Influence of environmental factors favorable to the development and proliferation of mold in residential buildings in tropical climates

Among the possible pathologies in buildings, one of the main occurrences in humid climates is the appearance of mold. The mold growth on envelope inside surfaces is not exclusively due to failure on building execution and waterproofing. Factors such as, the air relative humidity, inside air temperature, and surface condensation, are aspects that could cause the mold emergence. In this context, the present research was carried out in order to understand the influence of the use of thermal insulation and the solar orientation of the walls in the mold growth in naturally ventilated residences. This study is developed in the humid temperate climate (Köppen Cfa) of Florianópolis, Brazil, located in South America. For this, simulations in the EnergyPlus software, version 8.8, were performed. The residence was simulated by varying the use of thermal insulation in external walls: thermal insulation on the internal side of the wall, insulation on the outer side of the wall and wall without insulation. Two solar orientations were adopted, being north and south. Based on the results found, it was observed how the constructive parameters affect the periods of occurrence of ideal conditions for formation and growth of the mold. It was found that when the rooms were facing north, fewer occurrences of long periods satisfying the conditions for the appearance of the mold occurred. It was also observed that the non-use of thermal insulation reduced these occurrences when the performance among construction systems was compared. This effect also occurred due to the increase in air changes in this model. •The use of thermal insulation affects the favorable conditions of mold growth.•The seasons of the year showed as a crucial factor for mold development.•The occurrence of satisfaction conditions to mold happened often for long periods.•The intensity factor become the results more intelligible.