Hygrothermal performance of a vapor-open envelope for subtropical climate, field test and model validation

The construction industry is known to be a key contributor to manmade climate change. Amongst other nations, Japan has a building energy efficiency goal which does not yet emphasize the importance of the moisture safety design of well-insulated building envelopes considering its diverse climatic conditions. The authors developed a vapor-open wooden building envelope for the subtropical conditions of Japan and optimized a design method, which considers environmental, economic and hygrothermal aspects. As a case study, a detached residential building has been constructed in Ohmihachiman (central Japan). The building has been monitored using a large number of temperature and humidity sensors inside the walls and the roof. Results have been obtained from measurements over a period of one year. Furthermore, transient hygrothermal simulations using the measured exterior and interior climates have been carried out. It was shown that 1) the construction of the wall was successful with the desired level of air-tightness and 2) the simulation model by a commercial software is applicable for predicting the hygrothermal performance of the wall with the envelope system in the actual use condition.

[1]  Hua Ge,et al.  Hygrothermal performance of cross-laminated timber wall assemblies: A stochastic approach , 2016 .

[2]  Monika Woloszyn,et al.  Experimental wooden frame house for the validation of whole building heat and moisture transfer nume , 2011 .

[3]  C. Carll,et al.  Decay of Wood and Wood-Based Products Above Ground in Buildings , 1999 .

[4]  Yutaka Goto,et al.  Sustainable wooden building concept for Central Japan , 2012 .

[5]  Yutaka Goto,et al.  Preliminary investigation of a vapor-open envelope tailored for subtropical climate , 2011 .

[6]  Carey J. Simonson,et al.  Moisture Performance of an Airtight, Vapor-permeable Building Envelope in a Cold Climate , 2005 .

[7]  Fraunhofer-Institut für Bauphysik,et al.  Simultaneous heat and moisture transport in building components: One- and two-dimensional calculation using simple parameters , 1995 .

[8]  Hua Ge,et al.  Hygrothermal performance of cross-laminated timber wall assemblies with built-in moisture: field measurements and simulations , 2014 .

[9]  Monika Woloszyn,et al.  Dynamic coupling between vapour and heat transfer in wall assemblies: Analysis of measurements achieved under real climate , 2015 .

[10]  Carsten Rode,et al.  The international building physics toolbox in Simulink , 2007 .

[11]  Bruno Daniotti,et al.  Evaluation of Three Different Retrofit Solutions Applied to the Internal Surface of a Protected Cavity Wall , 2015 .

[12]  Hirotaka Suzuki,et al.  AN APPLIED STUDY OF THE UPGRADING OF THERMAL INSULATION AND WINTER THERMAL COMFORT IN DETACHED HOUSING IN HOKKAIDO , 1999 .

[13]  Yutaka Goto,et al.  Economic, ecological and thermo-hygric optimization of a vapor-open envelope for subtropical climates , 2012 .

[14]  Yutaka Goto,et al.  Heat and moisture balance simulation of a building with vapor-open envelope system for subtropical regions , 2012 .

[15]  坂本 雄三,et al.  壁内相対湿度の発生頻度を考慮した温暖地向け木造住宅用簡易防露設計法の開発 : (その2)防露設計用透湿抵抗比の推定式の提案 , 2006 .

[16]  孝男 澤地,et al.  壁内相対湿度の発生頻度を考慮した温暖地向け木造住宅用簡易防露設計法の開発 : (その1)簡易防露設計法の提案と水分移動解析手法の検証 , 2006 .

[17]  Ardeshir Mahdavi,et al.  High Performance Aerogel Containing Plaster for Historic Buildings with Structured Façades , 2015 .

[18]  Angela Sasic Kalagasidis,et al.  Retrofitting of a listed brick and wood building using vacuum insulation panels on the exterior of the facade: Measurements and simulations , 2014 .

[19]  Targo Kalamees,et al.  Hygrothermal calculations and laboratory tests on timber-framed wall structures , 2003 .