WHAT: Moisture Mechanics & Management in Residential Construction Workshop (see syllabus below)
WHO: Robert Riversong (see bio below)
WHEN: Sunday, May 10, 1–5 p.m.
WHERE: Offices of BuildingGreen, 122 Birge Street, Suite 30, Brattleboro, VT
HOW MUCH: Suggested $10 donation to cover instructor's travel; no one turned away

Please email  to sign up.

Moisture Mechanics & Management in Residential Construction

 
No modern building can function properly if the design program and construction detailing fails to account for the thermal and moisture dynamics of the building envelope and its relation to the internal and external environment.
 
We will explore the often misunderstood issues around indoor and outdoor moisture, moisture migration through the building envelope, moisture storage (or buffering) capacity of materials, effects of relative humidity both inside the building and within the thermal envelope, and moisture control methods that minimize mold, rot, corrosion and warpage while optimizing durability of the structure and human health & comfort.

The following topics will be covered:

Moisture Basics
  • absolute humidity
  • relative humidity
  • vapor pressure
  • dew point
  • sorption/desorption
  • diffusivity
  • moisture storage
  • moisture content
  • mold, rot, corrosion
Moisture Sources
  • environmental
  • structural
  • anthropogenic
  • other
Moisture Infusion Mechanisms
  • momentum
  • gravity
  • surface tension
  • capillary action
  • ab/adsorption
  • pressure differential
  • vapor differential
  • temperature differential
  • gravity movement
  • water vapor diffusion
  • convective transport
  • condensation & freezing
Moisture Elimination Mechanisms
  • gravity drainage
  • desorption
  • diffusion
  • evaporation
Moisture Control Techniques
  • exposure reduction
  • deflection
  • shedding
  • water resistance
  • moisture tolerance
  • drying potential
  • air sealing
  • diffusion retarders
  • thermal control
  • pressure control
  • humidity control
  • ventilation (dilution)
Rain Control Techniques
  • sealed face
  • redundant barrier
  • drainscreen
  • rainscreen
Moisture Control Strategies
  • hermetic house
  • breathable envelope
 
Presenter Bio: From geodesic domes in the 1970s and a community land trust homestead program in rural Maine in 1981, Robert Riversong has worked as a project manager, trainer, and consultant for non-profit building projects from inner-city Boston to the hollows of Tennessee.  He has focused on passive solar super-insulated buildings, with one of his design/build projects receiving a Citation for Excellence in a NESEA national energy/resource-efficient design competition. Robert got his early training from engineer Charlie Wing at Cornerstones Energy-Efficient Building School in Brunswick ME and is a self-educated engineer.