David Bly, Director of Cornerstone Management Services Limited, an independent surveying company, discusses their damp and mould surveys for buildings across the UK. He highlights how transparent results have led to cost-effective solutions for various industries
With ongoing damp and mould-related structural health issues, is it time to consider certifying the well-being of a structure? Cornerstone Management Services Limited is an independent expert surveying company providing damp and mould-related surveys across the UK for all building types and their everyday use. Their findings, along with the reported transparent outcomes, have provided cost-effective solutions across the industries they serve.
“With fact-based data to date indicating 91% of all surveyed properties being dry, there is a greater emphasis on reviewing the Housing Health and Safety Rating System (HHSRS) process to embrace long-term trend-related issues alongside immediate safety concerns”.
What if a Structural MOT certified the health of the building and a Ventilation MOT confirmed ‘adequacy’ for atmospheric compliance?
Why is mould in one area of a wall or ceiling and not in others? In simple terms, if an area of the structure is not at the same temperature as the remaining areas, it can develop localised beads of condensation when warm internal air comes into contact with it, resulting in a key nutrient for mould spores already in the atmosphere. Hence, mould in one location can readily release spores to travel through a building, especially in schools, workplaces and hospitals with significant atmospheric moisture generation.
If an assessment process incorporated aspects aligned with occupancy traits, it would provide advanced guidance for all who live, work, and learn in them.
Does today’s assessment process embrace aspects that serve to contribute to future issues?
Does today’s assessment process embrace current atmospheric management compliance?
Does today’s assessment process deliver Property MOT certifications with appropriate advisories where necessary?
By definition, a healthy building should be one that does not experience any defects that could contribute to its long-term comfortable environment, with elements installed to manage the internal atmospheric operation with ‘adequacy’ in their delivery.
In general, mould takes time to germinate in the presence of penetrating damp, also taking time to absorb into the structure. Therefore, in many cases, the problems are primarily driven by periodic trends that, if left unnoticed, can result in visible evidence on surfaces and personal items.
A proactive stock management attitude can enable landlords to regain control of claims made by occupants through a defined, fact-based, systematic approach that encompasses all regulatory media.
How does it work?
Similar to a health or vehicle MOT, the specific survey is designed to provide advisories for any immediate or future attention and, ultimately, a Certificate of Condition for the ‘health’ of the structure, whether it is for sale, void, occupied, or has undergone repairs.
Understanding the varied behaviour of structures throughout the UK, each MOT survey includes geographical location, orientation, age and construction materials serving to align with recorded survey data.
Uploaded to a SMART Knowledge Base portal, each MOT survey is assessed by industry experts who remain your partners supporting equipment management and data interpretation, as well as providing a first-class service for complex cases.
Certifying property health for the long term
Benefits:
- Quantitative and qualitative data.
- In-built alerts.
- Early warning system.
- Historical stock data.
- Stock and occupant trends.
- Focused expenditure.
- Better decision-making.
- Educational material.
External parameters:
- Geographical location.
- North-facing elevations.
- Structural materials.
- Defects and penetrations.
Internal parameters:
- Moisture profiling.
- Insulation and ventilation effectiveness.
- Heating and water supply confirmations.
- Moisture generation management.
- Atmospheric calculations to BS5250:2002.
Embracing the latest technology, each Property MOT® is a unique certifiable tool that can be used to uphold existing Housing Acts, Decent Home Surveys, HHSRS requirements and HomeBuyers reports where fact-based criteria and pre-existing conditions are sought and documented linked to the long-term aspects when buildings are occupied.
Access to a SMART Knowledge portal for instant guidance.
MOT Certificates can provide advisories for focused repairs or tenant guidance.
Fact-based Certifications from surveys relate to better decision-making and cost savings.
Upholds Homes (Fitness for Human Habitation) Act 2018 confirms the health of a dwelling before and during a lease term.
MOT surveys inherently deliver long-term historical trend data on stock type, geographical location and tenant activity.
