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Internal insulation of existing walls is crucial to increase the energy efficiency of the building stock. However, this technique influences the drying potential of the wall and could consequently increase the decay risk of wooden beams embedded in the existing wall. We performed a long-term field study on different test walls with wooden beams. This paper discusses 2.5 years of measurements by analysing the moisture contents at the beam ends for the different test walls. The use of vapour open insulation materials has only a slightly favourable impact. On the other hand, measures to lower the moisture content of the wall have a significant effect, either by locally interrupting the insulation at the beam junction or by applying a water repellent treatment. Controlling the rain load on the wall seems to be a key point towards a moisture-safe application of internal insulation with embedded wooden beams.

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A versatile hot box-cold box test facility called HAMSTER enables to evaluate the energy and hygrothermal performance of up to 3m high, 3m wide and 3.6m deep building test elements including walls, flat or pitched roofs and floors. This equipment allows for the precise measurement of thermal performance according to standards. It also allows for the study of heat, air and moisture phenomena taking place in building elements under realistic climatic conditions including the effects of rain, sun or wind. Interior and exterior climates are simulated in, respectively, the hot and cold chambers by controlling the temperature, relative humidity, pressure difference between both chambers, infra-red or solar simulator heating and water spraying in the cold chamber. Critical issues that have been solved during the design and construction phases in order to reach both the required performances and the versatility of the test facility are discussed.

Experimental studies on the heat, air and moisture (HAM) performance of building components can offer extremely valuable knowledge for the construction of energy efficient buildings as well as for the renovation of existing buildings. To this aim, within the HAMSTER (acronym for "Heat, Air and Moisture Specialised Test facility for building Elements of Real size") project a unique hot box-cold box has been designed and built in Brussels, Belgium. The test facility enables well-controlled experimental studies on the HAM performance of real scale building components and nodes, and is hence highly valuable for future research projects. This work presents the features of the HAMSTER test setup and the main validation tests the facility is subjected to prior to commissioning. Peer-review under the responsibility of the organizing committee of the ICMB23.