Abstract:

Using numerical modelling to simulate and predict the hygrothermal (i.e., combined thermal and moisture)

performance of building envelopes is very recent. Key questions include: how to model accurately coupled heat-air and capillary moisture transports in building envelope components; a satisfactory definition of a set of representative environmental boundary conditions to be used for long-term hygrothermal calculations; how to characterize the moisture- and temperature-dependent properties; the effect of aging and cyclic environmental conditions on porous building materials; and how to develop sound criteria to predict the moisture durability of building envelope components. This paper presents the findings of a research project involving detailed hygrothermal modelling. The heat, air and moisture results demonstrated that the in-house model could be adapted successfully for high-rise building calculations. The findings also show how the long-term hygrothermal performance of typical wall systems can be assessed using numerical modelling. A short description of an advanced in-house heat, air and moisture model, hygIRC, is also presented.

• HAM: application

1. Defining climate regions as a basis for specifying requirements for precipitation protection for walls
2. Environmental boundary conditions for long-term hygrothermal calculations
3. Final Report from Task 8 of MEWS Project (T8-03) - Hygrothermal Response of Exterior Wall Systems to Climate Loading: Methodology and Interpretation of Results for Stucco, EIFS, Masonry and Siding Clad Wood-Frame Walls
4. Indoor and outdoor weather analysis tool for hygrothermal modelling
5. MEWS methodology for developing moisture management strategies: application to stucco-clad wood-frame walls in North America
6. Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report
7. Report from Task 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America  

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. Durability assessments of wood-frame construction using the concept of damage-functions
11. Effect of exfiltration on the hygrothermal behaviour of a residential wall assembly: results from calculations and computer simulations
12. Final Report, IEA-Annex 24, Task 3: Material Properties
13. Indoor and outdoor weather analysis tool for hygrothermal modelling
14. Influence of material properties on the moisture response of an ideal stucco wall: results from hygrothermal simulation
15. In-Situ performance evaluation of exterior insulation basement systems (EIBS) - spray polyurethane foam: summary report
16. MEWS methodology for developing moisture management strategies: application to stucco-clad wood-frame walls in North America
17. Modeling heat, air and moisture transport through building materials and components
18. Moisture buffering capacities of five North American building materials
19. Moisture diffusivity of building materials from water absorption measurements
20. Moisture transport coefficient of pine from gamma ray absorption measurements
21. On implementing experimental biological damage-functions models in durability assessment systems
22. Prediction of moisture response of wood frame walls using IRC's advanced hygrothermal model (hygIRC)
23. Protecting the long-term performance of building envelope components
24. Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report
25. Report from Task 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America
26. Taking guess work out of placing air/vapor barriers
27. Three-dimensional analysis of thermal resistance of exterior basement insulation systems (EIBS)
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  

1. Indoor and outdoor weather analysis tool for hygrothermal modelling
2. Influence of material properties on the moisture response of an ideal stucco wall: results from hygrothermal simulation
3. Influence of sheathing membrane and vapour barrier on hygrothermnal response of stucco walls
4. Summary Report from Task 3 of MEWS Project at the Institute for Research in Construction - Hygrothermal Properties of Several Building Materials  

1. Defining climate regions as a basis for specifying requirements for precipitation protection for walls
2. Final report from task 7 of MEWS long-term performance: predict the moisture management performance of wall systems as a function of climate, material properties, etc. through mathematical modelling
3. Influence of sheathing membrane and vapour barrier on hygrothermnal response of stucco walls
4. Integrated analysis of whole building heat, air and moisture transfer
5. Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report
6. Summary Report from Task 3 of MEWS Project at the Institute for Research in Construction - Hygrothermal Properties of Several Building Materials
7. Transient model for coupled heat, air and moisture transfer through multilayered porous media