Of all the contaminants that can exist in a building, mold and fungi most often cause trouble with IAQ. Mold growth has long been a problem in buildings in geographic areas where the moisture content of the natural air surrounding the building stays at a high level. The condition of high moisture can happen anywhere in the world, but it is most prevalent where the temperature exceeds 66°F wb for more than 10,000 degree-hrs. This article is a discussion of the part the building systems play in the formation and growth of mold in a building.
To understand how building systems can be the cause or the cure of the mold problem, we must first take a look at the four conditions necessary for mold's formation and subsequent growth.