Mold-Resistant Materials

Mold-resistant materials in bathrooms and kitchens prevent mold, improving indoor air quality and contributing to enhanced physical and mental health.

Key Terms

• Mold-resistant Materials are those designed to disrupt the growth of mold, including but not limited to, using metal instead of wood for framing systems and swapping out plaster for gypsum wall board.

For full strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Strategy Insights

• The intent of this strategy is to ensure that any material(s) that could be or is exposed to moisture is mold resistant. All flooring in the kitchen area, unexposed wall/floor beneath and under the dishwasher, unexposed wall areas (including the backsplash area behind the sink), and cabinetry or the area underneath the sink must be constructed with mold-resistant materials.
• Even in the absence of cabinetry, a project must show evidence of qualifying mold-resistant materials around and below any sink(s).
• In units where a future tenant is responsible for the placement of cabinetry and/or other materials, the submitter must show documentation evidencing that either an owner’s manual or official lease stipulates the types of mold-resistant materials that must be placed by tenants. Note, in this instance, Fitwel will not accept an official statement, but only a copy of the manual and/or lease that clearly indicates the types of materials allowed.
• For additional information and guidance on how to control moisture in buildings, please see this document LINK compiled by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

Documentation Guidance

• Equivalent certification standards that are not listed within the strategy requirements may be accepted, provided that the documentation submitted confirms the standard achieved is as rigorous as or more stringent than Fitwel requirements.