• Mould • Damp • Legalities • Regulations • What are the Consequences of Poorly Ventilated Homes? • Distinguishing - Building Defects vs Occupant Behaviour • Older Housing Stock Challenges

This one-day training course provides a practical and up-to-date overview of ventilation in housing, with a strong focus on real-world challenges across the Irish residential sector. Building on core topics such as mould, damp, legalities and regulations, the course now incorporates key areas including ventilation system selection, basic calculation methods (aligned with TGD F), retrofit and energy efficiency impacts, plus diagnosing issues in both new and existing housing stock. Attendees will gain clear actionable guidance on identifying root cause, tenant vs landlord disputes and implementing effective, compliant solutions – delivering tangible value through creating healthier living environments, reduced risk and more confident decision-making in practice.

All attendees will receive a full course pack to refer to and will have the benefit of learning from a tutor with a wealth of experience in this area.

"Very well presented, engaging content and discussion. Well worth the time and cost"- Barry Murray, Quality Lead

“The Whole Course was very Informative for me” - Nathy Regan, Director

Course Content

Ventilation & Air Quality in Irish Housing

• Consequences of poor ventilation (tenant complaints, enforcement, reputational risk)
• The social Housing & Private Rented Sector Landscape (Ireland)
• Why ventilation matters: health, building fabric & legal risk
• Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): CO2, humidity, pollutants
• Asset value & risk in housing portfolios

Condensation, Damp & Mould – Causes and Diagnosis

• What causes mould? (moisture sources, ventilation, thermal bridges)
• Moisture balance explained (simple practical approach)
• Condensation risk factors in Irish homes
• Distinguishing:
  
  • Building defects vs occupant behaviour
  • Intermittent vs chronic problems
• How to diagnose issues in practice – Inspection approach and evidence gathering

Ventilation Systems & How They Work

• Types of Ventilation – Natural – MEV - Demand-controlled - Heat Recovery HRV / MVHR
• Common system failures & maintenance issues
• Introduction to ventilation rates & air changes

Ventilation Calculations & Standards – Measurement methodology

• Understanding TGD F requirements
• Minimum ventilation rates (simple interpretation) – Air changes per hour – Extraction rates
• Common compliance mistakes

Retrofit, Energy Efficiency & Ventilation

• Impact of Retrofits (insulation, airtightness, heat pumps)
• Why problems often appear after upgrades
• Ventilation strategies for:
  
  • Older housing stock challenges
  • Protected buildings
  • Solid wall / porous materials
  • Apartments
  • Balancing - Energy efficiency - Indoor air quality - Fuel poverty considerations
• Practical Retrofit solutions

Legal Clarity & Responsibilities - Cases that have gone through the courts setting a precedent

• Irish regulations – TGD F – Minimum Rental Standards – RTB considerations
• Landlord vs tenant responsibilities
• Proving liability (case-based discussions)
• Learning from the UK cases (Fitness for Human Habitation, damp & mould cases)
• Documentation & defensible decision-making

Case Studies – What worked / What Failed

• Real-world examples – New build condensation issues – Retrofit failures
• Tenant Behaviour disputes
• Remedial Solutions – ventilation upgrades – behavioural guidance – monitoring humidity, CO2

Building a Framework – Diagnose → Decide → Act

Who Should Attend?

This course will be very relevant to Housing Managers and Officers, Property Maintenance Staff, Building Inspectors: Environmental Health & Safety Practitioners, Engineers, Architects Building Designers, Contractors and Technicians to name just a few.

Certification

On completion of this one-day training course, you will receive your Certificate of Attendance. Please note certificates are issued at the close of the training course to participants on completion of the course.

This course may qualify for CPD points. Please check directly with your association or awarding body to see how many points they will award.

Cost

An ‘Early Bird’ discounted rate of €499 is currently available. This training course normal rate is €599. Places are limited and are allocated on a first come first served basis. PLEASE NOTE THE EARLY BIRD RATE CLOSES 3 WEEKS PRIOR TO COURSE DATE. The course cost includes all course documentation and Certificate of Attendance.