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Garðaskóli - renovations

Garðabær follows specific procedures if mold is suspected in housing or municipal structures. Engineering firm Cowi (formerly Mannvit) is available to advise on sampling, remediation, and actions.

Moisture damage procedures

Case history at Garðaskóli

1) Samples taken at Garðaskóli

2) Project status

The engineering firm Mannvit conducted sampling, monitoring and follow-up due to moisture damage at Garðaskóli. Sampling took place in early March 2023 and the results were available on April 3 and were presented to staff and administrators. They indicated that 5 rooms and a book storage room needed to be closed due to moisture damage. The town took these closures despite the fact that mold was not detected in all rooms, as it was considered a reason to inspect some areas more closely. The town authorities emphasize taking immediate action to ensure the safety of staff and students.

Letter to guardians

3) Next steps

Mannvit began a comprehensive review of Garðaskóli's issues and worked with the town authorities on an action and cost plan for repairs to the school. The approved 2023 budget included funding for renovations to the town's institutional buildings.

Steps according tothe procedure:

  • The rooms and spaces in question will be sealed with airtight seals while repairs and cleaning are underway.
  • The spaces in question will be examined in more detail.
  • Following this, a comprehensive assessment of the school's condition will be undertaken. Below is information on what a comprehensive assessment of the school entails.
  • Improvements will then be undertaken where necessary.
  • Immediately after repairs, extensive cleaning will be undertaken.
  • Finally, Mannvit will provide follow-up, with sampling taking place again 2-3 months after repairs are complete.

4) Follow-up

Part of Garðabær's procedures when mold or moisture damage is detected in the town's buildings is targeted follow-up.

On February 17, 2026, DNA sampling was conducted at Garðaskóli to see if the improvements made in 2025 had yielded the desired results. 22 DNA moisture samples were taken.

The Cowi report shows where samples were taken and their results:

About the overall audit

  • In a comprehensive inspection, all spaces in the building are thoroughly inspected, including roof spaces, to assess whether there are any moisture problems. The inspection begins with a visual inspection of all spaces and looks for signs of possible moisture damage, while moisture screening is performed with a contact moisture meter on building components to check for the possibility of moisture. A thermal camera is also used in the inspection to look for cold spots and signs of moisture. This inspection, along with suggestions from staff and students' relatives about possible suspicions of moisture damage in certain spaces, gives Mannvits employees the first indications of the condition of the building.
  • Based on these indications, it is decided where and how samples are taken. Material samples are taken from suspicious building components to confirm whether or not microbial growth is present in the building material. Dust samples and/or DNA samples are taken to assess whether evidence of microorganisms (bacteria, fungal particles and spores) from moisture-damaged building materials is found in accumulated dust. This sampling seeks evidence of whether contamination as described above has spread throughout the space from which the sample is taken, or not, and thus whether or not the indoor air of the space has contained microorganisms from moisture damage that could have affected the health of the users of the space. If evidence of contamination from moisture damage is found in dust, it is generally important to understand the causes of this and examine the space more closely to rule out new or older moisture damage.
  • Following the results of the sampling, an assessment is made as to whether there is a need for further assessment and sampling. If contamination is detected in the material samples, further sampling is also undertaken to assess the extent of contamination in the building component and it is opened if deemed necessary.

Information about the project is provided by: