CHESTERFIELD, N.H. - Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) partners have collaborated on the first-of-its-kind Mold Safe Model Home, which incorporates mold-resistant building practices and building materials. Construction is now being completed on the 3,000-square-foot two-story showcase home located in Chesterfield, N.H., on the shores of Spofford Lake.

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 project focuses on risk management efforts designed around the development of a new mold prevention protocol. The new protocol, centered on smart building practices, includes the use of mold-resistant building products and a thorough inspection process that begins during the design stage and 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.”

The Mold Safe Model Home’s 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°F and with winters hitting 20° or more below zero. Since the home location is lakeside, the structure will be subject to heavy amounts of moisture along with a wide seasonal humidity range. The installation of the building products will be closely monitored.

The Mold Safe Model Home will open on Sept. 14 with an event for the New Hampshire chapter of the American Institute of Architects (AIA). The opening AIA event will include a tour of the home, a presentation by some of the sponsors, a discussion on mold, and a presentation on the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System™, a nationally recognized certification for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.

Sponsors of the project include American Mold Guard, Benjamin Obdyke Residential Roof and Wall Products, Bonneville Windows and Doors, CertainTeed, Typar Weather Protection Systems, Georgia-Pacific, and others.

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 to improve the quality, durability, energy efficiency, environmental performance, and affordability of America's housing. PATH has sponsored and supported a number of projects over the past decade. For more information, visit the PATH Website at www.pathnet.org.

Publication date: 09/03/2007