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Lecture On Air Air Leakage and Water Vapor Control: Chapter 6
Lecture On Air Air Leakage and Water Vapor Control: Chapter 6
Chapter 6
Lecture on air
Air Leakage and
Water Vapor Control
Air leakage ‐ The leakage of conditioned air
Air leakage
through cracks and unsealed joints in the building envelope
• Factors that affect air leakage
– Area in envelope prone to leakage
– Air pressure differences between inside & outside air
• Solution: reduce air leakage area
Inspection for air leakage Inspection for air leakage
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Infiltration Wind‐related pressure differential
Temperature‐related pressure
Air leakage sites
differential
Air Retarder Air retarder wrapped around exterior wood sheathing
in wood light frame construction
• Continuous membrane applied to exterior of building enclosure prior to
finish
– 5‐10 mil plastic sheet
– Micropores allow vapor to escape
but retard passage of moisture and air
– Applied with staples, taped joints
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Temperature differentials Sealed window openings
Indoor air quality Water vapor in air
• A well‐sealed enclosure can subject interior • Almost always water vapor mixed in air
space to air pollutants
– Dust, pollen, micro‐organisms
• Water vapor exerts pressure independent of
– Carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide air pressure
– Volatile organic compounds (from sprays, cleaning – Related to amount of vapor present in air
products) – Saturated air has maximum amount of vapor present
– Formaldehyde (off‐gassing from building products) – Saturated vapor pressure exists when air is saturated
– Radon
• Interior spaces must be ventilated with
adequate amounts of fresh air to prevent
health problems
Calculate vapor pressure in 70º air at 45% relative
Relative Humidity humidity
weight of water (as vapor) in air X 100
RH = weight of water (as vapor) in saturated air
( 45 ) 5.5 = 23.6 psf
100
Vapor pressure of air X 100
RH = Vapor pressure of saturated air
RH (vapor pressure of saturated air) = vapor pressure of air
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Water vapor moves (vapor drive) from warm to cold
side of an assembly
Human
sensation of
relative
humidity
Condensation occurs when air temperature is
decreased below dew point R‐value & location of dew point
Dew Point ‐ temperature at which air’s RH becomes 100%
Condensation ‐ water vapor in air converts to liquid water
Control of condensation Commonly used vapor retarders
• Control entry of water vapor to wall cavity • Glass and metals
– Reduce air leakage (air‐moisture barrier on exterior that • Roof membranes
allows vapor diffusion)
– Prevent vapor diffusion from warm side of assembly by • Asphalt treated paper (kraft paper)
using a vapor barrier
• Polyethylene sheet
• Allow any vapor that enters a wall or attic
cavity to exit the assembly
– Permeable air‐moisture barrier on walls (see air retarder)
– Attic ventilation
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Location of the vapor retarder (in cold
Proprietary vapor retarder
climates)
Attic ventilation
• Control condensation
• Prevent formation of ice dams at projecting
eaves
– Snow & ice add unwanted loads to eaves
– Ice dams prevent water from draining off the roof,
resulting in leaks
• Reduce heat transmission to interior of
building during summer
Soffit & gable end vents Soffit & ridge vent
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Temperature gradient across an
Soffit & turbine vents
assembly
Temperature drop across the entire
assembly
∆t1 + ∆t2 + ∆t3 = t
Heat flow through an assembly
∆t1 = q
Rt
Temperature drop through a layer
R1
∆t1 = Rt ∆t
Temperature drop across a layer is
proportional to the R‐value of that Line of temperature gradient
layer
∆t1 = 2 (60) = 8ºF Assume:
15 RH outside air = 80%
∆t2 = 48ºF RH inside air = 50%
∆t3 = 4ºF Assembly is vapor permeable
Dew (point per Table 1) = 50º
Temperature drop across the entire
assembly
∆t1 + ∆t2 + ∆t3 = 60ºF