An Innovative System for the Treatment of Rising Dampness in Buildings Located in Cold Climates

Abstract

Signs of wetness in housing are a significant obstacle to the renovation and energy rehabilitation of old and energy-intensive heritage buildings, especially in cold climates. Thus, in order to avoid the numerous possibilities of degradation caused by the moisture transfer phenomena in the building envelope, the a disruptive aeraulic process, which focuses on the ventilation of an air gap between the thermal insulation and the wet wall, has been designed and its assessed. This system avoids the presence of liquid water at the wall surface by maintaining the hygrothermal balance within the wet wall. This enables the mechanical durability of the supporting structure, the absence of biological activity and/or frost and, hence, the durability of the thermal insulation. These issues are investigated through a case study based on a real site. Over a year of measurements, the wet wall was constantly maintained in hygroscopic balance, around 90% RH, guaranteeing the preservation of its mechanical performance, while the insulation layer was kept moisture free. In addition, the proposed model for predicting the appearance and development of biological activity demonstrated its validity, confirming experimental results.These initial results will now lead to the optimization of the aeraulic device, as well as possible use in a summer cooling context to achieve hygrothermal comfort for housing occupants.