Housing characteristics predicting mouild growth in bathrooms

Conference paper (2005)

Authors

JT van Ginkel OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation
E. Hasselaar OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation
Research Group
OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation
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Published Date

2005

Language

Undefined/Unknown

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Research Group

OLD Housing Quality and Process Innovation

Abstract

Mould on interior surfaces is correlated with adverse health effects. The aim of this study was to formulate measures to avoid moulds in bathrooms. These measures were based on the relationship between housing characteristics and mould growth. We investigated 75 housing characteristics and the occurrence of mould in 186 dwellings in The Netherlands. The relationship between housing characteristics and mould was investigated by means of bivariate correlation and logistic regression analysis. The number of showers (> 14 per week) taken by the occupants and the age of the ventilation box (> 6 years) were found to be the most important predictors of mould growth in bathrooms. The results show that 80% of the values predicted by the logistic model agreed with the observations. To keep the risk of mould growth at a minimum level, the maintenance frequency of the ventilation fan box should be at least every 5 years and the number of showers per week per bathroom should not exceed 14.