What to do

For each of the scenarios suggest:

• an appropriate investigative procedure to determine the cause
• at least one possible causes for each fault
• a practical solution for any identified cause.

Scenario 1

After three months occupation the building facilities office reports damp mould has appeared on the East wall near the North-East corner of the basement.  The remainder of the walls have not shown any mould accumulation. The weather since the building has been handed over has been unusually wet, interspersed with sultry humid periods.  The basement floor has also been cleaned on a fortnightly program by hosing.

Scenario 2

The tenant on the third floor is reporting water staining on a couple of the middle ceiling tiles of the female toilets.  There is no unusual smell or water pooling on the floor.

Scenario 3

The tenant on the top floor has reported excessive replacement of fluorescent lights in one quadrant of the floor and sometimes having to reset the circuit breaker for the lights in that quadrant.

Scenario 4

An inspection of the exterior of the building some six months after practical completion has revealed a white powder residue on the unpainted concrete façade all-round the building between the 3rd and 4th floor.

Scenario 5

The tenant in the ground floor office is complaining of moisture build-up on the external glass wall centred on the entrance doors, especially on hot humid days.  The problem increases as the day progresses thought there appears to be a correlation with use of the doors.