Construction Dryouts
Dry Buildings with Heat®
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Damages from Wet Construction Materials
Concerns stated from the FPL from excessive moisture are several, including, shrinkage may cause loosening of fastenings and settling of the building with resulting plaster cracks, drywall nail popping, and unsightly openings around trim and moldings. Excessive shrinking of studs, sheathing, and siding decreases the weathertightness of walls, loosens fastenings, and may reduce the mechanical stiffness of walls. Once the framing is enclosed, it is not possible to make corrections to these problems. These problems can be the source of many significant construction defect issues. Additionally, construction defects can allow moisture intrusion leading to adverse health effects. The FPL also cautions that drying timber construction materials below their ultimate ambient levels can also cause problems as the materials may result in swelling as they reach equilibrium; causing doors, windows and drawers to stick.
Health Effects from Wet Construction Materials
It is well known that damp structures are unhealthy structures. Newly constructed buildings may have fungal growth that occurred prior to or during construction. If this growth continues to receive adequate levels of moisture it can lead to both serious decay potential and an unhealthy structure. Mold problems may be found in structures that have never leaked because of these types of problems occurring during construction. A more serious problem can occur from building defects that resulted from shrinkage or warping of framing materials after the frame was enclosed. These types of problems can allow moisture to enter the structure from rain or even high humidity levels. There are many significant studies that illustrate the relationship between water damaged structures and health effects.
Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, published in 2004 by The Institute of Medicine, found a relationship between damp indoor environments and adverse health outcomes. This comprehensive review of literature found sufficient evidence of an association between damp indoor spaces and a variety of respiratory symptoms including upper respiratory tract symptoms, cough, wheeze, and asthma symptoms in sensitized persons.
More recent reviews of literature by the US Government Accountability Office (GAO, 2008) report, the World Health Organization report (WHO, 2009), the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), and the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory/EPA (Fisk, 2007) study provide additional support for these earlier conclusions and extend the concerns. The Executive Summary of the WHO report stated “Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with respiratory symptoms, allergies, asthma and immunological reactions.” Clearly, a relationship exists between damp structures and health effects.
ThermaPureHeat® is a Solution for Construction Dryouts
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