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Durability assessments of wood-frame construction using the concept of damage-functions

Nofal, M. and M.K. Kumaran
1999
8th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components, Vancouver, Canada, May 28 - June 3
construction, building, envelope, house, wall system, material, wood, wood-frame, durability, moisture, temperature, time, lifecycle, mold fungi, wood-rot fungi, analysis, fracture, failure, damage, model.

Nofal, M. and M.K. Kumaran, (1999), Durability assessments of wood-frame construction using the concept of damage-functions, 8th International Conference on Durability of Building Materials and Components, Vancouver, Canada, May 28 - June 3.
Abstract:
Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Abstract

Review of the state-of-the-art on fungal damage of wood materials showed that a combination of period of cumulative time when moisture and thermal regimes are above specified minimum is needed for fungal activities to cause biological decay in wood. The long-term performance of a typical wall assembly was evaluated using an existing computer model of heat, moisture, and air transfer in conjunction with a biological damage-function model. The hygrothermal behaviour and the associated biological damage were evaluated using virgin materials properties. The damage results are rather conservative because test results revealed that subsequent wetting and drying change the microstructure features of typical engineered wood products.
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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Nofal, M.
  1. A methodology to develop moisture management strategies for wood-frame walls in North America: application to stucco-clad walls
  2. Criteria for unacceptable damage on wood systems
  3. Criteria for unaccesseptable damage on wood systems
  4. Defining climate regions as a basis for specifying requirements for precipitation protection for walls
  5. On implementing experimental biological damage-functions models in durability assessment systems  
Kumaran, M. K.
Building Performance Laboratory, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada
  1. A comparison of empirical indoor relative humidity models with measured data
  2. A logical extension of the ASTM Standard E96 to determine the dependence of water vapor transmission on relative humidity
  3. A methodology to develop moisture management strategies for wood-frame walls in North America: application to stucco-clad walls
  4. A thermal and moisture transport property data base for common building and insulating materials (final report)
  5. Application of gamma-ray spectroscopy for determination of moisture distribution in insulating materials
  6. Benchmarking of the advanced hygrothermal model hygIRC with mid scale experiments
  7. Building envelope design, Part 2: estimating field performance of thermal insulation
  8. Criteria for unaccesseptable damage on wood systems
  9. Determination of equilibrium moisture content of building materials: some practical difficulties
  10. Effect of exfiltration on the hygrothermal behaviour of a residential wall assembly: results from calculations and computer simulations
  11. Final Report, IEA-Annex 24, Task 3: Material Properties
  12. Indoor and outdoor weather analysis tool for hygrothermal modelling
  13. Influence of material properties on the moisture response of an ideal stucco wall: results from hygrothermal simulation
  14. In-Situ performance evaluation of exterior insulation basement systems (EIBS) - spray polyurethane foam: summary report
  15. MEWS methodology for developing moisture management strategies: application to stucco-clad wood-frame walls in North America
  16. Modeling heat, air and moisture transport through building materials and components
  17. Moisture buffering capacities of five North American building materials
  18. Moisture diffusivity of building materials from water absorption measurements
  19. Moisture transport coefficient of pine from gamma ray absorption measurements
  20. On implementing experimental biological damage-functions models in durability assessment systems
  21. Prediction of moisture response of wood frame walls using IRC's advanced hygrothermal model (hygIRC)
  22. Protecting the long-term performance of building envelope components
  23. Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report
  24. Report from Task 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America
  25. Taking guess work out of placing air/vapor barriers
  26. Three-dimensional analysis of thermal resistance of exterior basement insulation systems (EIBS)
  27. Use of hygrothermal numerical modeling to identify optimal retrofit options for high-rise buildings
  28. Vapor transport characteristics of mineral fiber insulation from heat flow meter measurements
  29. Water vapor transmission and moisture accumulation in polyurethane and polyisocyanurate foams  


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