Buildings:

Buildings are designed and built to serve several purposes and achieve a variety of performance goals. The main focus of these design and built goals meant to reduce moisture ingress, provide a safe and healthy indoor environment with thermal performance  of the building envelope. 

To achieve these goals we provide an holistic service in the built environment addressing the fundamental requirements in meeting building objectives and achieving performance & sustainability. 

Aesthetics & energy have become important aspects of most buildings but pay little regard to moisture movement and indoor health. Moisture and indoor health is a growing concern, further exacerbated by the tight building syndrome. Moisture is known to be the most destructive element within the built environment causing building failure through decay & mould growth.

Mould:              The Key to Mould Prevention is Moisture Control

Mould is only a symptom of an underlying problem, its the effect of a cause and that is moisture. Occupants need to address the cause to reduce the effect which is mould growth. We can never get rid of mould spores as it is part of the eco system. Addressing the mould its self is a band-aid treatment, and the toxic chemicals used to clean mould growth can be an health hazard especially to people with respiratory problems. Mould spores need temperature, food source (organic materials) and moisture. The first two cannot be eliminated but moisture can be controlled. 

Apart from physical water damage, occupant behaviour can also be an important attribute in reducing mould growth by addressing ventilation (allowing air flow into the building), controlling bathroom humidity,cooking steam and most notablly in cupboards with clothes stacked not allowing air flow increasing dew point temperature (dewpoint temperature is,  when air can no longer hold the water in its vapour state which condenses into liquid water).

Considering aesthetics at the same time with moisture ingress, indoor health and thermal performance would deliver a comfortable, healthy and lasting investment.  

We provide our services to building designers, engineers, home owners and property managers for new and existing buildings in finding and addressing the Source of Leaks and Condensation, assisting with indoor Health and Thermal Performance of the building envelope.

Water Leaks/Condensation      Click on number to see images   (1)  (2)  (3)

Existing Building:   

• Verfying the cause of mould growth due to moisture (we use advanced equipment monitoring the temperature and humidity of a given area causing condensation issues conducive to mould growth).
• Moisture ingress through walls, concrete decks, roofs and ground floor leaks (using advanced moisture meters for different materials and applications).
• Internal decayed or pest damaged timber may not show up on a moisture meter due to leak being rectified, we have advanced systems that non destructively verify the integrity of the timber structure.
• Bathrooms leaks.
• Veryfing the source of leak with chemical strips (potable water, grey water or sewer).
• Source of water leaks causing structural cracks to building foundations.
• Using hygrothermal software to analyse and predict moisture movement through building envelope. We also create a micro climate to specific areas using specialised software  interpolating weather data between weather stations.     Click on number to see an example  (1) 

New Buildings:

• Using advanced software to verify heat and moisture movement through building envelope, helping designers achieve sustainable goals.

• Verifying condensation issues (a growing interstitial condensation concern).    Click on number to see an example  (1) 

Sub-Floor Areas:                           Click on number to see images   (1) (2) 

• Inspection of sub-floor areas for dampness/leaks (a major contributer of mould growth in living areas through floor boards).

• Diagnosing structural problems caused by moisture.

• Advice on remedial measures to reduce moisture ingress & condensation, a common cause of health problems & microbial growth in the  living space including cupboard areas.

Indoor Health:                                Click on number to see images    (1)     (2)  

Existing & New Buildings:      

• Verifying pollutants and toxic compounds within the home environment such as:

                   Formaldehyde :          Product of fossil combustion, building materials, furnishing and clothing (leading institutions confirming it is a cancer                                                       causing agent).

                   VOC's :                       Building materials, furnishing and cleaning materials (eye, nose & throat irritation, headaches and can cause damage                                                       to important body organs to some people depending on the exposure).

                   Nitrogen Dioxide:       Caused by external sources and internal unflued combustion appliances (adverse respiratory effects including                                                       inflammation of the airways, can also increase respiratory problems in patients with asthma especially in situations of                                                       increased levels above guidelines).

                   Carbon Monoxide:      Produced by external sources, also internal unflued combustion appliances can be elevated by poor maintenance                                                      (lowers the oxygen carrying capability of the blood).

                   Particulate Matter:     Caused by internal and external sources (mounting research showing a contributer to cardiovascular disease and the                                                       latest research by a  leading institution 2013 showing outdoor air pollution is a contributer to cancer. Ventilation                                                       and infiltration can  increase the problem caused by external particulate matter, the fundamental  reason in                                                       understanding ventilation and locality, especially in high traffic area).               

• Measuring infiltration rate of home using advanced equipments (to much air leaks waste energy and to tight jepordise indoor health) Ventilation is a complex issue depending on the locality of your building site.  Build Tight, Ventilate Right in consideration to Locality.

• Mitigating indoor health problems in existing homes.

• Measure and verify air conditioning duct leaks (leaks can brings in particulate matter (dust) through the supply registers caused by leaky return ducts.

• Services to new home prior to occupation (test, advise and reduce pollutant level using international practices).

"Health is not everything, but without health, everything is nothing"

                                                                                                     Arthur Schopenhauer  

Thermal Performance of Building Envelope:                          Click on number to see images   (1)  

 Existing & New Buildings:   

• Diagnosing defective insulation, improper placement.

• Addressing thermal breaks.

• Measuring infiltration (how leaky is your building, considering normal air flow and exchange as recognized by leading global standards) A leaky building is like a bucket with holes trying to fill it with water. The same applies to heating and cooling energy in a home being wasted through leaks. Test and advise takes into account indoor health. Build Tight, Ventilate Right.

• Air conditioning duct leaks. Supply leaks in the attic and sub-floor areas leads to energy wastage.

• Supply leaks draw hot or cold air from unconditioned spaces imposing further load on the equipment.

• Managing energy efficiency in building projects.

Integrity Testing/Building Defects:                              Click on number to see images   (1)  (2)    (3)

• Diagnosing general building defects in concealed areas.

• Detecting leaky sewer & stormwater drainage (camera can be inserted into a 40mm pipe and concealed areas).

• Diagnosing thickness of structural steel RHS and SHS, balustrade posts for designed thickness, helping owners and specifiers in clearing uncertainty especially when the thickness cannot be measured owing to welded bottom and top plates.

• Verifying the thickness of existing steel hollow sections in helping to design future loads to structural and building designers.

• Diagnosing the integrity of structural timber members for decay and insect damage.