Mold—A Structural Engineer’s Perspective

Abstract

Mold is a clear and present danger that the practicing structural engineer should be aware of and equipped to handle. Although mold has been with us since the dawn of time, toxicologists have only recently trumpeted the need for concern with respect to indoor air quality and human exposure. The availability of moisture and organic matter in the building envelope are the key factors in controlling the occurrence and spread of mold. Consequently, the structural engineer must be aware of the risks that mold presents to building occupants and the importance of building design in limiting the potential for mold impacts. The danger areas for the structural engineer include; current design practices, the insurance industry’s efforts to shift responsibility for mold remediation to construction professionals and building owners, the legal profession’s proclivity to litigate, and the general public’s perception that molds are “toxic” and serious health hazards. The structural engineer is also being compelled to design tighter structures using more “green” building materials, which adds further challenge in preventing the growth of mold. Thus, the structural engineer must work closely with the architect and project design team during the engineering design phase to limit the potential for mold impact and limit the project team’s liability for mold impacts over the projected life of the new structure. A short check list prepared and presented by the writers should assist the structural engineer with this effort.