Facilitator of moisture accumulation in building envelopes and its influences on condensation and mould growth

Xue, Yucong; Fan, Yifan; Wang, Zitao; Gao, Weijun; Sun, Zhijian; Ge, Jian

doi:10.1016/j.enbuild.2022.112528

Cited by 19 publications

(7 citation statements)

References 51 publications

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“…The minimum room dry bulb temperature was above the set point at 23°C. The fluctuating conditions will inevitably cause biological or fungal growth [19][20][21][22][23]. Therefore, it is strongly recommended that the operating AC system work for 24 hours daily throughout the year in order to keep the environment stable and suitable for the preservation of books and archival materials.…”

Section: Trnsys Simulation Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Climates and Energy Consumption by Air Conditioning System in a Learning Resource Centre in Malaysia

Khean

Leman²,

Adam³

et al. 2023

ARFMTS

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A Learning Resource Centre is a type of library that houses books and all other media facilities as well as daily newspapers and journal articles. Indoor climates such as the indoor dry bulb temperature and relative humidity must be controlled at the recommended level in a Learning Resource Centre in order to keep the collections and archival materials in good condition. Based on the ASEAN Energy Organization report, 50-60% of the total energy consumption of a building goes to Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems operation. As such, energy savings for HVAC systems is crucial and should be studied, especially after climate change has taken place. In this paper, the author installed data loggers in the Resource Centre for a period of a month to monitor the indoor climate changing trend. Due to the lack of cooling and dehumidification processes when the HVAC systems were turned off, there were peaks in both indoor dry bulb temperature and relative humidity during the night. The ambient high relative humidity had caused an increase in the indoor relative humidity at night. At the same time, the energy consumption simulation of the HVAC systems was run using the Transient Energy System Simulation Tool (TRNSYS). Different operating modes were set in the simulations to obtain the comparison of energy consumption for the different operating modes of the HVAC systems under four different weather elements, namely the present-day, 2020’s, 2050’s and 2080’s time scenarios. Electricity bills for the different scenarios based on current electricity tariffs were analyzed. The results show that a significant saving can be obtained if the HVAC systems were operated under the All-day Operating Mode.

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Section: Trnsys Simulation Modelmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Climates and Energy Consumption by Air Conditioning System in a Learning Resource Centre in Malaysia

Khean

Leman²,

Adam³

et al. 2023

ARFMTS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Designers should consider certain physical criteria or rules to define and organise layers, as well as to define minimum thicknesses. The properties of thermal conductivity, the permeability to the passage of water vapor, and the moisture absorption of each layer should be considered according to their location and function in the enclosure to reduce condensation, i.e., a phenomenon that affects energy performance, indoor environment quality, and the durability of all buildings, to acceptable limits [8,9].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Application of Environmental and Biological Frequency Indicators to Assess the Serpula lacrymans Fungus in Wooden Dwellings

Espinoza Maldonado,

Bobadilla,

Rubio-Bellido

2024

Buildings

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High moisture content, low ventilation levels, and changes in the hygrothermal design of wooden dwellings could generate environmental conditions favorable for developing the rot fungus Serpula lacrymans, which is known as the most destructive fungus of its kind. The purpose of this research was to develop an experimental methodology to determine the conditions of the appearance of the fungus S. lacrymans, through in situ measurement of biological and environmental frequency indicators for wooden dwellings in South Central Chile. The referential standards for the appearance of the fungus were determined based on specialized literature and measurements of dwellings with and without deterioration. The frequency indicators for the appearance of the fungus defined and studied were as follows: frequency of air temperature FATs (%), frequency of relative humidity FRMs (%), frequency of ventilation rate FVRs (%), and rot fungus spore concentrations (CFU/pp). The methodology was validated by being measured in various enclosures and spaces under the floor in wooden dwellings in the cities of Valdivia and Temuco. The results confirmed the strong relationship between environmental relative humidity frequencies, ventilation levels, and spore concentration regarding the appearance of the fungus, where the growth dynamics cannot be separately explained without a previous analysis of the variables. In general, the dwellings most affected by the presence of the fungus had the greatest moisture levels, lower ventilation levels, and greater spore concentration. This study is the basis to diagnose the phenomena of the appearance of the rot fungus in wooden dwellings in climates favorable for its development.

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“…In this regard, several studies have investigated the relationship between fungal growth risk and building construction. Silveira et al [9] and Xue et al [10] analyzed the influence of thermal insulation and the solar orientation of external walls in different climates on the surface condensation risk and, thus, fungal growth. The conclusions indicate that the presence of thermal insulation decreases the risk of surface condensation.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In contrast, insufficient ventilation and low surface temperatures are critical in creating ideal conditions for fungal growth [9]. Xue et al [10] concluded that the wall orientation and insulation positioning are closely connected to the indoor moisture content, condensation, and mold risk. High heat flux at the exterior surface due to solar radiation can reduce the moisture content of the building envelope.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Risk of Fungal Growth in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB)

et al. 2023

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Research on nearly zero-energy buildings has addressed mainly the aspects of energy saving or technical and economic optimization, while some studies have been conducted on comfort and indoor air quality. However, the potential problems that may arise in low-energy buildings during the operational phase, and especially the risk of fungal growth, which can deteriorate the indoor environment and pose a health risk to the occupants, are yet to be extensively investigated. The present work intends to analyze previous research on microbial contamination in zero-energy buildings in order to identify the possible risks that may lead to fungal formation and the possible strategies to prevent the proliferation of molds. The methodology is based on a systematic literature review and subsequent critical analysis to outline perspectives on this topic. The main results indicate that high envelope insulation and inadequate ventilation are the leading causes of fungal growth in energy-efficient buildings. The need for more detailed regulation in this area is also highlighted. The study’s outcomes underline the need for more attention to be paid to the design and management of zero-energy buildings, aiming to achieve the reduction in energy demands while ensuring the occupants’ well-being.

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Facilitator of moisture accumulation in building envelopes and its influences on condensation and mould growth

Cited by 19 publications

References 51 publications

Indoor Climates and Energy Consumption by Air Conditioning System in a Learning Resource Centre in Malaysia

Indoor Climates and Energy Consumption by Air Conditioning System in a Learning Resource Centre in Malaysia

Application of Environmental and Biological Frequency Indicators to Assess the Serpula lacrymans Fungus in Wooden Dwellings

Risk of Fungal Growth in Nearly Zero-Energy Buildings (nZEB)

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