One in three homes, on average, suffer from excessive dampness and mould proliferation, with significant health and economic impacts. The combination of new construction methodologies, stricter airtightness requirements and the changing social and cultural context that influences the way we live inside buildings has created unprecedented challenges for the built environment. In modifying indoor and outdoor environments and the building envelopes that serve as a filter between the two, we are changing the physical parameters of the ways in which buildings behave and respond to climatic stimuli. Understanding and predicting the way in which buildings and moisture may interact should be an important step in the design process, aiming to minimise possible negative long-term consequences. Understanding and predicting the way in which buildings and moisture may interact is, today more than ever, essential yet difficult, as the experience of the past has lost its applicability. Moisture-related issues never have a simple solution, since they involve multiple factors, including design, construction, maintenance, materials, climate and occupation pattern. Thus, while the topic is attracting growing attention among researchers, designers and practitioners, the pace with which actual change is occurring is still too slow.
Moisture and Buildings provides a critical overview of current research, knowledge and policy frameworks, and presents a comprehensive analysis of the implications of moisture and the importance of accounting for it during the design process. It responds to the urgent need for a systematic organization of the existing knowledge to identify research gaps and provide directions for future developments. The ultimate goal is to increase awareness of the multifaceted implications of hygrothermal phenomena and promote integrated design processes that lead to healthier and more durable constructions.
1. Moisture and Buildings - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Title page - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iii 6. Contents - p. Page vi 7. Foreword - p. Page vi 8. List of Illustrations - p. Page ix 9. List of Tables - p. Page x 10. 1 : Moisture and buildings - p. Page x 11. 2 : Principles of hygrothermal processes - p. Page 7 12. 3 : Durability, condensation assessment and prevention - p. Page 24 13. 4 : Health and mould growth - p. Page 58 14. 5 : Moisture buffering of building materials - p. Page 93 15. 6 : Hygrothermal modelling - p. Page 123 16. 7 : Building codes and standards - p. Page 150 17. Glossary - p. Page 175 18. Index - p. Page 185
One in three homes, on average, suffer from excessive dampness and mould proliferation, with significant health and economic impacts. The combination of new construction methodologies, stricter airtightness requirements and the changing social and cultural context that influences the way we live inside buildings has created unprecedented challenges for the built environment. In modifying indoor and outdoor environments and the building envelopes that serve as a filter between the two, we are changing the physical parameters of the ways in which buildings behave and respond to climatic stimuli. Understanding and predicting the way in which buildings and moisture may interact should be an important step in the design process, aiming to minimise possible negative long-term consequences. Understanding and predicting the way in which buildings and moisture may interact is, today more than ever, essential yet difficult, as the experience of the past has lost its applicability. Moisture-related issues never have a simple solution, since they involve multiple factors, including design, construction, maintenance, materials, climate and occupation pattern. Thus, while the topic is attracting growing attention among researchers, designers and practitioners, the pace with which actual change is occurring is still too slow.
Moisture and Buildings provides a critical overview of current research, knowledge and policy frameworks, and presents a comprehensive analysis of the implications of moisture and the importance of accounting for it during the design process. It responds to the urgent need for a systematic organization of the existing knowledge to identify research gaps and provide directions for future developments. The ultimate goal is to increase awareness of the multifaceted implications of hygrothermal phenomena and promote integrated design processes that lead to healthier and more durable constructions.
1. Moisture and Buildings - p. Page i 2. Cover - p. Page i 3. Title page - p. Page ii 4. Table of Contents - p. Page iii 5. Copyright - p. Page iii 6. Contents - p. Page vi 7. Foreword - p. Page vi 8. List of Illustrations - p. Page ix 9. List of Tables - p. Page x 10. 1 : Moisture and buildings - p. Page x 11. 2 : Principles of hygrothermal processes - p. Page 7 12. 3 : Durability, condensation assessment and prevention - p. Page 24 13. 4 : Health and mould growth - p. Page 58 14. 5 : Moisture buffering of building materials - p. Page 93 15. 6 : Hygrothermal modelling - p. Page 123 16. 7 : Building codes and standards - p. Page 150 17. Glossary - p. Page 175 18. Index - p. Page 185
