Workplace IAQ Testing & Mould Survey in Southampton Clinic: Case Study

Why This Southampton Clinic Needed IAQ Testing

St James Chiropractic Clinic in Southampton is run by a team who take indoor air quality seriously. Air purification units were already installed throughout the clinic — a proactive step that speaks to how much they value the environment their staff and clients occupy. But in 2021, something started going wrong.

The filters inside those purifiers were becoming clogged — and not with ordinary dust. Mould spores were accumulating in the units at a rate that suggested active mould growth somewhere inside the building. The problem was that the clinic showed none of the usual warning signs. There was no damp, no elevated humidity, and no visible mould anywhere in the space. The source was completely unknown.

That's when ARM Environments was brought in to carry out a full workplace IAQ investigation.

Key challenges:

• Health risk: mould spores accumulating in air purification units with no obvious source
• Unknown source: no visible mould or damp present anywhere in the building
• Client retention: a health-sensitive commercial environment where air quality directly affects client welfare

How We Approached the IAQ Investigation in Southampton

Our investigation began with a thorough walkthrough of the clinic, looking for anything that might explain why mould spores were entering the air at sufficient levels to block the purification filters.

During this inspection, we noticed a discoloured and water-damaged fascia board near the ceiling in one of the treatment rooms — subtle, but significant. Following that lead, we discovered that the building's Mechanical Ventilation with Heat Recovery (MVHR) unit — the system responsible for filtering and circulating air throughout the clinic — had been boxed in with plasterboard and sealed behind the ceiling.

Suspended from the ceiling and completely enclosed, the MVHR unit had been hidden away, most likely during a previous fit-out. With no access for maintenance and water ingress occurring behind the plasterboard, the unit had become a breeding ground for mould. Every time the system ran, it was actively circulating mould spores throughout the clinic — directly into the air that staff and clients were breathing.

The air purifiers were doing their best. But they were fighting a losing battle against the very system that was supposed to be keeping the air clean.

Our Commercial Mould Testing Solution

Once the source was identified, the path forward was clear. We removed the plasterboard casing to gain access to the MVHR unit and carried out a thorough commercial mould clean — removing all mould growth from the unit itself. Given the apparent lack of any previous servicing, we also replaced the filters, restoring the system to a condition where it could actually do its job.

With the mould source eliminated and the unit functioning correctly, spores were no longer being distributed around the clinic. The air purification units the team had already invested in could now work as intended, rather than simply catching what the MVHR was putting out.

We also recommended the clinic install an indoor air quality monitoring device — giving the team an ongoing, real-time view of their air quality so that any future changes could be caught early, long before they became a problem.

Results: Cleaner Air and Continued Monitoring in the Southampton Clinic

Following our IAQ investigation and commercial mould clean, the clinic's air quality concerns were fully resolved. The MVHR unit is now clean, accessible, and properly maintained — something that should have always been the case. Mould is no longer a concern, and with the new filters in place, the system now provides genuine protection rather than a hidden source of contamination.

For a chiropractic clinic, where clients often attend with health vulnerabilities and where the reputation of the practice depends on trust, this outcome matters. Clean air isn't just a compliance requirement in an environment like this — it's central to what the clinic promises its clients.

ARM Environments continues to monitor St James Chiropractic Clinic to this day, providing the team with the assurance that their indoor air quality remains where it should be.

"We had an issue with toxic mould spores in our surgery. ARM Environments were engaged to assess the root cause of the problem. Once the primary issue was identified, ARM quickly advised on what remediation works needed to be completed. The issue has now been completely resolved with the fitment of new heat recovery ventilation and ionisation systems. ARM continue to monitor our clinic to this day."

 

Dr Steve Williams, St James Chiropractic Clinic, Southampton

Looking for workplace air quality testing solutions in Hampshire?

Concerned about indoor air quality or mould in your commercial premises? ARM Environments provides workplace IAQ testing and commercial mould surveying across Southampton, Hampshire, and beyond. We're experienced in servicing a range of sectors, including healthcare and leisure facilities. Contact us to discuss your requirements.