Liberty Building Forensics Group, a building forensics firm warned building teams working on hotel projects to be on guard against moisture intrusion and mold.
Rigid adherence to brand standards in new hotel construction without factoring in specific regional and climatic conditions can result in significant mold and moisture issues, Liberty says. Global design standards typically do not take into consideration specific limitations of regional climates.
Regional violations in design standards have repeatedly resulted in extensive and costly mold and moisture problems in hotels, Liberty says. Hotel chains say their design standards are only guidelines, and that the designer or contractor on site is responsible for interpreting how to make adjustments for local climate. But brand standards are so specific and budget-driven that contractors typically adhere to them, even if they’re contrary to best climatic practices, Liberty says.
Liberty Vice President George DuBose says during the recent uptick in new hotel construction, his firm is seeing a recurrence of mold and moisture problems. “What we knew to work so well in the 1990s has been forgotten in today’s hotel design and construction,” Dubose says. “This poses a significant risk of new hotel failures that could mirror what we experienced in the 1980s and 1990s in warm, humid climates.”
Related Stories
Codes and Standards | May 23, 2019
Austin creates innovative plan to boost affordable housing
Approach includes loosened zoning, incentives for higher density in lower-cost and mixed-income developments.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2019
Effort launched to develop better process for zero-carbon retrofits in multifamily sector
Rocky Mountain Institute, Dept. of Energy, California Energy Commission join forces.
Codes and Standards | May 20, 2019
Property lenders shouldn’t invest for 30 years in most of Florida, expert warns
Climate ignorance driving some ‘insane’ deals.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2019
NIMBYism is the biggest multifamily construction barrier
National Apartment Assn. report assesses reasons for difficulty in creating more apartments.
Codes and Standards | May 17, 2019
Dept. of Energy to award up to $33.5 million for advanced construction R&D
Focus is on techniques to reduce energy bills.
Codes and Standards | May 16, 2019
Mixed reviews on targeted tax break for San Francisco neighborhood
“Twitter tax break” may have worsened some of the area’s problems.
Codes and Standards | May 15, 2019
OSHA inspections to increase, says Secretary of Labor
Newly hired inspectors getting up to speed.
Codes and Standards | May 14, 2019
Database records more than 1,360 K-12 school shooting incidents since 1970
Naval Postgraduate School program maps locations nationwide.
Codes and Standards | May 13, 2019
In many cities, downtown housing comes with a hefty premium
Urban core living costs hundreds of thousands more in largest U.S. cities.
Codes and Standards | May 7, 2019
San Francisco plan would require largest commercial buildings to use 100% renewable electricity
First in the U.S. mandate would be phased in from 2022 to 2030.
