Many of us have heard about the dangers of mold. It’s important for building owners and facility managers to do what they can to help prevent mold in indoor spaces. The design of a ventilation system can play an important role in reducing the risk of mold.
Mold is one of the most common types of fungi in the world. It reproduces through spores that float through the air. Therefore, practically every facility is at risk for mold growth. Mold requires oxygen, some type of nutrient (like dust and dirt), and moisture to thrive. One of the number one risks of mold growth and subsequent exposure hazards is excess moisture.
Industrial facilities may be particularly vulnerable to mold growth, as certain processes may increase the moisture in the building. For instance, industrial buildings may be prone to high humidity levels, condensation, and more. With moisture, mold may begin to grow in your facility and cause negative effects for your work environment. Fortunately, one of the many benefits of having a well-designed ventilation system is that it can help reduce this risk.
The Design of a Ventilation System May Help Reduce Mold Growth Risk
First, let’s go over what ventilation is. The very basic definition of ventilation is exchanging old or stale air for clean, fresh air. Generally, this means bringing outdoor air in and pushing stuffy indoor air out. Industrial ventilation systems take many forms and are typically customized to your building and processes. They may include many different types of equipment, from fans to dust collectors and dehumidifiers. However, the basic premise is the same: increase air circulation and improve air quality. This can actually help reduce many of the environmental characteristics that can encourage mold growth.
Unfortunately, many modern buildings are at a high risk for mold growth because of a lack of ventilation. Many building designers and building owners are increasingly pushing for air tight spaces to help reduce loss of conditioned air to help reduce heating and cooling costs. An unintended side-effect is that air tight facilities may also seal in mold-causing moisture and prevent proper ventilation. Therefore, ventilation systems can be an essential tool for reducing mold risks in your building.
Why Worry About Mold?
Before we go on to explain how ventilation systems help with mold, it’s necessary to discuss why you should care about mold in your building. After all, it’s all natural and many molds are even useful, like those that create penicillin or some types of cheeses. However, molds can also pose several dangers to your facility, your products, and your workforce.
Damage to Building and Products
First, mold can actually damage materials inside your building, or even your building itself. Mold actually “eats” what it grows on. For instance, mold found on wooden beams in your facility might deteriorate the wood and reduce structural integrity. Mold can also damage other areas of your facility like ceiling tiles, floors, and more. Damages from mold can cost your organization significantly. Mold remediation and mold damage repair are often expensive and require a lot of time and resources.
In addition to the building itself, items inside your facilities may be at risk from mold as well. For instance, mold may eat away at and stain things like paper, products, packaging, and more. Mold damage can irrevocably damage many materials. We don’t need to tell you how this may affect productivity and profitability for your organization.
Health Dangers
Perhaps the most compelling reason to improve ventilation to reduce the risk of mold is the dangers it can pose to human health. Many types of mold are harmless, though they may give off unpleasant odors. However, many other types of mold can cause negative health effects for your workforce. For instance, some people experience allergy symptoms, asthma attacks, and other negative health outcomes from mold exposure. In addition, mold exposure can cause irritation of the eyes, skin, nose, and throat in some cases. Molds also produce substances called mycotoxins, which can have toxic effects on humans and animals. So, preventing mold should be a priority for building owners and facility managers.
How Does the Design of a Ventilation System Prevent Mold?
A well-designed ventilation system helps reduce the risk of mold growth in many different ways. The main benefit of ventilation systems is that they help reduce excess moisture that may lead to mold growth. Increasing ventilation rates can also help reduce the number of mold-related contaminants in the air during mold remediation efforts.
You shouldn’t underestimate the design of a ventilation system when looking at ways to prevent mold in your building. A customized industrial ventilation system takes many unique circumstances into account for your facility. For instance, the size of your building, the design of the space, and the processes that take place in your facility. Many different factors go into designing systems that help increase ventilation, improve temperatures, and reduce extra moisture inside your building.
Increased Circulation from Industrial Ventilation System Helps Keep Materials Dry
Ventilation systems help increase air circulation in your building. Air circulation does a lot of different things, like helping keep temperatures stable and helping reduce build up of contaminants like dust and dirt. Good air circulation also helps with the evaporation process, which can help reduce excess moisture in your facility that may attract mold. For instance, if you have a small water spill on the floor, air circulating throughout your building can help it dry faster. The same goes for condensation on cooler surfaces. Therefore, ventilation systems play an important role in reducing mold-attracting moisture.
Design of a Ventilation System Includes Humidity and Moisture Control
High humidity is a major cause for concern if you want to prevent mold in your building. Most experts recommend keeping relative humidity indoors below 70%. Unfortunately, this can be incredibly difficult in hot, humid areas or in facilities with processes that create water vapor and heat.
A well-designed ventilation system can help reduce humidity and moisture that can increase the risk for mold growth. In some cases, all that is required is a well-thought-out air exchange rate. If outdoor air is cool and dry, bringing more of it indoors may help keep humidity in recommended ranges.
However, in some cases you may need other solutions to help control humidity in your industrial building. For example, if you live in a hot and humid climate, you may need dehumidifiers as part of your ventilation system. These help take some of the extra moisture out of the indoor air. Removing extra humidity and dampness can help make it more difficult for mold to grow in your facility.
Eldridge – Creating Successful Environments since 1946
Our mission at Eldridge is to help you create successful environments for people, products, and processes. We design ventilation systems to help address issues in your facility, from uncomfortable temperatures to high humidity levels. Our team also offers problem-solving services for noise control for industrial ventilation systems. Get in touch now to request a quote for ventilation system design or ventilation equipment.