Evaluating the success of damp building remediation

Despite the notable amount of research, the exact etiology and mechanisms causing the symptoms and diseases associated with dampness and microbial exposure in buildings still remain unresolved. The aim of this report is to present recommendations for remedial actions. It is essential for all stakeholders to commit themselves to the problem-solving and remediation process. Multidisciplinary teamwork and consensus-oriented approaches are needed for a successful process from the beginning. If the follow-up procedure includes microbial sampling, it should not be carried out until the conditions in the building normalize. Microbial sampling does not completely exclude the possibility of a health hazard, and sampling alone cannot be considered a reliable instrument for evaluating the success of damp remediation. Repeated, standardized questionnaires concerning complaints and symptoms are useful tools for follow-up. Some people may still have persistent symptoms and mucosal reactivity once they reoccupy a renovated building, but their problems do not necessarily imply that the renovation was inadequate.