MOISTURE & MOLDMOISTURE & MOLD

In ConstructionIn Construction

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WHAT IS MOLD?WHAT IS MOLD?

Molds are fungiMolds are fungi Living micro-organismsLiving micro-organisms

Neither plant nor animalNeither plant nor animal Separate kingdom in biologySeparate kingdom in biology

Found everywhereFound everywhere Over 100,000 known speciesOver 100,000 known species

Can be benign, beneficial or harmfulCan be benign, beneficial or harmful Essential part of our natural environmentEssential part of our natural environment

Feed on nutrients present in most organic fibers Feed on nutrients present in most organic fibers Vital decay & recycling mechanismVital decay & recycling mechanism

Found everywhere!Found everywhere!

Over 100 varieties grow Over 100 varieties grow in buildings in buildings

Need “clean room” Need “clean room” environment to controlenvironment to control

SporesSpores

Food sources which are Food sources which are found in most building found in most building materialsmaterials

Found in dust from Found in dust from construction and construction and normal usenormal use

NutrientsNutrients

Must be liquid moisture!Must be liquid moisture!

Roof leaksRoof leaks

Pipe leaksPipe leaks

WindowsWindows

CondensationCondensation

Wet constructionWet construction

MoistureMoisture

Temperature: 40 – 95 °F = ideal range

CONDITIONS FOR MOLD GROWTHCONDITIONS FOR MOLD GROWTH

Requires a clean room Requires a clean room environment to environment to eliminate eliminate

Impossible to eliminate Impossible to eliminate in general in general constructionconstruction

Eliminate SporesEliminate SporesAllAll materials in the materials in the

systemsystem must eliminate must eliminate food sources or be food sources or be treated with broad-treated with broad-spectrum fungicidesspectrum fungicides

Dust & construction Dust & construction waste must be waste must be removed prior to removed prior to closing up systemsclosing up systems

Remove NutrientsRemove NutrientsGood design & Good design &

construction practices construction practices can manage water can manage water sources & system sources & system drying potentialsdrying potentials

Water “events” must Water “events” must be immediately be immediately addressedaddressed

Control MoistureControl Moisture

ELIMINATING MOLD GROWTHELIMINATING MOLD GROWTH

WHAT HAS CHANGED?WHAT HAS CHANGED?

Buildings have become more weather tight Buildings have become more weather tight

New materials & architectural design featuresNew materials & architectural design features

Fast track constructionFast track construction

Maintenance is a continuous lifetime concernMaintenance is a continuous lifetime concern

TESTING FOR MOLD GROWTHTESTING FOR MOLD GROWTH

Commonly used mold growth test methods are for Commonly used mold growth test methods are for interior coatings & plastics, not sheet product interior coatings & plastics, not sheet product building materialbuilding material

Current test standards focus on individual Current test standards focus on individual products, not systems testingproducts, not systems testing

There are no established permissible exposure There are no established permissible exposure level (PEL) limitslevel (PEL) limits

Air sampling & tape tests unnecessaryAir sampling & tape tests unnecessary

If you see or smell mold, fix the problem!If you see or smell mold, fix the problem!

A MOISTURE CONTROL ISSUEA MOISTURE CONTROL ISSUE

The only controllable factor linked to mold growth The only controllable factor linked to mold growth is moistureis moisture

Virtually any building material can be negatively Virtually any building material can be negatively impacted by mold if proper moisture management impacted by mold if proper moisture management practices are not followedpractices are not followed

Mold is a moisture control issue that must be Mold is a moisture control issue that must be managed by proper building design, construction, managed by proper building design, construction, and maintenance practicesand maintenance practices

There are no “silver bullets” to solve the mold issueThere are no “silver bullets” to solve the mold issue

Construction First year Remaining life

Key drivers Weather Wet construction processes Site preparation & drainage Job scheduling & logistics Materials transport & storage

Dry out period for wet building materials

Poor construction Occupancy & lifestyle factors

Poor design (e.g., condensation, leaks)

Catastrophic events Occupancy & lifestyle factors

Wet construction processes Concrete & Masonry

Structural framing lumber Wet areas

Wet areas Bathrooms Kitchens Indoor pools & locker rooms

Exposure to weather Exterior sheathing Shaft wall & Area separation

walls Structural framing

Building envelope leakage Plumbing leaks

Avoidable Poor design & construction Poor mat’ls staging & storage

Poor design & construction Poor HVAC design

Wet construction processes Concrete & masonry Poured flooring Interior finishing

Building envelope leakage Plumbing leaks

Improper HVAC operation Poor maintenance & repair

Intrinsic moisture sources

Weather & other episodic exposures

MOISTURE EXPOSURE IN BUILDINGSMOISTURE EXPOSURE IN BUILDINGS

REDUCING THE RISK OF MOLDREDUCING THE RISK OF MOLD

Exposure to moisture during transportation and storage

Shipping companies Distributors Contractors

Develop best practices guidelines Education/training

Exposure to moisture during construction

Contractors Develop best practices guidelines Education

Exposure to moisture after construction

Architects Contractors Maintenance companies

Develop best practice guidelines Education

LeverLever Primary influencer(s)Primary influencer(s) Manufacturer responsesManufacturer responses

Biocides Product manufacturers Contractors

Introduce safe and effective biocides into key products

Food sources within building materials

Promote/develop inorganic offerings Product manufacturers

Product manufacturersWater hold-out Introduce water-repellent chemicals in products

ContractorsDrying of building materials Develop guidelines and specifications

Influence-basedProduct-based

SUMMARYSUMMARY

Spores + Nutrients + Spores + Nutrients + WaterWater Mold Mold

The key to mold control is moisture controlThe key to mold control is moisture control

““Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow Molds can be found almost anywhere; they can grow on virtually any substance, providing moisture is on virtually any substance, providing moisture is present…” present…” - EPA- EPA

Materials must stay dry to prevent moldMaterials must stay dry to prevent mold

Systems manage moisture, products do notSystems manage moisture, products do not

There is no simple product solution for mold !!!There is no simple product solution for mold !!!

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Fire Resistance

Sound Control

Moisture Control

Abuse Resistance

Aesthetics

Full spectrum of performance attributes

Continue to the lead the industry in the development and Continue to the lead the industry in the development and positioning of products which address ALL critical attributes:positioning of products which address ALL critical attributes:

OBJECTIVEOBJECTIVE

STRATEGYSTRATEGY

Increase intensity ofIncrease intensity of Education & CommunicationEducation & Communication Building science / researchBuilding science / research Product enhancementProduct enhancement

Clear recommendations for the use of all productsClear recommendations for the use of all products

NEW SHEETROCKNEW SHEETROCK®® BRAND HUMITEK BRAND HUMITEK

AttributesAttributes Fire ResistanceFire Resistance Sound ControlSound Control HandlingHandling FinishingFinishing Moisture/MoldMoisture/Mold

ASTM D3273 = “8”ASTM D3273 = “8”

ThicknessThickness ½”½” 5/8” FC5/8” FC

WidthWidth 48” Wide48” Wide

EdgeEdge Tapered Tapered

PaperPaper Light blueLight blue Moisture ResistantMoisture Resistant

CoreCore Moisture ResistantMoisture Resistant Patent Pending Mold Resistant Patent Pending Mold Resistant

AdditiveAdditive New end tape designNew end tape design

NEW SHEETROCKNEW SHEETROCK®® BRAND HUMITEK BRAND HUMITEK

Where is it used?Where is it used? Areas subject to intermittent moistureAreas subject to intermittent moisture BasementsBasements GaragesGarages Bathrooms (not tubs or showers)Bathrooms (not tubs or showers) Areas subject to weather during constructionAreas subject to weather during construction

Allows opportunity for building professionals to Allows opportunity for building professionals to manage risk as neededmanage risk as needed

NEW SHEETROCKNEW SHEETROCK®® BRAND HUMITEK BRAND HUMITEK

InstallationInstallation Easy score and snapEasy score and snap Setting Type compoundsSetting Type compounds Paper joint tapePaper joint tape Sheetrock Brand First CoatSheetrock Brand First Coat

No itchy glass fibersNo itchy glass fibers No skim coating necessaryNo skim coating necessary Excellent performance without sacrificing Excellent performance without sacrificing

productivityproductivity

ARCHITECTARCHITECTArchitectural RecordArchitectural Record

CONTRACTORWalls and Ceilings and Construction Dimensions

BUILDERBUILDERBuilder MagazineBuilder Magazine

NEW AQUA-TOUGH INTERIOR PANELSNEW AQUA-TOUGH INTERIOR PANELS

TOUGH TO THE CORE

•Abuse Resistant

•Finishes like standard SHEETROCK Brand gypsum panels

•Tile shear bond strength exceeds ANSI standard

•Moisture Resistant

•Mold Resistant

•Fire Resistant

•Certified Green-Environmentally friendly

USG PANELS WET AREA PERFORMANCEUSG PANELS WET AREA PERFORMANCE

ProductMoisture resistance

Mold resistance Tile bond

Ease of finish

Relative Installed cost index

SHEETROCK 1

SHEETROCK WR

SHEETROCK Humitek 1.30

FIBEROCK Aqua-Tough

DUROCK Cement Panels

Low

High

Relative performance

1.10

1.60

1.90

APPLICATION PERFORMANCE APPLICATION PERFORMANCE CRITERIACRITERIAMold and moisture-related productsMold and moisture-related products

Interior wall

Specialty panels

Incidental moisture

High moisture

Cavity shaft walls Area separation walls

SHEETROCK Humitek

FIBEROCK Aqua-Tough

SHEETROCK e+ shaft wall liner

Applications Products

Tile backer board

Tub, shower, and high-moisture areas

FIBEROCK Aqua-Tough

DUROCK

Substrates Floors

Exterior

FIBEROCK Aqua Tough

FIBEROCK Aqua Tough

DUROCK

Attributes highlightedSystems

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RESOURCESRESOURCES

LiteratureLiterature Leading – WB2332Leading – WB2332 Moisture Control – WB2325Moisture Control – WB2325 ASTM D3273 (FAQ’s) – WB2324 ASTM D3273 (FAQ’s) – WB2324 Good Construction Practices – WB2334Good Construction Practices – WB2334 Storage and Handling – WB2333Storage and Handling – WB2333 Repairing water-damaged building systems – WB2315 Repairing water-damaged building systems – WB2315 Facts (Moisture, Mold & Ceilings) – SC2414Facts (Moisture, Mold & Ceilings) – SC2414

800 USG.4YOU800 USG.4YOU www.GypsumToday.comwww.GypsumToday.com

RESOURCESRESOURCES

MOLD IS A MOISTURE MANAGEMENT MOLD IS A MOISTURE MANAGEMENT ISSUEISSUE

The only controllable factor linked to mold growth is moistureThe only controllable factor linked to mold growth is moisture

Virtually any building material can be negatively impacted by mold and moisture if Virtually any building material can be negatively impacted by mold and moisture if proper practices are not followedproper practices are not followed

Mold must be managed by proper building design, construction, and maintenance Mold must be managed by proper building design, construction, and maintenance practicespractices

There are no “silver bullets” to solve the mold issueThere are no “silver bullets” to solve the mold issueNutrients

Water(liquid moisture)

Mold Spores(everywhere)