Best Practices

When designing the building, remember that in the presence of oxygen or moisture, mold can grow on any organic material—wood, paper, drywall or insulation. This does not mean you must avoid using these materials, but you should pay close attention to these areas. For example, if you install vinyl wallpaper, a vapor barrier, you are trapping moisture beneath the wallpaper, which may cause mold that cannot be seen.

Design the building to avoid infiltration of air and water, and to avoid trapping moisture. Use material assemblies that are not susceptible to mold growth. See LEEDuser’s strategy on air barriers for tips on design and construction with these goals in mind.

You are required control RH during unoccupied hours, such as summertime, because any inactive times where RH might not be controlled, allows for mold buildup in the HVAC system and duct work.

Make sure that all equipment that might collect or generate moisture is located and installed for easy access for inspection and cleaning.

Remember that the IAQ management plan focuses on operations, but a good design will minimize the risk of mold. When designing roof and wall systems, include detailed drawings of drainage planes and flashing installation, and specify appropriate joint sealant.

Consider installing relative humidity meters to verify that it is being controlled.

Areas that are prone to high levels of moisture need to be adequately addressed during the design stage. Consider design techniques such as adding ventilation, air-sealing, adding insulation at areas of thermal bridging, installing highly insulated windows, and selecting mold-resistant materials.

Microbiological growth within the HVAC system, duct work, drain pans, and air filters can go undetected for long periods, spread throughout the building, and cause serious illness or death (for example, through Legionnaire’s disease). When designing these systems, provide for easy access for inspection, cleaning, draining, and replacement in these areas.

Consider including the following in the IAQ plan: design recommendations for the architect and mechanical engineer, steps for preventing moisture buildup during construction, and plans for remediation if building materials become wet or moldy.

You can earn an Exemplary Performance point for this credit through IDc1. There are not specific benchmarks for how to earn the point, but consider some of the following options: