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The System Approach to Thermal Performance - Control of Condensation and Mold in Buildings
Abstract
We are seeing headlines every day, advising that a
school, office building or courthouse has been closed
due to mold. The cost of remediation plus the
damage to the reputations of building owners,
architects, builders and the cost of litigation is
immense. Why is this problem surfacing now when
mankind has been building for thousands of years?
Why are buildings suffering increased problems of
structural deterioration? The answer is that over the
last 25 years as we have insulated buildings to
conserve energy inadvertently we have created the
necessary conditions for mold growth.
This presentation will introduce the changes in
thinking in Building Science which are leading us
away from a reliance on R-Value based insulation to
advances in air sealing which controls the leakage of
air and moisture vapor into the building envelope.
New soft foam insulation is now being used in
retrofit and new buildings to solve mold and moisture
condensation problems. At the same time
downsizing of HVAC equipment and energy savings
of up to 50% have been reported.
This presentation will provide an introduction to
Building Physics and the importance of air movement
to explain why we must approach the design of a
building as a system, rather than a collection of
building components thrown together.
Citation
Nicklas, R. (2002). The System Approach to Thermal Performance - Control of Condensation and Mold in Buildings. Energy Systems Laboratory (http://esl.tamu.edu); Texas A&M University (http://www.tamu.edu). Available electronically from https : / /hdl .handle .net /1969 .1 /5168.