11/7/2023 0 Comments Dew point calculator wall assemblyWe were not given access to the original stack of units that had the previously repaired damage. All the units selected for visual inspection were vacant units. In the second go-around, the client and contractor hired us to perform an investigation to understand the factors that were not understood at the time.Īs part of our initial study, we were given access to eight apartment units and we performed visual inspections of the interiors. Approximately one year before our investigation, the same stack of units that were originally remediated failed, repeating the development of mold and biological growth on the inside face of the exterior walls. The interior and exterior were fully remediated prior to ABBAE’s involvement so the original evidence was lost. Management believed there was a deficiency with the cement plaster so they hired a contractor to replace all the plaster assembly in a three-story high unit stack of the façade. Water damage and biological growth were reportedly uniform in nature and varied between heavy damage on the 1st floor and less damage on the 3rd floor. There were reports of mold and moisture damage on the interior walls of one stack of three units. ![]() The wall assembly consists of wood sheathing over wood framing, two layers of 60-minute weather resistive barrier, and a three-coat stucco system. The five-building, three-story apartment complex was built 2011. (ABBAE) was retained to investigate reported leaks and water intrusion at a 186-unit apartment complex in San Ramon, CA. The nature of these moisture intrusion failures includes construction defects and changes the industry has made for energy efficiency including air barriers and vapor retarders. This paper will also provide an analysis of code requirements for ventilation and actual system performance. The discussion will include mechanical ventilation involved in condensation control, including make-up air and exhaust This allows us to understand how buildings behave in real time versus design parameters. This paper will include forensic studies of moisture movement and condensation control where data loggers were used to measure moisture movement alongside WUFI analysis of actual assemblies in occupied buildings. Condensation and moisture diffusion damage can occur with or without designed air barriers and it is important to understand the role ventilation plays in the design. Understanding and predicting moisture movement within and through exterior wall systems is one of the most important factors effecting envelope performance today. We utilized WUFI model studies as well as actual data logger information. We discuss lessons learned from investigation and analysis of projects in California, where This paper will focus on the increasing number of interior wall assemblies that are experiencingĮxcessive moisture damage due to combination of moisture diffusion and condensation. Go hand in hand with exterior enclosure, air barriers and mechanical ventilation. Humidity and condensation control in buildings A high performance window tends to have lower u-factor, indicating that less heat can transfer through the window, while a higher u-factor indicates a higher degree of heat transfer.Due to energy code changes, better enforcement, and as a matter of good practice, we are making buildings more and more air tight. U-factor is the rate at which heat can transfer through a material, and is the inverse of the R-value. ![]() A higher R-value equates to greater insulation performance, and thus higher savings on heating and cooling. R-value, commonly used when describing walls, roofs, and similar housing components, measures how well building insulation can prevent the flow of heat into and out of the home. To learn more about our tools or ask questions about our calculators, feel free to contact us today. To account for factors such as bulk air movement and air leaks in a wall or roof assembly, we recommend utilizing Ekotrope RATER for your energy modeling needs. Thermal performance of walls and roofs is one aspect of home performance. Our calculators are great tools for quickly comparing different combinations of materials and their aggregate thermal performance. Users may edit the values where applicable as necessary. Ekotrope updates the cost values periodically, but note that they may not reflect local costs. The information regarding estimated costs comes from Ekotrope’s internal research. Our calculators are based on the same methodology described by John Krigger & Chris Dorsi in their book Residential Energy, supplemented with material from both ASH RAE and RES NET. These are also found within Ekotrope RATER. Ekotrope offers our wall, floor, and roof calculators for free for you to try out.
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