Sibu Terrace: Humidity Control Retrofit
Multi-zone ventilation + AC dehumidification + moisture-safe materials
The Challenge
A common Sibu complaint: black mould returning on the ceiling, windows that condensate for much of the year, and stagnant air in the kitchen and bathrooms.
The Approach
The proposal designs multi-zone ventilation with extraction fans in all wet areas, upgrades the AC with dedicated dehumidification, and specifies moisture-safe materials for the wet zones and low-emission (E0) board elsewhere, with marine-grade finishes. The ventilation ducts are recessed to avoid visual clutter.
Proposed resolution
Designed so the conditions that breed mould — trapped humid air and cold, condensing surfaces — can be removed at the planning stage: extraction in every wet area, dehumidifying AC zoning and moisture-safe materials, rather than repainting over recurring mould later.
Key Lessons
- →Ventilation should be planned first in Sarawak — not added later as an upgrade
- →Zone-based AC costs slightly more but can save energy over time
- →Ventilation and moisture-safe materials reduce the risk of mould returning — a board's E-grade does not (E0/E1 rate formaldehyde emission, not moisture resistance)
- →Monthly maintenance (coil cleaning) is essential, not optional
*Illustrative scenario based on conditions ELS plans for across Sarawak — figures are indicative and not a quotation. We are actively building our project portfolio; named, photographed case studies will follow.