Historic development could battle sick-building syndrome

A homegrown tech company is on the verge of making history with a revolutionary AI-powered device designed to predict and combat mould growth in buildings—a breakthrough that could dramatically alter the fight against Barbados’ long-standing sick building syndrome.

After years in research and development, TouchStar Robotics and AI is preparing to launch what it calls a “patent-pending proof of concept”—an artificial intelligence and proprietary hardware system capable of forecasting mould growth before it occurs. The innovation, developed entirely in Barbados, is already being piloted in local buildings and is set to be exported to the United States and Africa.

“For the last two to three years, we’ve been working quietly, building, doing a lot of [research and development],” said Ramon Dummett, CEO and founder of TouchStar Group of Companies, during the St John edition of the Ideas Forum on Monday. “We know that in Barbados we have the sick buildings problem—that was something close to our hearts. We didn’t know of any solution to predict mould growth in buildings, but we just know it’s a problem that’s affecting our country and productivity.”

Barbados has long battled with the scourge of mould-infested public and private sector buildings, which has triggered widespread closures, worker illnesses, and significant productivity losses. From state buildings to schools, the issue has festered for decades—a symptom of both environmental shifts and infrastructural neglect.

But TouchStar’s AI tool may be a game-changer. The device, which resembles a smoke detector, can detect environmental patterns linked to mould formation, including what the developers have termed “surface impact factors” and “condensation events”.

“Usually, there are two main contributing factors to mould—moisture and temperature. But when we started comparing rooms in similar conditions, we saw the readings were skewed,” the official explained. “We realised the contents of the room actually contribute to moisture retention—for example, rooms with carpets, drapes or porous ceiling tiles. Then we discovered these condensation events—rapid spikes in humidity—which happen around 5 p.m. every day. That’s when people turn off their air conditioners. Suddenly you’re holding a lot of moisture in that room.”

With support from Export Barbados, the Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, and the Office of the Prime Minister, the team was able to refine the technology at the Fontabelle-based Innovate Barbados facility. These partnerships provided essential space and resources that were “crucial to our R&D efforts”.

Export Barbados CEO Mark Hill and Minister of Innovation, Industry, Science and Technology Senator Jonathan Reid are both expected to play key roles in an upcoming official launch, which the firm hopes will include Prime Minister Mia Mottley, Dummett later told Barbados TODAY on Tuesday.

For TouchStar, the technology is not only a scientific breakthrough but a patriotic milestone.

“We proudly continue our mission as global innovators grounded firmly in Barbadian roots, embodying Prime Minister Mia Mottley’s vision of being ‘global citizens with Bajan roots’,” Dummett told this media house.

While the potential of the innovation is considerable, experts have urged caution. Professor Dwayne Devonish, a workplace wellness specialist and longstanding critic of poor environmental conditions in Barbadian buildings, welcomed the development but warned that detection alone is not enough.

“The first thing I will say is that I welcome this as a positive development in improving environmental wellness,” Professor Dwayne Devonish, told Barbados TODAY. “Because we’ve had a battery of unfortunate events with sick buildings—from government departments to schools—and this is something not peculiar to government. We’ve observed this in the private sector too.”

But, he stressed: “Technology itself is not going to be the solution to this problem. This problem also requires human intervention. Remember, the technology is a detection device. The main problem is acting on the information—responding to the information in a way that addresses the problem.”

Drawing an analogy, Devonish said: “It’s like going to a doctor who gives you a blood pressure monitor and tells you to measure it every day. That’s the first part. But if your blood pressure is consistently elevated, the second part must be taking action—treatment, lifestyle changes. You can’t just monitor and do nothing.”

He called for robust systems and accountability frameworks to ensure that once data is provided, the appropriate interventions—whether maintenance, remediation or reconstruction—are implemented swiftly.

“It’s one thing to know and another thing to act. That’s my belief,” Devonish asserted. “I welcome it. I’m happy we have this technology, but we must continue the process of addressing this issue comprehensively.”

Also see Page 6.

sheriabrathwaite@barbadostoday.bb