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

Geoffrey Promis, Omar Douzane, Daniel R. Rousse and Thierry Langlet
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Geoffrey Promis: Innovative Technologies Laboratory (LTI), University of Picardie Jules Verne, Avenue du Thil-Le Bailly, CEDEX 2, 80025 Amiens, France
Omar Douzane: Innovative Technologies Laboratory (LTI), University of Picardie Jules Verne, Avenue du Thil-Le Bailly, CEDEX 2, 80025 Amiens, France
Daniel R. Rousse: Groupe de Recherche Industrielle en Technologies de L’énergie et en Efficacité Énergétique (t3e), École de Technologie Supérieure, Université du Québec, 1100, Rue Notre-Dame Ouest, Montréal, QC H3C 1K3, Canada
Thierry Langlet: Innovative Technologies Laboratory (LTI), University of Picardie Jules Verne, Avenue du Thil-Le Bailly, CEDEX 2, 80025 Amiens, France

Energies, 2021, vol. 14, issue 12, 1-17

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.

Keywords: heat and moisture transfer; building materials; rising damp; innovative ventilation system (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
References: View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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