You are here:
Environmental and Sustainable Technology Evaluations (ESTE): Verification of Microbial Resistant Building Materials
Citation:
DEAN, T. R. Environmental and Sustainable Technology Evaluations (ESTE): Verification of Microbial Resistant Building Materials. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, DC, EPA/600/S-08/027, 2008.
Impact/Purpose:
Summary Brief for ESTE: Microbial Resistant Building Materials
Description:
This is an ESTE project summary brief. Many of the finished interior surfaces of homes and buildings are composed of materials that are prone to mold growth. These surfaces include gypsum board, wood flooring, insulation, and components of the heating and air conditioning system. As an example, the United States produces an estimated 30 million tons of gypsum board annually. Demand for gypsum products in the U.S., Canada and Mexico will continue to grow. Currently, each year, 3 - 5 million tons of gypsum board ends up as scrap material and disposed of in landfills with much of this scrap the result of moisture and mold problems. Mold, being ubiquitous, can be found in any non-sterile environment, while upwards of 40% of all homes in North America contain fungal growth on many different building components. The goal of this project is to develop a testing protocol and use it to test the performance of mold resistant building products. The information collected using this protocol is intended to be used by building professionals and the consumer public, enabling them to make informed decisions about the use of different building products, while simultaneously lowering the amount of scrap material that needs to be landfilled.