The main goal of a research project on wind barriers was to get more information about the influence of wind pressure on the heat loss from wood frame constructions. The project was divided into three parts: calculations, hot-box measurements and wind pressure measurements on a rotatable test house, The theoretical studies as well as the experimental investigations in the hot-box, have been restricted to one specific type of forced convection in the thermal insulation, called "anblasning", i.e.
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.
All the findings about indoor air quality is of little use to the average citizen, if they are not applied and and translated into rules incorporated in our building codes for the design, construction, and last but certainly not least maintenance of our buildings. And scientifically based up-to-date coders are not much use if they are not backed by strict , honest, and competent building inspectors. Recommendations are made for improvements in building codes to ensure good indoor air quality by concentrating, but not exclusively, on ventilation.
This paper presents and discusses results of moisture transfer into timber frame constructions. The two mechanisms of transfer are diffusion and bulk air movement. Three defects in construction were monitored punctured vapour barrier, continuous path via an electrical socket and discontinuities at junctions. The study has shown that, under steady-state conditions condensation can take place, while under varying conditions both condensation and evaporation occur. This second case is typical of the building in use, and can prevent high levels of moisture existing in timber components.