Case 2

Cause of Defects

• Pressure from wind driven rain may allow water to move laterally through mortar joints when there is no special provision such as plaster, paint or waterproofing coating against water penetration or when they are not be watertight enough to prevent water from seeping in.
• Water penetration may also be due to poor bonding between the mortar and the bricks.
• The relatively high water absorption rate of masonry unit (brick) may cause the mortar joints to crack and lead to eventual leakage.
• Little ventilation inside the wet area and the temperature stays warm in the small enclosure. This environment becomes ideal for mould growth.
• Lack of maintenance may be another cause for this situation. Growth of fungi can spread with continuous supply of moisture for a period of time. However, if moisture source is arrested as soon as defect have been detected, this situation could be controlled.
• Fungi usually spread over large areas if left unremoved.

The mould growth may have been accelerated due to inadequate ventilation on top of the surface being consistently damp. If the environment is warm and damp, it provides a conducive environment for fungal growth.

Mould do not need sunlight to grow. They are the microorganisms of the fungi kingdom that grow in the form of multicellular filaments (yeasts grow as single cells). The macroorganisms of the fungi kingdom include mushrooms and toadstools.

On surfaces shaded from the direct rays of the sun and where the humidity level is high, moulds rather than algae are the organisms that are likely to proliferate. Unlike algae, moulds are unable to synthesise their own food and thus have to rely on the medium on which they grow on to provide the nutrients necessary for their growth. Mould begin to grow when the relative humidity of the surface exceeds 70%, and for this reason, they are usually found on internal surfaces of buildings, such as in bathrooms and kitchens, and on ceiling boards, wallpaper and glass panels. They have also been found on façades where there is prolonged moisture retention or dampness, especially on water absorbing materials (Table 4.3).

Spores need three things to grow into moulds:
(1) Nutrients: Food for spores — organic matter, often cellulose, water absorbing.
(2) Moisture: Moisture is required to begin the decaying process caused by the mould.
(3) Time: Mould growth begins between 24 hours and 10 days from the provision of the growing conditions.