Moisture and Buildings

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

• Presents advanced knowledge on hygrothermal processes and their interaction with buildings
• Integrates the three key areas of moisture transport and its impact on buildings, including durability, human health and comfort
• Considers the most useful computational tools for assessing moisture and building interactions
• Includes a section on the main European, American and Australian building codes
• Explains the risks of mold growth to human health, including growth models to assessment methods