conclusion about mold growth and models

The occurrence and growth of fungi required temperature and relative humidity, and other conditions. Fungi attacks can be avoided in the building envelope by good design that maintain dry conditions in building envelope.

The studies on building fungi and their growth conditions revealed that:

? Fungi can be divided into moldy and decay two large groups, each causing quite difference damages.

? Fungi can also be classified into several groups according to the limit conditions (maximum and minimum) and optimal ranges in temperatures and relative humidity levels.

? Among the micro-environmental conditions that affect the growth of fungi, temperature and relative humidity are two prominent variables whose values can be controlled by design in the building to avoid fungi occurrence.

? The growth can be separated into germination and vegetable growth two processes, corresponding to start of on-set of infestation and appearance of molds. They were also referred to as initial response time and growth process.

? Both growth processes have been studied and relations between grow rates and environmental conditions been modeled. There are more studies on the actual growth process. The studies are base on experiments that were limited in number of fungal species, in types of infested materials, in the realisticity of test conditions, and in other factors.

? Some models have approached the stage where it can be used with a moisture transport model to indicate the mold growth potentials and rates in a design. The models ( on fungal growth as well as on moisture transport), however, have not be under extensive validations.