it easier for us to monitor air temperature and humidity within our homes, and there are various solutions available that will help with this.		High and low temperatures can both affect your breathing. Make sure the rooms that you use remain at a comfortable temperature and close your windows at night during the colder months of the year. Technology has made it easier for us to monitor air temperature and humidity within our homes, and there are various solutions available that will help with this.

Designing Buildings at 12:02, 11 March 2020

2020-03-11T12:02:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:02, 11 March 2020
Line 127:		Line 127:
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.
	* Interstitial condensation.		* Interstitial condensation.
		+	* Leaks in buildings.
	* Methodology for moisture investigations in traditional buildings.		* Methodology for moisture investigations in traditional buildings.
	* Moisture.		* Moisture.

Editor at 13:18, 13 December 2019

2019-12-13T13:18:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:18, 13 December 2019
Line 127:		Line 127:
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.
	* Interstitial condensation.		* Interstitial condensation.
		+	* Methodology for moisture investigations in traditional buildings.
	* Moisture.		* Moisture.
	* Penetrating damp.		* Penetrating damp.

Editor at 14:28, 4 September 2019

2019-09-04T14:28:14Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 14:28, 4 September 2019
Line 137:		Line 137:
	* Understanding dampness.		* Understanding dampness.
	* Wall insulation and moisture risk.		* Wall insulation and moisture risk.
		+	* Waterproofing.
	* Water vapour.		* Water vapour.

	[[Category:Construction_techniques]]		[[Category:Construction_techniques]]