A project report authored by Jonas Holme in 2006 for the Norwegian Building Research Institute, focusing on the detection, assessment, and evaluation of mould in buildings concerning the indoor environment and human health impacts. Effective Strategies for Preventing Mould GrowthThe fundamental approach to managing mould in a building is to eliminate or limit the conditions that foster its establishment and growth. Intervention in the strategies an organism uses to obtain water and nutrients, and to reproduce, can improve the environment's resistance to microbial contamination.The key to prevention in both the design and operation of buildings is to limit water and nutrients. This is achieved through two basic methods: keeping moisture-sensitive materials dry, and utilizing materials that offer a poor substrate for growth when wetting is likely or unavoidable.Design and maintenance strategies must be implemented to manage four critical areas of moisture control:1. Rainwater and Groundwater Control: Prevent liquid water entry and accidental humidification of buildings.2. Utility Water Management: Manage the distribution, use, and disposal of drinking, process, and wash water, ensuring that associated equipment and utilities are easily accessible for maintenance and repair.3. Water Vapor and Condensation Control: Manage water vapor and surface temperatures to avoid accidental condensation.4. Construction Process Management: Control the wetting and drying of materials in the building, and of soil in crawl spaces, during the construction process.For existing buildings, where systems are already installed, flawed components must be repaired or replaced. Routine operations and maintenance procedures that reduce the likelihood of mould growth include:• Cleaning mould-resistant materials that routinely become wet during ordinary operations, such as floors in entryways, cooling coils, showers, and condensate systems.• Quickly drying mould-prone materials that accidentally become wet due to events like rainwater intrusion or plumbing leaks.In summary, homes and other buildings should be designed, operated, and maintained to prevent water intrusion and excessive moisture accumulation.Effective Strategies for Mould RemediationWhen microbial contamination is found, it must be eliminated using methods that limit the possibility of recurrence and limit exposure to those conducting the remediation and occupants. Remediation involves intervention with the source of the contaminant, the transport mechanism, or the building occupants.Core Remediation GuidelinesPublished guidance documents agree on several essential points for remediation:

1. Mould should not be allowed to colonize materials and furnishings in buildings.

2. Identify and Eliminate the Underlying Moisture Source: The underlying moisture condition supporting mould growth must be identified and eliminated. If these underlying causes are not addressed, contamination is likely to recur.

3. Removal and Disposal: The best method for remediating problematic mould growth is to remove it from materials that can be effectively cleaned and to discard materials that are physically damaged or cannot be cleaned.