The indoor climate of a new library building is evaluated by means of measurements and simulations. Complaints of the staff are confirmed by measured data during the winter and summer of 2007-2008. For the evaluation of the indoor climate, a building simulation model is used in which the porous books are either described by a HAM model or by a simplified isothermal model. Calculations demonstrate that the HAM model predicts a more stable indoor climate regarding both temperature and relative humidity variations in comparison to the estimations by the simplified model. This is attributed to the ability of the HAM model to account for the effect of temperature variations on moisture storage. Moreover, by applying the HAM model, a good agreement with the measured indoor climate is found. As expected, a larger exposed book surface ameliorates the indoor climate because a more stable indoor relative humidity is obtained.

Finally, the building simulation model is used to improve the indoor climate with respect to the preservation of valuable books. Results demonstrate that more stringent interventions on the air handling unit are expected when a simplified approach is used to model the hygroscopic books.

• Moisture buffering

1. Benchmark experiments for moisture transfer modelling in air and porous materials
2. Experimental validation and sensitivity analysis of a coupled BES-HAM model
3. On coupling 1D non-isothermal heat and mass transfer in porous materials with a multizone building energy simulation model
4. Sensitivity analysis of CFD coupled non-isothermal heat and moisture modelling
5. The effect of combining a relative-humidity-sensitive ventilation system with the moisture-buffering capacity of materials on indoor climate and energy efficiency of buildings  

1. Benchmark experiments for moisture transfer modelling in air and porous materials
2. CFD modelling of HAM transport in buildings: The importance of local indoor climate
3. Coupled simulation of heat and moisture transport in air and porous materials for the assessment of moisture related damage
4. Evaluation of the different definitions of the convective mass transfer coefficient for water evaporation into air
5. Experimental validation and sensitivity analysis of a coupled BES-HAM model
6. On coupling 1D non-isothermal heat and mass transfer in porous materials with a multizone building energy simulation model
7. On the applicability of the heat and mass transfer analogy in indoor air flows
8. Sensitivity analysis of CFD coupled non-isothermal heat and moisture modelling  

1. Application of a new type of air and vapor retarder in a self-drying sloped roof with a cathedral ceiling
2. Benchmark experiments for moisture transfer modelling in air and porous materials
3. CFD modelling of HAM transport in buildings: The importance of local indoor climate
4. Condensation risk assessment
5. Coupled simulation of heat and moisture transport in air and porous materials for the assessment of moisture related damage
6. Evaluation of the different definitions of the convective mass transfer coefficient for water evaporation into air
7. Experimental validation and sensitivity analysis of a coupled BES-HAM model
8. Heat and moisture response of vented and compact cathedral ceilings: a test house evaluation
9. Inquiry on HAMCAT codes
10. Modelling indoor air and hygrothermal wall interaction in building simulation: Comparison between CFD and a well-mixed zonal model
11. On coupling 1D non-isothermal heat and mass transfer in porous materials with a multizone building energy simulation model
12. On the applicability of the heat and mass transfer analogy in indoor air flows
13. Reliable control of interstitial condensation in lightweight roof systems, calculation and assessment methods
14. Sensitivity analysis of CFD coupled non-isothermal heat and moisture modelling