Low humidity environment or high humidity environment is related to many health problems, durability of materials for the building envelope and energy consumption. Therefore, moisture control is very important for ensuring the sustainability houses and health of building occupants. Hygrothermal interior material, which can adsorb and desorb moisture from surrounding air, is an energy-efficient and effective strategy to moderate indoor humidity variation. In this research, some experiments were carried out in climate-controlled test chamber with different setting area of hygrothermal materials. The purpose of this paper is to suggest a new evaluation method for moisture buffering effect of building envelope and to understand humidity distributions by furnishing hygrothermal material. Experimental results indicated that moisture buffering effect became larger by increasing the loading ratio of hygrothermal materials. In addition, hygrothermal materials were confirmed to be efficient to reduce the amplitude of daily moisture variations and surface condensation risk, and it can be expected to contribute to achieve a comfortable and healthy indoor environment without adding energy costs.
Keywords. Humidity; moisture distribution; moisture buffering effect; hygrothermal material
References
Sato M, Fukayo S, Yano E. Adverse environmental health effects of ultra-low relative humidity indoor air. Journal of Occupation Health 2003; 45(2):133-6.
Fang L, Clausen G, Fanger PO. The impact of temperature and humidity on perception of indoor air quality. Indoor Air 1998; 8(2):80-90.
Bornehag CG, Sundell J, Bonini S, Custovic A, Malmberg P, Skerfving S, et al. Dampness in buildings as a risk factor for health effects, EUROEXPO: a multidisciplinary review of the literature (1998-2000) on dampness and mite exposure in buildings and health effects. Indoor Air 2004; 14(4):243-57.
W. J. Fisk, Q. Lei-Gomez, M. J. Mendell. Meta-analyses of the associations of respiratory health effects with dampness and mold in homes. Indoor Air 2007; 17: 284-296.
R. Kishi, Y. Saijo, A. Kanazawa, M. Tanaka, T. Yoshimura, H. Chikara, et al. Regional differences in residential environments and the association of dwellings and residential factors with the sick house syndrome: a nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire study in Japan. Indoor Air 2009; 19: 243-254.
Osanyintola OF, Simonson CJ. Moisture buffering capacity of hygroscopic building materials: experimental facilities and energy impact. Energy and Buildings 2006; 38(10):1270-82.
Mendes N, Winkelmann FC, Lamberts R, Philippi PC. Moisture effects on conduction loads. Energy and Buildings 2003; 35(7):631-44.
Brown SK, Cole I, Daniel V, King S, Pearson C. Guidelines for environmental control in cultural institutions. Canberra: Heritage Collections Council; 2002.
Rode C, Peuhkuri R, Time B, Svennberg K, Ojanen T. Moisture buffer value of building material. Journal of ASTM International 2007; 4(5).
JIS A 1470-1. Determination of water vapour adsorption/desorption properties for building materials - Part 1: Response to humidity variation, 2008.
ISO/DIS 24353. Hygorthermal performance of building materials and products - Determination of moisture adsorption/desorption properties in response to humidity variation (MOD), 2006.
A. Kerestecioglu. M. Swami, A. Kamel, Theoretical and computational investigation of simultaneous heat and moisture transfer in buildings: effective penetration depth theory, ASHREA Winter meeting, Atlanta, GA, 1989.
TRNSYS 16, A TRaNsient System Simulation program, User Guide Version 16.1, Solar Energy Lab, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, 2006.
Mitamura, T., K. Hasegawa, H Yoshino, S. Mastumoto and N. Takshashi. 2004. Experiment for moisture buffering and effects of ventilation rate, volume rate of the hygrothermal materials, Paper to IEA ECBCS Annex 41 Working Meeting, Glasgow.
How to cite this article
Zhang, H., Yoshino, H., Hasegawa, K. and Mochida, A. (2010). 'Evaluation on moisture buffering effect by using hygrothermal materials in a test room'. SET Proceedings, 9, pp. 1-10. https://doi.org/10.65582/set.2010.150
