'Watershock' in new builds
In recent months, PCA has commented on issues relating to condensation and mould in the UK housing stock. This included the tragic story of Awaab Ishak, who was featured across the national media after an inquest cited that mould was the primary catalyst to the toddler’s avoidable death.
It has become all too apparent that dampness in social and private rental accommodation is not unusual, and the conditions that the Ishak family were living in are not uncommon.
To add to this, we’ve become aware of another situation that has been developing, which is the rise in the number of condensation issues reported in new build homes. The PCA has been receiving reports of this throughout 2023 and in previous years.
New build 'watershock' issues
The term ‘watershock’ refers to cases of condensation and water streaming down from the roof space. This issue is growing and seems to particularly affect new homeowners who move into their properties in the middle of the winter season. As a result, they may encounter challenges in dealing with condensation-related problems in the months that follow.
The primary cause of this situation is that as we see a new generation of homes being built to improved standards in terms of airtightness to aid energy efficiency, all the moisture generated from cooking, bathing and laundry needs to be removed through the property’s ventilation system. However, sometimes new homes are finished to a tight deadline without time for the water that is part of the construction process to dry out. This means the property is already carrying excess moisture, and when people move in, that water load increases.
A quick fix, or a longer process?
The ventilation system, already under considerable strain, has to process the excess moisture tied-up in the building’s fabric, but with few windows open in the winter and baths, showers and tumble dryers all running; the home becomes even more loaded. This is when we see ‘watershock’. This involves water flowing down walls and windows, as the ventilation system struggles to operate effectively.
Although it’s distressing and can look dramatic, with some simple changes and after a few months of warmth in the summer, the problem will generally resolve itself. Usually, the house rights itself and the ventilation system goes back to full capacity. However, if the situation is not improving, it might need further attention. A starting point for investigation will be the efficiency of the ventilation systems in place.
Ventilation must be taken more seriously
Interestingly, during a recent webinar on ventilation, the PCA carried out a poll where more than 72% of the delegates believed that less than 30% of installations in new builds complied with Building Regulations.
This is not a new issue. Over the years, the PCA’s Residential Ventilation Group has actively called for greater compliance with Building Regulations when installing ventilation systems. The Group has pressed for more robust Building Regulations to tackle the issues and will continue to make the case for these changes to be made. We have written before that Approved Document F, which covers ventilation in the home, does not get the attention it deserves and is not enforced to the same extent as other areas of the Building Regulations.
In short, the effects of failing to provide adequate ventilation should be taken much more seriously. The physical and mental impact homeowners face living in a damp and humid home are significant and we will continue to push for change, for greater compliance and more robust standards.