Natural Exposure Test Facility

1. Natural Exposure Test Facility

2. Partnerships • Washington State University • Energy Program • Wood Materials and Engineering Laboratory • Oak Ridge National Laboratory • Partners • Weyerhaeuser, CertainTeed, Fortifiber • APA The Engineered Wood Association • Suppliers, labor unions, industrial hygienist • US Department of Energy

3. The Problem • City of Seattle Moisture Damage Study • $98 million documented • New construction has greatest numbers • Potential additional $900 million + • Similar problems in Portland, Vancouver, BC, and other Pacific Northwest cities • National scope as well– every region has their own story

4. The Problem • Are Energy and Ventilation standards to blame? • Until the moisture issues are put to rest, advancements in Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality Standards will be difficult • Health of occupants will continue to be a concern • When increased insulation requirements are proposed for energy codes, moisture concerns are consistently used to create negative impression ofthe requirements.

5. Project Objective • Develop Energy Efficient Wall Systems that are durable in Pacific NW Climates • Keep the focus narrow enough to produce results within three year timeframe • Wood-based building systems • Provide a test bed for the advancement of quantitative methods start to finish

6. Deliverables • A fully implemented natural exposure test facility • An implemented systems engineering approach for the analysis of building envelopes using the most advance modeling tools, and • Specific construction solutions for the Pacific Northwest climate.

7. Tasks • Construction, operation and reporting on Natural Exposure Testing • WSU, partners • Hygrothermal modeling • ORNL • Hygrothermal material properties testing • ORNL • Dissemination of results • All

8. ORNL Advanced Hygrothermal Modeling Modeling used to identify critical areas to be monitored in the field. Modeling used to focus field efforts on promising designs Natural Exposure Testing Verifies and refines model Eventually modeling reduces the need for testing

9. ORNL Material Properties Testing Heat Capacity Thermal Conductivity Vapor Permeability (T, RH) Liquid Permeability Sorption Isotherm Air Permeability

16. First Year Test Parameters • Exterior Finish • Stucco and Lap Siding • Exterior Cavities • None, Vented, Ventilated • Weather Resistive Barriers • Exterior Sheathing • Plywood, OSB, Gypsum • Insulation • R-11, R-21, R-13+R5

17. First Year Test Parameters • Vapor Barriers • None • Poly • VRB Paint • Kraft • Smart Retarder ( MemBrain ) • Interior Finish • 2 coats latex • Oil based

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20. Wall 4

21. Wall 8

22. Instrumentation

25. 1 4 2 • Cavity • Instrumentation 3 3 4 6

26. Exterior • Instrumentation

28. Interior Loads • Higher than average interior RH, But not out of the ordinary for NW housing

29. Wall 1 - Stucco – Direct Applied

30. Wall 4 – Ventilated Stucco

31. RH in contact with Weather Resistive Barrier Wall 1 Wall 4

32. Wall 1 - Stucco – Poly Vapor Redarder

33. Wall 7 – Stucco – No Vapor Retarder

34. Second Year of Testing Just Started New walls New loads • Reports will be posted: • http://www.energy.wsu.edu/projects/building/moisture.cfm

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