PATH - A Public Private Partnership for Advancing Housing Technology
April 6, 2007
PATH Partners' Showcase Home Puts Mold Safety on Display
New Hampshire project incorporates innovative technologies and practices
Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) Partners are collaborating on the first-of-its-kind Mold Safe Model Home (MSMH) that will incorporate mold-resistant building practices and building materials. The 3,000-square-foot two-story showcase home will be constructed in Chesterfield, New Hampshire, on the shores of Spofford Lake. The project is sponsored by PATH Manufacturing Partners CertainTeed, Georgia-Pacific, and Typar, and the home is being built by PATH Builder Partner Courtlan Construction.
[IMAGE: The Mold Safe Model Home will be a showcase for building designers, architects, planners and product manufacturers with a stake in the prevention of mold growth in construction.]The MSMH will be a showcase for building designers, architects, planners and product manufacturers with a stake in the prevention of mold growth in construction. The project will focus on risk management efforts designed around the development of a new mold prevention protocol. The new protocol, which focuses on smart building practices, includes the use of mold resistant building products and a thorough inspection process that begins during the design stage, proceeds through the construction cycle and the occupancy stage.
"Until recently, the idea of creating a Mold Safe Model Home was simply not feasible," said Charles Perry, principal of Environmental Assurance Group, a lending and real estate consulting firm spearheading the project. "We are partnering with many manufacturers, designers, architects and the financial community to keep mold infestation out of our most important asset -- our home."
[IMAGE: The MSMH building products were chosen primarily for mold resistance, but energy efficiency and durability were also taken into account.]The project is scheduled to be completed in July. The building products were chosen primarily for mold resistance, but energy efficiency and durability were also taken into account. Products recommended for use to resist mold depend on the geographic location and climate of the region. The New England region can have extremes with summers reaching nearly 100 degrees and with winters hitting 20 or more degrees below zero. Since the MSMH location is lakeside, the structure will be subject to heavy amounts of moisture along with a wide seasonal humidity range. The installation of these products will be closely monitored.
Sponsors of the project include: American Mold Guard; Benjamin Obdyke Residential Roof and Wall Programs; Bonneville Windows and Doors; Bosch Appliances; CertainTeed; Typar Weather Protection Systems; Georgia-Pacific; Tamaccio Architects; Waste Water Alternatives, Inc.; and Western Red Cedar Lumber Association.
About PATH
PATH, supported by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is a partnership of industry leaders and government officials. Its mission is to accelerate the development and use of technologies that improve the quality, durability energy efficiency, environmental performance, and the affordability of America's housing. PATH has sponsored and supported a large number of projects over the past decade. Additionally, the PATHnet website (www.pathnet.org) attracts more than 120,000 visitors per month. The organization's newsletter, PATH Quarterly, reaches more than 6,000 readers each issue, mostly members of the construction community.
For More Information:
Scott Shepherd
(301) 588-9387
Content updated on 5/24/2007
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