Crawl spaces may offer favorable conditions for microbial growth in a building. In this study, growth of selected fungal species and succession of naturally spread fungal species were investigated on spruce timber under crawl space conditions. The levels of viable and total spores were determined after two and four months. The environmental conditions, temperature and relative humidity, were measured during the whole study period. A growth model developed on laboratory conditions was verified to be a useful tool for estimation of excessive risk of mold growth on wooden structures in crawl spaces.

Authors: Pertti O. Pasanen, Ph.D., Sirpa Kolari, Anna-Liisa Pasanen, Ph.D., Jarek Kurnitski, D.Sc.

Citation: Indoor Air Quality 2001 Moisture, Microbes, and Heath Effects: Indoor Air Quality and Moisture in Buildings Conference Papers

Keywords: November, California, 2001, IAQ