Two Studies of Mold and Mildew in Florida Buildings

All across North America, the hotel industry has been plagued by moisture problems leading to odor, staining, and structural degradation. According to a 1990 survey by the Association of Hotels and Motels (AHM), mold and mildew costs the industry about 68 million dollars per year in lost revenues and repairs. The association suspects that these problems stem from faulty design of building enve lope and HVAC systems. Indeed, this case study of two buildings supports AHM assumptions and illustrates how the design faults may lead to excessive wetness and mold growth in hotels and motels in Florida.