wall

Reports study of wind and rain over fifteen years and gives table of results. Reports measurements of wind pressure and driving rain on buildings. Discusses laboratory measurements of the tightness of facade elements under pressures of up to 50 Pa. and with temperature differences of -40 to +30 deg.C. across the facade. Describes pressurization of buildings and gives results of measurements in test dwellings. Discusses movement of joints in buildings and describes measurement of this movement.< Discusses permeability of both flat and sloping roofs.

In projects to rehabilitate old buildings in Canada, it is general practice to clear out the entire interior of a building, leaving only the structure and some or all of the exterior walls and roof. The new interior conditions impose more severe loads on the building envelope and hence walls and roofs must be upgraded. Discusses improvement of walls and roofs to increase airtightness, reduce rain penetration and conserve energy use. Discusses the effect of insulation and the location of insulation on the envelope performance and possible types of wall and roof modification.

Discusses masonry walls in relation to the air tightness of buildings. Considers mainly panel walls constructed of concrete blocks. States that in general such walls are very leaky, due mainly to shrinkage of the wall itself and deformation of the surrounding structure. Discusses the addition of insulation to wall, sealing of joints around window frames and at the edge of the floor slab. Gives diagrams showing details of building construction.

Air leakage through the junction between wall and roof of a building can cause damage from excess dampness. Discusses in detail the problem of constructing atight wall/roof junction for different forms of roof construction. describes installation of roof membrane and vapour barrier.< Also describes problem of air infiltration through uninsulated soffits. Outlines various solutions.

Describes exterior walls of metal studs and gypsum board, used as infill walls in frame construction of industrial, commercial and high-rise residential buildings. Discusses problems of high thermal conductivity of such walls, and the application of a vapour barrier to reduce air leakage.

Reports laboratory tests of sound transmission loss, thermal transmittance and rate of air leakage conducted on full-scale specimens of typical residential exterior wall constructions, either unbroken or penetrated by a door or window. A total of 109 acoustical tests and 48 thermal tests are reported. The resultant data are compared with literature data on similar constructions. Some correlation was found between sound transmission loss and air leakage.

Discusses mechanisms for radon liberation in dwellings. Mentions survey which found radon concentrations exceeding the maximum permissable concentration of 3 x 10^-12 curies in 13 of the 65 dwellings. Gives expressions for number of radon atoms in indoor air at time t and activity due to radon per unit volume. Discusses liberation of radon from walls and from soil and concludes that if the ventilation is poor or if there is a high emanation of radon, the indoor radon concentration may approach the maximum permissable level.

Recommends method for determination of extra heat and moisture load of a cold room resulting from leakages through chinks, cracks and porosity. Recommends clause on maximum leakage in delivery conditions. Treats internal and outdoor influences on air exchange, leakage detection and leakage measuring methods.

Describes the results of a major study to find out whether or not wall insulation installed without a vapour barrier causes an increased risk of moisture damage within walls. The exterior walls of 96 homes in Portland, Oregon were opened. Presents results of field and laboratory tests which show the absence of indications of moisture damage. Gives data on shrinkage and settling of insulation and results of air leakage measurements by fan pressurization tests. Concludes that the addition of wallinsulation without a vapour barrier does not cause moisture damage in existing homes.

Discusses some problems of providing weathertight joints between window and wall. Mentions sealing failures, condensation, frame defects and poor dpc detailing as important reasons for water penetration around windows. Refers to some principles of weather protection. Makes recommendations for the design of window-to-wall joints.