Nuaire equipment helps solve damp & mould in City of London listed social housing property

Indoor air quality and ventilation manufacturing specialist Nuaire has had its Drimaster ECO-HEAT-HC Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) unit and Cyfan extract fans installed into a Grade II listed almshouse in Brixton where it has dramatically reduced humidity levels in this unusual social housing property.

The Gresham almshouses, built in 1884, is located on The City of London Almshouses estate, a small development of one-bedroom, self-contained dwellings, which offer homes for people aged 55 and over on a below average income or state benefits, who are in need of housing and require supported accommodation.

Built well before an understanding of the importance of insulation and ventilation, a number of the almshouses had issues with damp and mould.  One particular property registered humidity levels close to 100% which is uncomfortable at the best of times but with an older occupant with historic health issues it was detrimental to his health and wellbeing.  The City of London clearly wanted to resolve this issue speedily, but with the almshouses being Grade II listed there is limited remedial work that is permitted. 

To reduce levels of damp within the property that would fit within listed building guidelines, initially the existing extract fans in the kitchen and bathroom were replaced with more powerful Nuaire Cyfan extract fans. Cyfan fans have been designed to meet revised Building Regulations Part F, which came into effect in 2022, and increased minimum air flow rates across all sizes of properties.  The majority of extract fans fitted before this date are simply not powerful enough to deliver the new air flow rates.  The Cyfan two speed extract fans is powerful enough to ensure cost-effectively compliance with these revised regulations, whilst also being aesthetically pleasing, compact and quiet. 

With humidity levels so high, the second step was to install a Nuaire Drimaster ECO-HEAT-HC Positive Input Ventilation (PIV) unit.  Installed in a loft in less than an hour, with a small hole cut through the ceiling for the vent, PIV systems draw fresh air into the loft space directly from outside which is then filtered before gently dispersing into the home via a central diffuser at a continuous rate, encouraging movement of air from inside to outside. This model installed into the almshouse comes with a 400W heating element to temper the airflow during colder periods.

In addition to this, the City of London also arranged for the bathroom window secondary glazing to be altered to allow for background ventilation to the habitable rooms.

Aico Environmental Sensors installed within the property have shown a sizable difference in humidity levels since the Nuaire Cyfan extract fans and Drimaster PIV have been installed, with the ability to open the bathroom window also making a sizeable contribution.  The property has gone from 98% humidity to within the ‘Goldilocks zone’ of 40-60% relative humidity, making it a comfortable, healthy environment.