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Full-scale testing of indoor humidity and moisture buffering in building materials

Mitamura, T., C. Rode and J. Schultz
2001
Indoor Air Quality 2001 Moisture, Microbes, and Heath Effects: Indoor Air Quality and Moisture in Buildings Conference Papers

Mitamura, T., C. Rode and J. Schultz, (2001), "Full-scale testing of indoor humidity and moisture buffering in building materials", Indoor Air Quality 2001 Moisture, Microbes, and Heath Effects: Indoor Air Quality and Moisture in Buildings Conference Papers.
Abstract:
This paper presents experiments and simulation for the moisture buffering effect of various building materials: plasterboard, chipboard, cellular concrete, plywood, wood panels, and painted plasterboard. The humidity level in a building depends on a combination of factors, such as moisture sources, ventilation and air movement, reservoirs and sinks, heating, insulation, external conditions, as well as building materials and occupants. Among these, the moisture buffering effect of the materials in a building is an important factor. However, this effect is often disregarded by building designers and engineers. The objective of the experiment is to classify the moisture buffering effect of the materials in a building. In the experiment, a very airtight outdoor test cell (the size of a "real" room) made of highly insulated steel panels was used. Various building materials were set up in the steel box and given a peri-odically varied moisture supply and removal to simulate occupancy under well-controlled conditions. The experimental results are used both to characterize the buffering capacity of different materials and to verify predictions of a numerical model.
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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Mitamura, T.
  1. Model and experiments for hygrothermal conditions of the envelope and indoor air of buildings
  2. Test cell measurements of moisture buffer effects  
Rode, C.
Carsten Rode Pedersen
  1. eds. Annex 41 Final Report, Volume 1: Modelling Principles and Common Exercises
  2. Empirical validation of a transient computer model for combined heat and moisture transfer
  3. Experimental investigation of the hygrothermal performance of insulation materials
  4. Global building physics
  5. International building physics toolbox, general report
  6. Investigation of Microclimate by CFD Modeling of Moisture Interactions between Air and Constructions
  7. Latent heat flow in lightweight roofs and its influence on the thermal performance of buildings
  8. Model and experiments for hygrothermal conditions of the envelope and indoor air of buildings
  9. Moisture buffer value of building materials
  10. Moisture Buffer Value of Materials in Buildings
  11. Moisture buffering of building materials
  12. Moisture conditions of non-ventilated, wood-based, membrane-roof components
  13. Moisture: its effects on the thermal performance of a low-slope roof system
  14. Non-isothermal water vapour transmission through porous insulation. Part 1: The climate chamber
  15. Organic insulation materials: effect on indoor humidity and necessity of a vapor barrier
  16. Test cell measurements of moisture buffer effects
  17. The importance of moisture buffering for indoor climate and energy conditions of buildings
  18. The International Building Physics Toolbox in Simulink
  19. The self-drying concept for flat roofs
  20. Tools for performance simulation of heat, air and moisture conditions of whole buildings
  21. Whole-building Hygrothermal Simulation Model  
Schultz, J.
  1. Test cell measurements of moisture buffer effects  


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