← Back to Report Gallery
RICS Building Pathology Report

Damp & Mould Compliance Audit

Awaab's Law Priority Case
Ref: DAP-2026-LDN-9982
📍 Subject Property: Kensington, London W8, United Kingdom
🏢 Property Type: Solid Masonry Victorian Mid-Terrace Dwelling
📅 Inspection Date: May 23, 2026
👤 Lead Inspector: Independent Building Pathologist (RICS Reg)
🛠 Diagnostic Equipment: Protimeter MMS3 & Hygrometric Mass Probes
📋 Legal Status: Active Landlord Auditing (HHSRS Priority 1)

1. Executive Summary & Building Pathology

An inspection was commissioned to investigate localized wall dampness, paint blistering, and black Aspergillus niger mould clusters concentrated along the north-facing external masonry bridge in the living room and sub-floor joist cavities.

Pathological analysis confirms hygroscopic salt contamination secondary to historical rising damp, aggravated by local solid wall masonry cooling. The solid brick wall lacks a physical damp proof course (DPC), relying on a fractured bituminous injection installed circa 1980. The thermal envelope shows severe cooling, resulting in interstitial condensation bridging along the skirting zones.

2. Psychrometric & Atmospheric Constants (DampApp Pro™ Engine)

The environmental parameters were evaluated using the psychrometric math engine, indicating a localized relative humidity breach.

Atmospheric Parameter Internal Conditions External Reference Critical Thresholds
Dry-Bulb Temp 20.2°C 8.5°C Min 18.0°C (HHSRS Standard)
Relative Humidity (RH) 68.5% 88.0% Max 60.0% to prevent spore growth
Calculated Dew Point 14.2°C 6.6°C Thermal dew point bridge
North Wall Surface Temp 12.5°C N/A Active Condensation Zone (≤ 14.2°C)
Surface Water Activity (aw) 0.89 aw N/A Critical Germination Risk (≥ 0.75 aw)

3. Detailed Defect Logging (Awaab's Law Compliance Checklist)

Under UK social housing guidelines, landlords are legally mandated to isolate structural mould hazards within 14 calendar days of tenant reports. The following structural deficiencies have been logged:

Defect ID: LDN-01 — Ground Floor Living Room (Thermal Bridge & DPC Failure)

Severe Rising Damp along the chimney breast and adjacent north wall. Heavy hygroscopic salt crystallization (nitrates/chlorides) causing masonry saturation. Black mould colonies covering 1.2m².

Readings: 99.8 WME (Wood Moisture Equivalent) — Saturation State
Defect ID: LDN-02 — Underfloor Void (High Relative Humidity & Vent Blockage)

Sub-floor air brick ventilation ducts are blocked by external pavement raises, stopping structural air changes. Joist ends are absorbing moisture, creating conditions ripe for Coniophora puteana (Wet Rot) decay.

Readings: 24.5% MC (Wood Moisture Content) — At Risk of Structural Decay

4. Recommended Remediation & Actions

  1. Install Physical Damp-Proofing Barrier: Inject high-density silane/siloxane damp proof cream along the external solid masonry bed joints to establish a robust damp barrier.
  2. Salt-Retardant Plaster Reinstatement: Strip salt-contaminated internal plaster to 1.0m height. Re-render using lime-sand breathable aggregates or dry-lining membranes to trap residual hygroscopic salts.
  3. Sub-Floor Air Vent Unblocking: Core and install telescopic sub-floor ventilator ducts to restore essential structural cross-ventilation, reducing relative humidity in the floor void below 65%.

Compiled Automatically via DampApp Pro™

This layout represents a live HTML simulation of a RICS Damp & Mould report. Switch to DampApp Pro™ to compile similar compliant templates natively on site on iOS and Android.