Health care facilities are complex buildings to manage given the criticality around their operation and occupants within. HVAC plants, kitchen and laundry facilities and, most importantly, patient care rooms and living quarters are dependent on base-building infrastructure to keep facilities running smoothly.
But what happens when mould hits buildings that house the most vulnerable sector of the population – residents in health care settings, hospitals, retirement residences and long-term care homes?
Many health care settings were built to a particular specification three decades or more ago. Naturally, when buildings have had their limits tested for long periods, they become more susceptible to operational problems due to sustained wear and tear.
If there are high levels of mould in a health care setting, which can easily go undetected, someone with immune deficiency or respiratory issues could be acutely impacted as their ability to breathe could be compromised further from mould and the negative impact on indoor air quality.
What are the health ramifications?
Mould can be extremely harmful. Many of the symptoms related to mould resemble that of a common cold or allergy, making the appropriate diagnosis harder to detect. However, the most common symptoms associated with mould exposure include wheezing/coughing, watery/red eyes, nasal and sinus congestion, throat and skin irritation, nosebleeds, fevers, and headaches.
In more severe cases, extreme fatigue, memory loss and dizziness can be symptoms. Mould can also cause very serious conditions and can be fatal to seniors and those with previously compromised immune systems, things that are more likely to be encountered in a health care setting.
Challenges with mould in health care settings
Some essential conditions for mould growth are as follows: 1) a temperature range of 15-26 degrees Celsius. Regulations for temperature for long-term care facilities state a minimum of 22 degrees Celsius – right in the sweet spot for mould growth, 2) moisture, and 3) a lack of ventilation. The facility design and activities within health care settings can contribute to some of these conditions.
For example, health care facilities are built to accommodate a large number of showers. If bathrooms are not ventilated properly, the condensation can soak into the building materials – ceiling/walls, etc. Because the laundry facilities in hospitals and long-term care centres are often running continuously, there is a higher moisture level.
Sometimes elderly patients or residents, who may be forgetful, leave taps running, with water potentially infiltrating floors and walls. All of this moisture, if not attended to, can lead to potential mould problems.
Sometimes mould grows in the least expected places where it is not visible. Mould is often found behind walls, within ductwork, and behind wallpaper. With frequent cleaning in facilities, water can get trapped behind baseboards where it can absorb and draw off liquid up behind the walls.
For older facilities, moisture buildup can soak in behind wood framed windows where mould can start growing around the frames and into the adjacent walls.
HVAC issues
HVAC systems can facilitate an easier spread of mould spores. It is important to have systems properly maintained and inspected to ensure they are working properly. Air exchanges and mechanical systems that were sufficient when buildings were constructed may be considered undersized today, allowing fertile ground for mould growth.
When a facility faces a mould problem
In the event that a manager of a health care facility, long-term care home or retirement residence is faced with mould, the first thing to do is act fast. The longer mould is left alone, the more dangerous it can become, particularly for people with respiratory conditions and other risk factors.
Disruptions to a facility can drive up operational costs and create significant issues for residents and patients – so quick action is of utmost importance. Whether a facility handles mould mitigation in-house or seeks out a restoration company, it is crucial to develop a tailored emergency response plan and follow that plan accordingly to ensure a quick return to normal activities in the building for those who depend on it.
For larger mould infestations, it is recommended that a hygienist be engaged to properly assess and set the scope of work for removal.
There are very prescribed methods of performing mould removal jobs in a health care setting. Setting up safe containments for proper removal of mould is crucial. Mould guidelines from the Canadian construction industry state that “staff and patients with elevated susceptibility and those who are immunocompromised should be removed from any affected or directly adjacent area during remediation.”
As part of a project scope, air quality testing must take place before, during, and after removal to verify that the mould issue has been properly remediated.
How to reduce the risk of growth?
Mould growth is a challenge for facility managers and building owners in all industries. This is especially true when there are dark, confined spaces that lack air flow and are slow to dry, and when there are high amounts of water usage in a facility.
Some forward-thinking solutions can include specifying more resilient, non-porous materials in buildings. The use of leak detection technology, especially in areas of high water usage, is also recommended.
Minor leaks should be attended to with urgency. When buildings contain hundreds of units, the cumulative impact of minor leaks in many units can snowball into much larger issues if they are not dealt with quickly and effectively.
Finally, it’s very important for facility managers, building owners and staff to be aware of environmental triggers that can contribute to mould – and the negative impacts to indoor air quality and health.
Health care facility professionals must be on a constant lookout for signs of moisture throughout the building, and staff should be watchful of black spots or other forms of mildew that grow on the walls – the telltale giveaway of the potential presence of mould.
Through diligence and proper maintenance alongside expert mitigation, it becomes much easier to safeguard these frontline buildings from exposure to mould and other hazards.
Brendan Murphy is the Director of client solutions for First Onsite Property Restoration.
