Humidity control in outdoor-air-ventilated crawl spaces in cold climate by means of ventilation, ground covers and dehumidification
Kurnitski, J.
2000
Finland, Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, A, Espoo
crawlspace, humidity, outdoor air
Kurnitski, J., (2000), Humidity control in outdoor-air-ventilated crawl spaces in cold climate by means of ventilation, ground covers and dehumidification, Finland, Helsinki University of Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Laboratory of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning, A, Espoo.
| Abstract: |
| The study shows that acceptable moisture conditions in cold climate outdoor-air-ventilated crawl spaces may be achieved by the optimal selection of ground covers and ventilation. The objectives were to find out which ground covers are suitable to use in relatively warm or cold crawl spaces of buildings and houses, which material properties of the ground covers are important for the reduction of crawl space relative humidity and for increasing temperature, to determine optimum air change rates, and to test dehumidification. Measured data were used to develop a new crawl space model in a modular simulation environment, which was used for parametric simulations, where air change rates and ground covers were varied in relatively warm or cold crawl spaces. The model took into account ground moisture evaporation, moisture flows carried by ventilation and moisture transfer in the base floor and ground cover. The acceptability of moisture conditions was assessed by mould growth analyses based on the cumulative time of wetness and the time needed to start mould growth.
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