Water damage and mould growth in buildings : Causes, detection, identification, remediation and health implications

Author's Biography

Jagjit Singh BSc MSc PhD CBiol MIBiol FIRTS FRSH FRSA, building mycologist and pathologist, is a director of Environmental Building Solutions Ltd. He specialises in building health problems, heritage conservation and environmental issues and has more than 35 years’ hands-on experience in surveying historic buildings. Jagjit has carried out environmental surveys for dry rot, wet rot, moisture, damp and decay, moulds, environmental health surveys, monitoring of historic buildings and provided recommendations for environmental control. EBS’s reputation is for non-intrusive investigations for insect and fungal attack including dry rot, wet rot, timber decay, damp, hazardous materials surveys, heritage building investigations and the development of innovative techniques including recommendations for environmental management sympathetic to the building fabric finishes and components, notably the avoidance of chemicals and cementitious tanking materials, This approach is well respected by conservation and heritage authorities. Jagjit has published in excess of 250 technical papers and communications, contributed to books and lectured widely on care and conservation of collections, building pathology and building health problems, covering wide areas such as fungal infestation and environmental control, timber decay in buildings, damp and decay in buildings and drying out buildings after fire and water damage, environmental monitoring and control of moisture, mould and biological contaminants, indoor air quality and health implications in buildings. Jagjit has edited several books including Building Mycology, Management of Decay and Health in Buildings, Environmental Preservation of Timber in Buildings, Allergy Problems in Buildings and Environmental Monitoring of our Cultural Heritage: Sustainable Conservation Solutions. He is a BBC expert and has appeared twice in the Raising the Roof series. He is an ex-president of the International Society for the Built Environment (ISBE).