Monitoring fire and flood damaged buildings

The global and UK climate changes that we have experienced recently caused unprecedented flooding to many areas of Great Britain. Coastal resorts were pounded relentlessly by ferocious storms and high tides and rivers overflowed, flooding buildings for weeks on end. The destruction and horrendous mess left behind after the waters subsided will have been most distressing to the returning homeowner. To add to the misery, an enormous amount of work was necessary to remove ruined furniture, fittings and to thoroughly dry out and clean every inch of the house and its contents.

These fire and flood damaged properties will take many months or even years to dry out properly. It is crucial to make sure all the salvaged materials within the fabric of the house are dried out carefully, to avoid further unnecessary loss and expense.

The key to successful restoring and refurbishing of a range of fire and flood damaged buildings is carrying out environmental monitoring, hazardous material testing, moisture monitoring, mould risk assessment and forensic investigations. Following these vitally important procedures and carefully managing and monitoring the drying out process to minimise any additional damage to the building is the key to successful restoration, renovation, refurbishment and conservation of these buildings.

Water saturated building fabric, particularly Gyproc plasterboard and vulnerable organic materials and collections rich in cellulose, allows the development of extensive mould including toxic mould (Stachybotrys chartarum). As the UK braces itself for a US and Europe style approach to the adverse health effects of exposure to toxic mould and with an upsurge in litigation claims looming on the horizon, a dramatic increase in enquiries on this topic has been noted recently.

Moulds and bacteria have the potential to cause health problems because they produce allergens, VOCs, endotoxins, irritants and in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mould or mould spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Allergic responses include hay fever-type symptoms, such as sneezing, runny nose, red eyes, and skin rash (dermatitis). They can be immediate or delayed. Extensive mould exposure can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, throat and lungs of both mould allergic and non-allergic people.

Although there remain uncertainties regarding the exact nature of any direct adverse health effects from exposure to moulds, those with existing conditions such as asthma and other respiratory conditions are at particular risk of exacerbating their symptoms.

It is important to seek advice on all aspects of mould contamination including building fabric, collections, books, archives, painting, objects and artefacts, along with the health effects in fire, flood damaged and all damp buildings. This enables the development of cost effective solutions without the need for extensive exposure works and the use of toxic chemicals.

Below are some of the fire and flood damaged buildings that benefited from mould analysis, environmental monitoring, forensic investigations, hazardous materials assessment and drying out: Guys Hospital, St Cecilia Jersey, Apartment Block Jersey, Oak Leaf properties Jersey, Glasgow school of art, Jordan’s meeting room, Hampton Court Palace, Windsor Castle, Cullen House, The National Gallery, The Tate, The National Library of Scotland, Lambeth Palace Library, Dunstable Priory, Rothschild Archives, Mercers Archives, Grangegorman, Dublin, Boland Mills Dublin.