Mould in schools: what you need to know

Mould poses serious health risks to both students and staff in schools. So what should you do when you spot the warning signs?

There have been too many cases in the UK in recent years where children’s health is being severely impacted by damp and mouldy buildings.

The death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak shook the country. In an inquest into the cause of his death, the coroner Joanne Kearsley found he had died “as a result of a severe respiratory condition caused due to prolonged exposure to mould in his home environment and action to treat and prevent the mould was not taken.”

While this should have been a wake up call for the housing sector, it also speaks to the importance of making sure children have a safe, warm and dry space to spend their days.

Schools are spaces where children spend much of their time, as well as at home, so it may surprise you that more than 70 per cent of teachers reported signs of leaks, damp and mould in their school in 2018.

One of the best ways to tackle mould in schools is to address the issue proactively. We have laid out some of the crucial steps you can take (as advised by union NASUWT) to ensure the learning environment is safe for everyone.

How does mould occur?

For mould to grow there must be a source of moisture. In classrooms, this is likely to be through ingress of water (e.g. a leaking roof or window), a leaking pipe or poor ventilation.

Rooms where high humidity and condensation are likely, such as cooking rooms, changing facilities (especially where showers are available) and toilets are particularly susceptible to mould attack.

Mould can also be caused by defects that lead to rising damp. It doesn’t need light to grow, so dark damp classrooms are the perfect spot for mould to grow and get out of control.

In terms of appearance, it usually looks like a grey-black woolly growth on walls and ceilings. It may not be visible, though.

The stuffy, musty smell which is usually associated with damp is normally due to the growth of mould somewhere in the room. Investigations should take place in order to ascertain the origin of the smell.

Why is mould so bad?

Breathing in or touching mould spores can lead to an allergic reaction, cause breathing issues and can lead to asthma attacks.

Children are more vulnerable to the health effects of mould as they have smaller airways. A long-term exposure to mould has also been linked to the development of asthma in children.

Some mould spores are also toxic and can lead to a suppressed immune system, particularly in the respiratory tract, and a consequential increase in chest infections. Immunosuppressed individuals are particularly at risk of chest infections caused by mould exposure, as several types of mould are opportunistic human pathogens.

In addition, some people have reported health effects such as fatigue, headache and difficulties in concentration, possibly due to the neurotoxic properties of some moulds.

This obviously creates an unhealthy environment for both adults and students.

How do you deal with mould in schools?

Breathing in mould can seriously impact someone’s health, even if it is for a short period. This means it is important to act quickly when you notice something is wrong.

Firstly, the area involved should be isolated and reported immediately. In extreme cases, a risk assessment should be carried out and it may be necessary to relocate teachers and pupils until the growth has been dealt with.

When the extent and cause of the mould has been determined, it should be cleaned by maintenance staff using appropriate cleaning materials, having first conducted a risk assessment, and the area treated to prevent regrowth. The cause of the growth must be identified, as regrowth will occur unless this is dealt with. Areas should not be occupied whilst mould removal is being undertaken.

The cleaning stage should not be undertaken by teachers as it requires specialist equipment and tactics. Instead, mould specialists have the knowledge and experience to accurately identify mould and provide effective solutions for its removal. Attempting to handle mould removal without proper expertise can lead to inadequate removal, causing the mould to resurface and potentially aggravate health issues.

The cause may be straightforward, such as a leaking roof or pipe, and in these cases, rectification should also be straightforward. Where the mould is caused by lack of ventilation and/or high humidity, a combination of extractor fans, dehumidifiers and air conditioning units will be appropriate.

If the mould is found to be caused by rising damp, investigations should take place to determine the cause of the damp and a suitable solution enacted.

It is essential to go to your doctor if you have been working in an area with mould growth so that you can log your exposure and see if any damage can be detected.