Abstract
Signs of wetness in housing are a significant obstacle to the renovation and energy rehabilitation of old and energy-intensive heritage buildings, especially in cold climates. Thus, in order to avoid the numerous possibilities of degradation caused by the moisture transfer phenomena in the building envelope, the a disruptive aeraulic process, which focuses on the ventilation of an air gap between the thermal insulation and the wet wall, has been designed and its assessed. This system avoids the presence of liquid water at the wall surface by maintaining the hygrothermal balance within the wet wall. This enables the mechanical durability of the supporting structure, the absence of biological activity and/or frost and, hence, the durability of the thermal insulation. These issues are investigated through a case study based on a real site. Over a year of measurements, the wet wall was constantly maintained in hygroscopic balance, around 90% RH, guaranteeing the preservation of its mechanical performance, while the insulation layer was kept moisture free. In addition, the proposed model for predicting the appearance and development of biological activity demonstrated its validity, confirming experimental results.These initial results will now lead to the optimization of the aeraulic device, as well as possible use in a summer cooling context to achieve hygrothermal comfort for housing occupants.
Highlights
The current policies that pertain to the energy performance targets for buildings has led to several changes in construction practices, namely by increasing the insulation of the building envelope and improving the airtightness
Condensation within the walls, which can lead to a decrease in the durability of the materials [5,6] and their energy performance [7,8]
It is mandatory to evaluate moisture transfers within the building walls, which could become crucial during renovation or rehabilitation projects
Summary
The current policies that pertain to the energy performance targets for buildings has led to several changes in construction practices, namely by increasing the insulation of the building envelope and improving the airtightness. In old buildings, these changes to the envelope can induce phenomena that did not previously exist, especially those related to humidity: mold development [1,2], deterioration of indoor air quality [3,4]. The humidity in buildings is generally a source of structural deterioration, and an unhealthy living environment for housing occupants. High humidity plays an important role in the development of these biological pollutants [10]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
