On 21st March 2024, UKCMB’s Principal Research Associate and Business Manager Dr Peter Rickaby delivered a guest lecture at the Department of Architecture and Engineering at Limkokwing University of Creative Technology in Maseru, Lesotho. Peter’s subject was Understanding and Managing Moisture Risks in Buildings, and he presented the material from the UKCMB course of the same name.
Lesotho is a high, mountainous country that is completely landlocked by South Africa, very hot in summer and very cold in winter. Over a hundred staff and students attended the lecture and the discussion afterwards focused on traditional buildings in Lesotho, which often have solid masonry walls and suffer condensation and mould problems in winter, as well as being difficult to insulate safely.
During the lecture, a short torrential thunderstorm occurred between periods of warm and sunny weather – a perfect example of the conditions (which are also common in the UK) in which solar-driven vapour diffusion can occur in porous masonry walls.
Peter is currently working with the non-government organisation Rise International on the introduction of sustainable, moisture-safe construction materials in Lesotho.