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Experimental evaluation of potential transport of mold spores from moldy studs in full-size wall assemblies

Rao, J., Fazio, P., Bartlett, K. and Yang, D.
2009
Building and Environment, 44(8): 1568-1577
Airborne spore movement; Building envelope; Wood frame; Experimental evaluation; Full-size wall specimen; Moldy wood studs

Rao, J., Fazio, P., Bartlett, K. and Yang, D., (2009), "Experimental evaluation of potential transport of mold spores from moldy studs in full-size wall assemblies", Building and Environment, 44(8): 1568-1577.
Abstract:
A research project was undertaken on full-scale wood-framed wall assemblies to evaluate the transport of mold spores from slightly moldy wood studs within the stud cavity to the indoor environment. A series of tests were performed with variations of such parameters as rates and patterns of air leakage, presence or absence of insulation and vapor barrier. Wood studs with slightly visible surface molds (10% of surface area) were used for some of the wall assemblies, while clear studs were used for the remainder. A pressurization setup was used to create an air infiltration through the wall assemblies. Air samples were taken to measure the spore concentrations in the stud cavities, infiltrating air, and laboratory background. Statistical significance testing methods were used to draw observations and conclusions from these data. The results from this experiment do not support a statistically significant increase of spore movement out of stud cavities into the indoor space due to the use of slightly moldy studs in the wall assemblies.

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Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Rao, J.
Department of Building, Civil, and Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal
  1. A limit state design (LSD) approach for comparing relative drying performance of wood-frame envelope systems with full-scale lab, A roadmap towards intelligent net zero- and positive-energy buildings,
  2. A new test method to determine the relative drying capacity of building envelope panels of various configurations
  3. A new testing method to evaluate the relative drying performance of different building envelope systems using water trays
  4. Building Physics: 3rd International Conference in Building Physics
  5. Building pressurisation can affect possibility of mould growth
  6. Comparaison de m¨¦thodes de mesure de flux de chaleur pour sp¨¦cimens de grandes et moyennes dimensions
  7. Design and construction of an environmental chamber facility
  8. Development of experimental procedure to evaluate potential movement of mold spores from wall cavity to indoor environment
  9. Development of HAM tool for building envelope analysis
  10. Effect of capillarity on rainwater penetration in the building envelope
  11. Environmental chamber for investigation of building envelope performance
  12. Evaluation of radiance's genBSDF capability to assess solar bidirectional properties of complex fenestration systems
  13. Experimental study of temperature distributions across two curtain wall systems
  14. Identification and transport investigation of microbial volatile organic compounds in full-scale stud cavities
  15. In-cavity evaporation allowance--A drying capacity indicator for wood-frame wall system
  16. Interzonal air and moisture transport through large horizontal openings in a full-scale two-story test hut: Part 1 - Experimental study
  17. Interzonal air and moisture transport through large horizontal openings in a full-scale two-story test-hut: Part 2- CFD study
  18. Measuring air leakage characteristics with flexible double air chambers
  19. Measuring air leakage of full-scale curtain wall sections using a non-rigid air-chamber method
  20. Numerical investigation of the influence of room factors on HAM transport in a full-scale experimental room
  21. Review and framework for large-scale laboratory studies on wetting and drying of building envelopes
  22. Statistical analysis of microbial volatile organic compounds in an experimental project: identification and transport analysis
  23. Study of the reduced impact of thermal bridges in two sprayed-applied polyurethane wall assemblies
  24. Test method to measure the relative capacity of wall panels to evacuate moisture from their stud cavity
  25. Transfer of heat, moisture and air through metal curtain walls
  26. Use of an environmental chamber to investigate large-scale envelope specimen hygrothermal performance  
Fazio, P.
Paul Fazio, Professor of Building, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Concordia University, Montreal
  1. A limit state design (LSD) approach for comparing relative drying performance of wood-frame envelope systems with full-scale lab, A roadmap towards intelligent net zero- and positive-energy buildings,
  2. A new test method to determine the relative drying capacity of building envelope panels of various configurations
  3. A new testing method to evaluate the relative drying performance of different building envelope systems using water trays
  4. A quantitative study for the measurement of driving rain exposure in the Montr¨¦al region
  5. A review of research activities in energy efficiency in buildings in Canada
  6. Airtightness testing and air flow modeling of two and three-unit multifamily buildings
  7. Airtightness testing of two- and three-unit buildings with a single fan
  8. Approach for the simulation of wetting due to rain infiltration for building envelope testing
  9. Approach for urban driving rain index by using climatological data recorded at suburban meteorological station
  10. Behavior of wall assemblies with different wood sheathings wetted by simulated rain penetration
  11. Building Physics: 3rd International Conference in Building Physics
  12. Building pressurisation can affect possibility of mould growth
  13. Cavity pressure in rain screen walls
  14. Comparaison de m¨¦thodes de mesure de flux de chaleur pour sp¨¦cimens de grandes et moyennes dimensions
  15. Continuous folded plate structures under uniform load
  16. Creative case adaptation for building engineering design
  17. Design and construction of an environmental chamber facility
  18. Design Methodology of Solar Neighborhoods
  19. Development of experimental procedure to evaluate potential movement of mold spores from wall cavity to indoor environment
  20. Development of HAM tool for building envelope analysis
  21. Effect of capillarity on rainwater penetration in the building envelope
  22. Environmental chamber for investigation of building envelope performance
  23. Essai sur les toits plats isol¨¦s ¨¤ la fibre de cellulose
  24. Evaluation of radiance's genBSDF capability to assess solar bidirectional properties of complex fenestration systems
  25. Experimental setup for the study of air leakage patterns
  26. Experimental study of temperature distributions across two curtain wall systems
  27. Folded sandwich plate structures
  28. Identification and transport investigation of microbial volatile organic compounds in full-scale stud cavities
  29. IFC-based framework for evaluating total performance of building envelopes
  30. Impact of added insulation on air leakage patterns
  31. Impact of air leakage pattern on reinsulated walls
  32. In-cavity evaporation allowance--A drying capacity indicator for wood-frame wall system
  33. Influence of air space on multi-layered material water vapor permeability measurement
  34. Influence of facade geometry on weathering
  35. Integrated analysis of whole building heat, air and moisture transfer
  36. Interzonal air and moisture transport through large horizontal openings in a full-scale two-story test hut: Part 1 - Experimental study
  37. Interzonal air and moisture transport through large horizontal openings in a full-scale two-story test-hut: Part 2- CFD study
  38. Large scale testing of two flat roof assemblies insulated with cellulose
  39. Mapping of air leakage in exterior wall assemblies
  40. Measuring air leakage characteristics with flexible double air chambers
  41. Measuring air leakage of full-scale curtain wall sections using a non-rigid air-chamber method
  42. Methods for the assessment of moisture content of envelope assemblies
  43. Modeling of moisture behavior of wood planks in nonvented flat roofs
  44. Modelling of indoor air humidity: the dynamic behaviour within an enclosure
  45. Moisture buffering capacities of five North American building materials
  46. Moisture performance of leaky exterior walls with added insulation
  47. Nonlinear elastic analysis of panelized shear sandwich walls
  48. Numerical investigation of the influence of room factors on HAM transport in a full-scale experimental room
  49. Performance evaluation protocol for full-scale wood-frame building envelopes
  50. Potential of rain screen walls to prevent rain penetration: pressurized cavity principle
  51. Quantitative driving rain exposure on a vertical wall at various Canadian cities
  52. Rapport Final Projet Site Internet - L'enveloppe du batiment et l'efficacit¨¦ ¨¦nerg¨¦tique
  53. Review and framework for large-scale laboratory studies on wetting and drying of building envelopes
  54. Study of the reduced impact of thermal bridges in two sprayed-applied polyurethane wall assemblies
  55. Study on thermal performance of curtain walls using infrared thermography
  56. Test method to measure the relative capacity of wall panels to evacuate moisture from their stud cavity
  57. Testing of flat roofs insulated with cellulose fiber
  58. The dynamic modelling of air humidity behaviour in a multi-zone space
  59. Transfer of heat, moisture and air through metal curtain walls
  60. Transient model for coupled heat, air and moisture transfer through multilayered porous media
  61. Use of an environmental chamber to investigate large-scale envelope specimen hygrothermal performance  
Bartlett, K.
  1. A field comparison of four samplers for enumerating fungal aerosols I. Sampling characteristics
  2. A field comparison of methods for enumerating airborne fungal bioaerosols
  3. Development of experimental procedure to evaluate potential movement of mold spores from wall cavity to indoor environment
  4. Identification and transport investigation of microbial volatile organic compounds in full-scale stud cavities
  5. Statistical analysis of microbial volatile organic compounds in an experimental project: identification and transport analysis  
Yang, D.
  1. Design and performance of a novel building integrated PV/thermal system for energy efficiency of buildings
  2. Development of experimental procedure to evaluate potential movement of mold spores from wall cavity to indoor environment
  3. Sawmill evaluation of a bioprotectant against moulds, stain, and decay on green lumber  


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