A national trade body recently pledged support for an international conference, which brought together industry experts and academics to tackle moisture, damp and mould in properties.
Excess moisture in homes is an issue that needs addressing as a priority, according to the Property Care Association (PCA) which sponsored the 2nd International Conference on Moisture in Buildings (ICMB).
Organised by the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings, the event took place at University College London’s Here East campus, and online, on the 3rd-4th July.
The biannual conference brought together more than 100 world-renowned academics, industry professionals and researchers from around the world, working on various aspects of moisture induced damage on the built environment in areas including public health, architecture and building physics.
They addressed subjects including mould, health and ventilation, moisture in existing buildings and retrofit, as well as the performance of building materials, all against the context of factors including climate change and conservation.
A spokesperson for the UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings, said: “Many substantial building problems, including health issues, are caused by excessive moisture.
“Despite this we have very little research in the UK on moisture in buildings, a lack of good guidance, and minimal public and industry understanding.
“The UK Centre for Moisture in Buildings and the ICMB have been set up to address these issues. We are delighted by the overwhelming support we received from our colleagues. This is the world's first conference focused, only, on moisture in buildings. The conference was a success. There was active participation and meaningful discussions from delegates but also a unique opportunity to foster collaborations.”
“It was a thought-provoking event and we look forward to the third conference in 2025.”
Chief Executive of the Property Care Association, Steve Hodgson, said: “The PCA has long been at the forefront of an industry dedicated to dealing with mould and damp, and we welcomed the opportunity to support the ICMB and bring together experts in the field to debate solutions and innovation in this area.
“We believe the frequency of problems associated with damp and mould are likely to get worse, with unseen and, as yet, underestimated problems being created by a number of factors.
“A drive to make homes more energy efficient by reducing air leakage through draft excluders and retrofit insulation, as well as climate change, are also contributing to a greater presence of moisture.
“It’s vital that research is carried out to investigate the best ways forward to tackle an issue which is changing in nature due to factors such as increased levels of occupation and rising fuel costs.”
