Moisture loads arising from the deposition of wind-driven rain (WDR) on building façades can induce detrimental effects to wall assembly components and can adversely influence their long-term performance. Wind-driven rain as a climatic phenomenon will inevitably be affected by the evident changing climate in the near future. Wall assemblies subjected to wind-driven rain loads will also perform differently due to a varying moisture environment over the course of time. The performance of the building envelope, including the wall assembly, largely determines the serviceability of a building over its life cycle. Thus, it is essential for practitioners to understand and to be able to assess such performance. In this study, a complete procedure has been developed to permit assessing the moisture resilience of wall assemblies to wind-driven rain loads arising from climate change. The development of this procedure included four phases. In the first phase the historical and projected climate data was analysed to identify the possible wind-driven rain conditions to which a wall assembly may be exposed. The magnitudes of wind-driven rain and driving-rain-wind-pressure for different return periods were also investigated. Based on the results from phase one, a watertightness test protocol was established taking into consideration the possible ranges of wind-driven rain and driving-rain-wind-pressure as they may occur spatially, as well as temporally, across Canada. The range of watertightness test parameters was accommodated in the newly built Dynamic Wind and Wall Testing Facility (DWTF) at the National Research Council Canada. Thereafter in phase two of the research, wall assemblies having different configurations were tested in the DWTF following the test protocol to obtain the moisture load for wall assemblies under different wind-driven rain conditions. Such moisture loads were formulized and used in the third phase, where hygrothermal simulations were conducted to derive the hygrothermal parameters of the wall assemblies subjected to historical and projected climate data. In the final research development phase, different criteria and methods were explored to describe the performance of wall assemblies based on the hygrothermal parameters. During the development of the moisture resilience assessment procedure, a novel wind-driven-rain-pressure-index was devised to describe the extent of the effects arising from the concurrent action of wind-driven rain and driving-rain-wind-pressure loads on a vertical wall assembly; a new two-step approach was established to formulize the watertightness test results and thereby permit calculating the moisture load using values of hourly wind-driven-rain and hourly driving-rain-wind-pressure of a given location; a novel severity index was proposed to quantitatively describe the damage events arising from such moisture load on the wall assemblies. The moisture performance of tested wall assemblies subjected to historical and projected future climate were compared and discussed. The risks of occurrence of damage events in wall assemblies during different time periods were also demonstrated.

Fuktinnehållet i fasadpaneler av trä varierar över tid beroende på faktorer som till exempel frekvensen av slagregn. Fasadpaneler kan ta skada av inträngande fukt och bör därför skyddas på bästa sätt för att inte förlora den primära funktionen att stoppa snö och regn att ta sig innanför byggnadens omslutande klimatskal. Forskningsstudier visar att ett grundläggande fuktskydd kan skapas genom att ytbehandla fasadpanelen och välja rätt träslag. Ett annat känt fuktskyddsråd inom byggbranschen är att snedsåga ändträet på fasadpanelen (även kallad droppnäsa), men inga studier kunde identifieras som styrker att det verkligen gör någon skillnad för fuktinnehållet i materialet. För att undersöka det här närmare togs en bevattningsmodell fram med syftet att ta reda på droppnäsans betydelse för fasadpanelens fuktskydd. Hypotes 1 var att fasadpaneler med droppnäsa generellt absorberar mindre fukt jämfört med fasadpaneler där ändträet inte är snedsågat, oavsett utförande. Det baserades på antagandet att en snävare vinkel på ändträet resulterar i att vattnet från vattenfilmen rinner av fasadpanelen istället för att fastna på ytan av ändträet och sugas upp kapillärt. Hypotes 2 var att ytbehandlade fasadpaneler med droppnäsa tar upp mindre fukt jämfört med ytbehandlade fasadpaneler utan droppnäsa, baserat på att försöka efterlikna rådet gällande snedsågning och ytbehandling, där ytbehandlingen används i syftet att reducera kapilläruppsugningen. Experimentet genomfördes med tre testställningar där alla hade utrustats med likadant stående fasadpanel som var grupperade efter ändträvinkel och ytbehandling. Resultaten från de tre testställningarna kunde sedan jämföras och kontrolleras mot varandra för att undersöka reliabiliteten i studien. För att efterlikna den vattenfilm som kan uppstå vid slagregn och öka den ekologiska validiteten bevattnades fasadpanelerna via en hängränna av trä. Resultatet visade att fuktkvoten för fasadpaneler med droppnäsa fluktuerade över och under fuktkvoten för fasadpanel där ändträet inte var snedsågat, oavsett om utförandet beaktades eller inte. Det snedsågade ändträet visade sig därmed inte vara bättre jämfört med det icke snedsågade ändträet, vilket innebar att ingen av hypoteserna kunde få något stöd. En något lägre fuktkvot kunde däremot observeras på grundbehandlade fasadpaneler, oavsett vinkel på ändträet. Slutsatsen utifrån använd bevattningsmodell var att droppnäsan inte hade någon betydelse för fuktskyddet av fasadpaneler av trä. Istället fanns det indikationer på att det är ytbehandlingen som gör skillnad på fuktinnehållet, vilket stöds av befintlig forskning. / The moisture content of wooden façades changes over time due to external factors, for example the frequency of driving rain. Wooden façades can take damage from penetrating moisture and therefore should be protected so they do not lose their primary function of stopping snow and rain from getting inside the climate shell of the building. Science studies have shown that a fundamental protection from moisture can be created through surface treatment of the façade and choosing the right type of wood. Another known moisture protecting advice within the field of construction is to mitre the corners on the lower part of the façades (also known as dripping channel) but no studies could be found that confirmed that it actually effect the moisture content of the material. To investigate this a little further an irrigation model was created which the purpose to find out the significance of the dripping channel for the moisture protection of the façades. Hypothesis 1 was that façades with dripping channels generally absorb less moisture then façades with an end grain without a mitred corner, regardless of treatment. This was based on the assumption that a more narrow angle on the end grain causes the water from the water film to drip of the façades instead of getting trapped on the surface, and be absorbed by capillary forces. Hypothesis 2 was that treated façades with dripping channels absorb less moisture then treated façades without dripping channels, based on the attempt to mimic the advice regarding mitre and surface treatment, where the surface treatment is used for the purpose of reducing capillary uptake. The experiment consisted of three testing riggs with vertical wooden façades which were sorted by the angle of the end grain and surface treatment. The results from the three testing riggs could then be compared to each other to evaluate the reliability of the study. To mimic the water film that can appear during driving rain, the façades were irrigated through a wooden gutter. The results showed that the moisture ratio for façades with dripping channels was fluctuating under and above the moisture ratio for façades where the corner of the end grain was not mitred, regardless of treatment. The same results could be seen even when the treatment was considered. Façades with mitred end grains could therefore not be seen as better then façades without mitred end grains, so none of the hypotheses could get any support. However, a slightly smaller moisture ratio could be observed on surface treated façades, regardless the angle of the end grain. The conclusion based on the used irrigation model was that the dripping channel is of no significance for the moisture protection of the wooden façades. Instead there were indications that it is the surface treatment which makes a difference on the moisture content, something that is supported by existing research.

Ett stort antal av miljonprogrammets byggnader är idag i behov av renovering. Då många av dessa byggnader har en hög energiförbrukning kan det vara lönsamt att samtidigt energieffektivisera byggnaderna, bland annat genom tilläggsisolering. Det är av stor vikt att noggrant undersöka hur byggnaderna påverkas ur fukthänsyn innan nya fasadsystem tas i bruk för att undvika framtida fuktrelaterade skador.Syftet är att undersöka tre fasadsystem utifrån hur olika fuktbelastningar, väderstreck, tilläggsisoleringar och stommaterial påverkar ytterväggars fukttillstånd och risken för mikrobiell tillväxt. Även hur väl de olika fasadsystemen lämpar sig för att uppföras på en befintlig stomme i trä-, lättbetong- och betongstomme har undersökts. För att undersöka detta har fuktsimuleringar gjorts i fuktberäkningsprogrammet Wufi och resultaten har analyserats genom jämförelse av RF-kurvor samt riskbedömning för mögeltillväxt i Wufi Bio.En övergripande slutsats är bland annat att inläckage av slagregn är en stor belastning för fasadsystemen. Systemens fuktsäkerhet beror till stor del på dess förmåga att hantera inläckaget.Studien visar även att en fungerande ventilerad luftspalt, en god dränerande funktion eller en konstruktion med genomgående relativt ångöppna material har förmågan att hantera inläckage av slagregn effektivt. / A large number of buildings built under “miljonprogrammet” is today in need of renovation. With their high energy consumption it is also considered profitable to improve the buildings energy efficiency e.g. by additional insulation. It is however important to thoroughly evaluate potential damp issues that might arise as a result of these improvements before starting to implement a new building exterior.The aim of this study was to investigate three different façade systems based on how their moisture content and risk for mould growth are affected by different moisture loads, orientation, and additional insulation. Included is also a performance evaluation for each building exterior solution mounted on existing structure of wood, lightweight concrete and concrete structure. Damp simulations were done with the program Wufi and the results were then analysed by comparison to RF-curves in combination with risk assessments of the growth of mould with “Wufi Bio”.The overall conclusion shows that leakage due to torrential rain poses a great strain on building exterior systems. A solutions damp proof quality is largely dependent on its ability to withstand leakage from outer sources.The study also shows that a well ventilated cavity wall, sufficient drainage or a construction of exclusively vapour open materials has a positive impact on the amount of leakage.

Nachhaltige Architektur erfordert neue Bauformen, innovative Konstruktionen und die Verwendung neuartiger Baumaterialien. Zur Abschätzung des Risikos von feuchtebedingten Schäden finden Programme der hygrothermischen Bauteilsimulation Anwendung. Bei der Entwicklung solcher Simulationsprogramme spielt die korrekte Modellierung der Klimarandbedingungen eine entscheidende Rolle. Beim Übergang von der kurzwelligen horizontalen Strahlungsstromdichte auf die kurzwellige Strahlungsstromdichte eines beliebigen Bauteils müssen Himmelsrichtung der Flächennormalen und die Neigung des Bauteils zum Ausschluss von Eigenverschattung berücksichtigt werden. Das dargestellte integrale Modell erlaubt die Berechnung und Programmierung in einem hygrothermischen Simulationsprogramm. Für den Fall, dass nur Messwerte der globalen Strahlungsstromdichte zur Verfügung stehen, können die direkten und diffusen Anteile mithilfe geeigneter Modelle mit einer sehr guten Genauigkeit berechnet werden. Zur Berechnung der langwelligen Strahlungsbilanz eines Bauteils stehen nur selten jene Klimaparameter zur Verfügung, mit denen die atmosphärische langwellige Strahlungsflussdichte analytisch bestimmt werden kann, weshalb semi-empirische Modelle Anwendung finden müssen. Die langwellige Ausstrahlung der Atmosphäre kann mithilfe von bodennaher Lufttemperatur und Luftfeuchte sowie zweier Bedeckungsgrad-Indizes berechnet werden, welche die langwelligen Strahlungseigenschaften der Atmosphäre auf der Basis der vorhandenen kurzwelligen Strahlungsstromdichten beschreiben. Damit wird erstmals ein umfassendes Modell für die langwellige Strahlungsbilanz vorgelegt, welches alle Möglichkeiten der Datenverfügbarkeit berücksichtigt. Die Berechnung der Schlagregenstromdichte auf ein Bauteil kann mit den meisten vorliegenden semi-empirischen Modellen nur sehr ungenau erfolgen. Andere Verfahren, wie z.B. CFD-Simulationen, kommen wegen des beträchtlichen Aufwands meist nicht in Frage. Das bislang einzige vorliegende umfassende validierte semi-empirische Modell von Blocken kann durch die Berücksichtigung der mesoklimatischen Verhältnisse in seiner Genauigkeit verbessert werden. / Sustainable architecture requires new building design, innovative constructions and the use of newly developed building materials. In order to determine the risk of moisture-related damages, computer programs for hygrothermal building part simulation are being used. If one develops such a simulation program, correct modelling of climatic boundary conditions plays an important role. When calculating the shortwave solar radiation flux density at an arbitrary building part on the basis of the shortwave solar radiation flux density on the horizontal surface, one must take into consideration the orientation and the inclination of the building part in order to preclude self-shading. The presented integral model allows the calculation and the programming in a hygrothermal simulation program. If only measured values of global radiation flux density are available, direct and diffuse parts can be determined very precisely by means of validated models. When calculating the longwave radiation balance on a building part, the needed values for the correct determination of atmospheric longwave radiation are hardly available. That’s why semi-empirical models will be applied. The longwave radiation flux density of the atmosphere can be determined on the basis of near-ground temperature and relative humidity and two cloud cover indices, which describe the longwave irradiative properties of the atmosphere by means of available shortwave radiation flux densities. Therewith, firstly an integral model is being presented in order to determine longwave radiation balance, which considers all possibilities of data availability. Most models for determination of driving rain load work with very bad accuracy. Other methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are not possible for hygrothermal building part simulations because of the huge effort. The only fully validated semi-empirical model by Blocken can be improved, if meso-climatic boundary conditions are taken into consideration.

Nachhaltige Architektur erfordert neue Bauformen, innovative Konstruktionen und die Verwendung neuartiger Baumaterialien. Zur Abschätzung des Risikos von feuchtebedingten Schäden finden Programme der hygrothermischen Bauteilsimulation Anwendung. Bei der Entwicklung solcher Simulationsprogramme spielt die korrekte Modellierung der Klimarandbedingungen eine entscheidende Rolle. Beim Übergang von der kurzwelligen horizontalen Strahlungsstromdichte auf die kurzwellige Strahlungsstromdichte eines beliebigen Bauteils müssen Himmelsrichtung der Flächennormalen und die Neigung des Bauteils zum Ausschluss von Eigenverschattung berücksichtigt werden. Das dargestellte integrale Modell erlaubt die Berechnung und Programmierung in einem hygrothermischen Simulationsprogramm. Für den Fall, dass nur Messwerte der globalen Strahlungsstromdichte zur Verfügung stehen, können die direkten und diffusen Anteile mithilfe geeigneter Modelle mit einer sehr guten Genauigkeit berechnet werden. Zur Berechnung der langwelligen Strahlungsbilanz eines Bauteils stehen nur selten jene Klimaparameter zur Verfügung, mit denen die atmosphärische langwellige Strahlungsflussdichte analytisch bestimmt werden kann, weshalb semi-empirische Modelle Anwendung finden müssen. Die langwellige Ausstrahlung der Atmosphäre kann mithilfe von bodennaher Lufttemperatur und Luftfeuchte sowie zweier Bedeckungsgrad-Indizes berechnet werden, welche die langwelligen Strahlungseigenschaften der Atmosphäre auf der Basis der vorhandenen kurzwelligen Strahlungsstromdichten beschreiben. Damit wird erstmals ein umfassendes Modell für die langwellige Strahlungsbilanz vorgelegt, welches alle Möglichkeiten der Datenverfügbarkeit berücksichtigt. Die Berechnung der Schlagregenstromdichte auf ein Bauteil kann mit den meisten vorliegenden semi-empirischen Modellen nur sehr ungenau erfolgen. Andere Verfahren, wie z.B. CFD-Simulationen, kommen wegen des beträchtlichen Aufwands meist nicht in Frage. Das bislang einzige vorliegende umfassende validierte semi-empirische Modell von Blocken kann durch die Berücksichtigung der mesoklimatischen Verhältnisse in seiner Genauigkeit verbessert werden. / Sustainable architecture requires new building design, innovative constructions and the use of newly developed building materials. In order to determine the risk of moisture-related damages, computer programs for hygrothermal building part simulation are being used. If one develops such a simulation program, correct modelling of climatic boundary conditions plays an important role. When calculating the shortwave solar radiation flux density at an arbitrary building part on the basis of the shortwave solar radiation flux density on the horizontal surface, one must take into consideration the orientation and the inclination of the building part in order to preclude self-shading. The presented integral model allows the calculation and the programming in a hygrothermal simulation program. If only measured values of global radiation flux density are available, direct and diffuse parts can be determined very precisely by means of validated models. When calculating the longwave radiation balance on a building part, the needed values for the correct determination of atmospheric longwave radiation are hardly available. That’s why semi-empirical models will be applied. The longwave radiation flux density of the atmosphere can be determined on the basis of near-ground temperature and relative humidity and two cloud cover indices, which describe the longwave irradiative properties of the atmosphere by means of available shortwave radiation flux densities. Therewith, firstly an integral model is being presented in order to determine longwave radiation balance, which considers all possibilities of data availability. Most models for determination of driving rain load work with very bad accuracy. Other methods such as computational fluid dynamics (CFD) are not possible for hygrothermal building part simulations because of the huge effort. The only fully validated semi-empirical model by Blocken can be improved, if meso-climatic boundary conditions are taken into consideration.