DAMP is an 'Expert System' or 'Knowledge Based System' (KBS) to aid diagnosis of causes of moisture damage found in buildings in New Zealand. This paper gives an outline of the current version of DAMP, which is still under development at the Building Research Association of New Zealand, operating in the CLASS language developed at University of Auckland with BRANZ support.
This paper presents results of air leakage measurements on brick walls and concrete block walls, used as outer or inner leaf of a cavity wall. The results are obtained using a pressure box on a series of test walls. The variable parameters that are examined: workmanship, pointing of the joints andplastering of the inner leaf. Out of the results can be concluded that, in general, only a plastered wall can guarantee a sufficient airtightness.
The concern that a large number of housing units across Canada, and in particular, through Atlantic Canada are exposed to potential damage from wood rot due to moisture trapped within exterior walls caused a joint task force of Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation and Canadian Home Builders Association representatives to address the "drying of walls" issue. Included in their mandate was a field research project in Atlantic Canada. The project, undertaken by Oboe Engineering Ltd. and AD1 Limited.
In this paper the moisture-diagnosis prototype of a knowledge based expert system to assist in the identification and diagnosis of air leakage problems in residential buildings is described and discussed. This prototype system requires the user to describe the symptoms of the existing moisture problems and provide information on house characteristics. Based on additional information on the symptoms and the house, this interactive program produces a list of probable causes and recommentations for remedial action.
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