Conceptual Reference Database for Building Envelope Research Prev
Next

Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report

Cornick, S., Dalgliesh, A., Said, N., Djebbar, R., Tariku, F. and Kumaran, M. K.
2002
IRC-RR-1130, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Canada

Cornick, S., Dalgliesh, A., Said, N., Djebbar, R., Tariku, F. and Kumaran, M. K., (2002), "Report from Task 4 of MEWS Project - Environmental Conditions, Final Report", IRC-RR-1130, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Canada.
Abstract:
Task 4 - Environmental Conditions consisted of two main objectives: the first objective was to provide input for the parametric simulation phase of Task 7- Hygrothermal Analysis and the rain penetration test portion of Task 6 - System Performance; the second objective was to develop a method for classifying for US and Canadian climates with respect to moisture loading. Hourly weather data for approximately 400 Canadian and US locations were collected. The data spans 30 or more years. A list of 40 candidate cities was created from the locations available. Data for the 40 cities, 27 American and 13 Canadian, were analyzed and converted into the appropriate format for the Advanced Hygrothermal Model (AHM). A method for calculating a moisture index based on two independent indices, the wetting index and the drying index was developed characterize the locations in the 40 city set. From the candidate list five cities were selected: Wilmington NC, Seattle WA, Ottawa ON, Winnipeg MB, and Phoenix AZ for detailed analysis. Reference years to be input to the AHM as part of the parametric study were determined for each of the five cities selected for detailed analysis. A modified method for calculating the moisture index cities was used to select reference years. The modified method included the effect of wind-driven rain and the effect of orientation. For selecting reference years the definition of the wetting index included the direction of predominant rainfall. A wet year, a dry year, and an average year were defined as reference years for each of the five selected cities. Finally, five methods of calculating wind driven rain were reviewed and found to be in general agreement. Experimental results confirm the validity of the methods reviewed. Straube's method for calculating the amount of wind driven rain impinging on a wall was selected for use. It was chosen because it is generally the most conservative of the methods considered and was also the method selected for incorporation into the AHM. Two spray rates, 100 L/m 2 -h (1.7 L/s-m 2 ) and 200 L/m 2 -h (3.4 L/s-m 2 ) and a maximum pressure level of 700 Pa +/- 300 Pa cycled at 0.5 Hz were determined from the literature and climate data. These recommendations were used in the rain penetration portion of Task 6. The second objective was to develop a method for classifying climates with respect to moisture loading. Climates were classified using a similar method used to classify the 40 candidate cities. Climates were classified according to their potential for moisture loading. Five groups were defined: Zone 1, Zone 2, Zone 3, Zone 4, and Zone 5. A provisional contour map showing isopotentials for Canada and the United States was created.
Related Resources:

This publication in whole or part may be found online at: This link was checked on Dec. 2006here.
Related Concepts

Author Information and Other Publications Notes
Cornick, S.
  1. A comparison of empirical indoor relative humidity models with measured data
  2. A methodology to develop moisture management strategies for wood-frame walls in North America: application to stucco-clad walls
  3. A moisture index to characterize climates for building envelope design
  4. Climate loads and their effect on building envelopes - an overview
  5. Defining climate regions as a basis for specifying requirements for precipitation protection for walls
  6. 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
  7. MEWS methodology for developing moisture management strategies: application to stucco-clad wood-frame walls in North America
  8. Report from Task 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America  
Dalgliesh, A.
  1. 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  
Said, N.
     
Djebbar, R.
Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council of Canada (NRC/IRC), Ottawa, Ontario.
  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 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America
  7. Use of hygrothermal numerical modeling to identify optimal retrofit options for high-rise buildings  
Tariku, F.
  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. Summary Report from Task 3 of MEWS Project at the Institute for Research in Construction - Hygrothermal Properties of Several Building Materials
  6. Transient model for coupled heat, air and moisture transfer through multilayered porous media
  7. Use of hygrothermal numerical modeling to identify optimal retrofit options for high-rise buildings  
Kumaran, M. K.
Building Performance Laboratory, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada
  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 8 of MEWS Project - MEWS Methodology for Developing Moisture Management Strategies - Application to Stucco Clad Wood-Frame Walls in North America
  25. Taking guess work out of placing air/vapor barriers
  26. Three-dimensional analysis of thermal resistance of exterior basement insulation systems (EIBS)
  27. Use of hygrothermal numerical modeling to identify optimal retrofit options for high-rise buildings
  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  


CRDBER, at CBS, BCEE, ENCS, Concordia,