01-BUILDING SCIENCE

Contents
a) Moisture and its movement through building components
• Condensation and its reasons
• Effects of moisture and condensation on building components and
materials
• The use of vapour barriers and other damp proof courses in
building
b) Thermal properties of building components and materials
• Thermal insulation: thermal resistance and thermal capacity
c) Acoustical properties of building materials: absorptive and reflective
materials
d) Noise control and constructional precautions to reduce noise
e) Lighting: natural and artificial
f) Energy conscious design: renewable and non-renewable source of
energy, active and passive methods of solar cooling and heating
BUILDING SCIENCE

• Building science is the collection of the scientific knowledge that focuses on

the analysis and control of the physical phenomena affecting building.
• It includes moisture concerns, sound control, day lighting and thermal
concerns, fire protection........
• Is the architectural-engineering-construction technology discipline
concerning mainly with detail-design in response to natural phenomenon
• The weather, and related issues
• Subterranean conditions
• Characteristics of materials
• Characteristics of Physic, chemistry, biology
• Human physiology
• Energy consumption, environmental control-ability............
• The purpose is to provide predictive capability to optimize building
performance.
• The practical outcome of building science knowledge is reflected in design
of architectural details of the building enclosure, and ultimately in the long
term performance of the building’s skin.
MOISTURE AND ITS
MOVEMENT
BUILDING SCIENCE

MOISTURE
• Moisture in buildings is a major contributor to mold growth,
unhealthy buildings, and poor indoor air quality.
• Is the adverse element affecting the living condition inside and
deteriorating the strength and durability of the building
components.
• Uncontrolled moisture is the most prevalent cause of the
deterioration of building, leading to erosion, corrosion, rot,
destruction of material, finishes, and eventually the structure
• Therefore, the moisture in building should be prevented from
different source (like rain water, groundwater..), moisture from
condensation and any other moisture sources.
• The challenge is to understand the patterns of the moisture
movement in order to better manage it not try to eliminate it.
BUILDING SCIENCE

Sources of moisture

•Comes from variety of external sources, most problem being the weather in
the form of rain, snow, high ambient RH, high water table...
•Some of other sources being internal source such as leaking plumbing pipes,
components of heating, cooling and climate control systems...
•The most common sources includes;
1. Rain water intrusion: Rain water leak is the major source of building
moisture and fungal growth, both in hot, humid and temperate climate
2. Ground water: one of the major source of moisture. Proper handling
of surface rain run-off is one of the most important measures of
ground water control.
3. Condensation
4. Built-in Moisture: with the materials of construction or brought in
with goods and people.
5. Internal source: leaking plumbing pipes and other mechanical
equipments, modern humidified heating and cooling system, moisture
from food preparation, showering, laundry…….
BUILDING SCIENCE

Moisture Movement
• Moisture movement is a natural and common phenomenon affecting
permeable materials and building components.
• One of the most fundamental and major sources resulting defects in
building components and elements.
• Moisture movement can occur as a discrete problem or in conjunction
with other causes of movement, such as thermal movement, to produce
combinations of symptoms.
• It is important to understand the basic mechanism of moisture movement
in order to diagnose moisture problem.
• Moisture movement occurs in two states; Liquid and Vapor.
BUILDING SCIENCE

Moisture moves under different mechanism in each of its phases.

a) Vapor diffusion (and surface diffusion with some porous materials)

b) Vapor convection (air movement)
c) Liquid water capillarity (wicking) through porous materials
d) Surface tension
e) Liquid gravity flow(including hydrostatic pressure through cracks,
openings and micro pores)…….
BUILDING SCIENCE

a) Vapor diffusion:
• Phenomenon of moving vapor from high vapor concentration to low
concentration region.
• Is the function of pressure differential within and exterior of the building.
• Diffusion acts to move vapor through the air, or through the air within
porous materials.
• Hence, water vapor doesn’t diffuse through non-porous materials like
steel, glass, plastics, etc.
• Vapor diffusion plays a role in transporting water vapor into the building
enclosure where it can sometimes condense.
BUILDING SCIENCE

a) Vapor diffusion:
• The movement of moisture vapor is not the serious problem until dew
point is reached and vapor condenses.
• It is more of a problem for framed structure of multi layered infill
materials within the frame than a dense masonry structure
• To control this flow, vapor barriers are often specified (in the inside in cold
climates and on the outside in hot-humid climates).
• It can be controlled by reducing interior/ exterior pressure differential,
temperature difference and relative humidity.
BUILDING SCIENCE

b) Vapor convection:
• It is the primary transport mode of water vapor along ducts and to
distribute it within a space.
• Very small flows of air usually move much greater quantities of water
vapor than diffusion can.
• Convection through openings in the building enclosure is a major cause
of interstitial condensation, and is the largest source of moisture inside
building enclosures after rain penetration.
• Continuous, durable, stiff, and strong air barrier systems must be
provided in all building enclosure to control or eliminate convective
moisture transport.
• Control of vapor convection also demands sealing of all air ducts that
penetrate the air barrier system, control of pressure zones within
buildings (so that air and vapor doesn’t flows through unintentional) and
proper operation of supply and exhaust fans.
BUILDING SCIENCE

c) Capillary action:
• Capillary suction moves liquid moisture slowly and steadily through porous
or permeable materials from high liquid concentration to low liquid
concentration region.
• The smaller the pores, the more powerful the capillary suction but the
slower the flow.
• Although the rate of moisture transport by this mechanism is relatively
slow, it can act for years.
• Capillary is important in construction contacting soil (since in almost all
areas the soil is usually wet), and rain–wetted surfaces.
• Capillary flow can be controlled or eliminated by installing a barrier to
capillary flow.
• A small air gap or a capillary inactive metal (e.g. non-porous) is often
sufficient.
• Both approaches are used in practice,
• An air space behind brick cladding
• Crushed stone below a concrete slab
• A piece of building paper below wood framing on a concrete floor.
BUILDING SCIENCE

d) Gravity flow:
• It can be the most powerful means of moisture transport.
• Large quantities of liquid water, often measured in liters per second, can
flow downward through openings, cracks, or air spaces when driven by
gravity.
• Gravity flow requires relatively large openings since capillary suction
forces tend to overcome gravity forces in small pores.
• Hence, water will not flow out of a saturated brick but can flow through a
screw hole in a plastic windowsill.
• To control the excessive water in the surrounding soil (i.e. high water
table), install a robust water proofing system that will withstand
hydrostatic forces.
• Attempting to block transport mechanisms is not always the best
approach for managing moisture.
• A sensible combination of reducing the source strength, controlling and
direct transport mechanism and encouraging drying should be used.
BUILDING SCIENCE

e) Condensation
• Air normally contains water vapor in varying quantities and its capacity to
do so is related to temperature(Warm air holding more water than cold air).
• Air is saturated when it cannot contain any more water vapor at the
existing temperature; under these conditions it is said to have a relative
humidity (RH) of 100%.
• If the temperature of the air falls until saturation point occurs the air is at a
critical temperature at which it cannot hold any more water - this
temperature is known as the dew point.
• Any further fall in temperature will result in water vapor being forced to
condense out as liquid water.
• The amount of water vapor condensing out will be the equivalent to the
amount of vapor excess of 100% RH of the air at its new temperature.
• Therefore, when warm air comes into contact with either colder air or a
cold surface the warm air is cooled, i.e. depressing the temperature of the
air to a level at which it can no longer contain all the water vapor and some
of it is discarded as condensation or liquid water.
BUILDING SCIENCE

i. Surface condensation
• Condensation in a building usually occurs when warm air comes into
contact with a cold surface.
• The air is cooled below its saturation point causing its excess water vapour
to change into liquid water.
• The condensed water usually appears as water droplets or water film on
non-absorbent surfaces such as windows or tiles.
• This form of condensation is SURFACE CONDENSATION.
• It is obvious and always occurs on the surfaces which are at or below the
dew point of the air immediately adjacent.
BUILDING SCIENCE

ii. Interstitial condensation

• Condensation can also occur within the fabric of the building due to the
internal air permeating through the structure because of its greater pressure.
• Water vapor in the air exerts a pressure which contributes to the total pressure
of the air.
• The more moisture present in the air, the greater the contribution of water
vapor to the total pressure of the air referred to as vapor pressure.
• Air inside a heated building usually contains more moisture than does the
external air.
• This means it is at a higher pressure which tends to force the warm air through
the structure taking the moisture with it.
• Most building materials, except metals, plastics and certain lined elements, are
to some extent permeable and do not obstruct the movement of moist air
through the structure.
• The warm moist air will eventually cool below its dew point within the fabric of
the building resulting in condensation. This form of condensation is
INTERSTITIAL CONDENSATION
BUILDING SCIENCE

• Moisture saturation state of air

• Condition of air at any particular temperature containing as much
as water vapor as it can hold (saturated air)
• Dew point
• The particular temperature at which the air is at the state of
moisture saturation
BUILDING SCIENCE

MOISTURE CONTROL
1. GROUND WATER CONTROL
• Ground water and the rain water causes serious problem to the building.
• Methods of moisture control in the sub structure;
• Damp proofing: Meant by the application of simple damp proofing
paints or membrane, controlling capillary infiltration.
• Water proofing: Meant by application of impervious layer under all
adverse sub-surface water condition.
• Sub-surface drainage: Is the method of diverting under ground water
away from the foundation and basement.
• Perforated underground drain may be used to direct subsurface
water away.
• Afterwards, proper water treatment to the foundation and the
walls of the basement.
BUILDING SCIENCE
BUILDING SCIENCE

MOISTURE CONTROL
2. RAIN WATER CONTROL
• Most important factor to control in order to construct a durable building.
• Rain may enter in building in many ways, is dependent on climate and
varies from place to place.
• Rain penetration into a building is governed by,
- Capillary action - Momentum
- Surface tension - Gravity force and
- Air pressure
• Drainage may be the best solution to control entry of rain water.
• Drain the>> Roof, Building envelope, openings, cavities, Horizontal
and vertical surfaces………
• Methods of rain penetration control in practice;
- Capillary breaks - Obstruction of horizontal openings
- Use of flashings -Drip edge or kerfs on horizontal openings
- Creation of pressure equalization.
BUILDING SCIENCE

Fig: Drip edge or kerfs

BUILDING SCIENCE
BUILDING SCIENCE

MOISTURE CONTROL
3. VAPOR CONTROL
• The fundamental principle of control of water in the vapor form is to keep it out
and to let it out if it gets in.
• Moisture vapor moves from warm side to cold side of building components
• Water vapor moves in two ways; vapor diffusion and air transport.
• Vapor diffusion
- Moisture flow by vapor diffusion is governed by the second law of
thermodynamics.
- Movement of moisture in the vapor state as a result of vapor pressure
difference( concentration gradient) or temp. difference (temp. gradient)
ie. Moves moisture from an area of higher vapor pressure to area of lower
vapor pressure or the warm side of the building to the cold side of the building.
- “Thermally driven diffusion”
- The moisture condenses on cold surfaces acting as dehumidifiers pulling more
moisture towards them.
• While the air transport is the movement of moisture present in the air from
the area of higher air pressure to the area of low air pressure.
BUILDING SCIENCE

• Vapor diffusion barrier

• A vapor barrier may not be required in all situations.
• If used, factors such as permeance, location and use of multiple barriers
becomes extremely important.
• Are materials that resists vapor diffusion through walls, floor, ceiling……
• May be required to control diffusion entry of water vapor into the
building components from interior, from exterior or from both.
• Is also called vapor diffusion retarder (VDR). A VDR regulates moisture
flow from inside out or from outside in at the molecular level.
• Categorize as,
- Impermeable ≤ 1 perm (ng/s.m2.pa)
(Asphalt-backed craft paper, vapor retarding paint, oil-based paints, vinyl
wall coverings, extruded polystyrene, rubber membrane, glass, aluminum
foil ………….)
BUILDING SCIENCE

- Semi permeable (1-10 perms)

(Un-faced expanded polystyrene, fiber faced isocyanurate, heavy asphalt
impregnated building papers, some latex-based paints, ply wood……….)

- Permeable (> 10 perms)

unpainted gypsum board and plaster, un-faced fiber glass insulation,
cellulose insulation, unpainted stucco, cement sheathings, spun bonded
polyolefin or some polymer-based exterior air barrier films)

• A perforation in a VDR simply allows more vapor diffusion in that area compared
with other areas where vapor diffusion is less restrictive.
BUILDING SCIENCE
• Its constructed from non-water
sensitive material.
• It can be virtually constructed
any where.
• In cold climates condensation
is limited on the interior side
of the vapor barrier, as the
result installing all of the
thermal insulation on the
exterior side of the vapor
barrier.
• In hot climates any moisture
that condenses on the exterior
side of the vapor barrier will
drained to the exterior since
the vapor barrier is also the
drainage plane.
• This assembly will dry from the
vapor barrier inwards and will
dry from the vapor barrier
outwards.
BUILDING SCIENCE
BUILDING SCIENCE

Effects caused by moisture or dampness

• Efflorescence
• Crumbling of plaster
• Bleaching and flaking of paints
• Warping, buckling and rotting of timber members
• Corrosion of metal
• Short circuiting in electrical supply lines and fixtures
• Creates unhealthy environment in the building
• Growth of fungus, termites
• Damaging sound and thermal insulation.
BUILDING SCIENCE

WATRE PROOFING

o GENERAL TERMINOLOGIES
• Below grade water proofing
- strong water resistant material, strong enough to resist hydrostatic pressure
of ground water, but cannot withstand effect of weathering agent.
-
o Flashing
- Materials installed in building sections to redirect water entering through
the building skin to the building exterior.
- installed as backup systems for water proofing or damp proofing
system.
o Positive / negative side water proofing
- System of water proofing applying in the side of source of moisture/
system of applying water proofing on the other side of the moisture
source.
BUILDING SCIENCE

o GENERAL METHODS OF WATER PROOFING

1. Surface treatment:- Involves application of water repellent materials
on the surface, generally walls.
2. Integral water proofing:- Involves addition of water proofing
materials in the cement concrete.
3. Membrane damp proofing:- Involves use of moisture impervious
membrane between source of dampness and the structure.
4. Guniting:- Involves applying rich cement mortar slurry on the
surface of the structure under high pressure.
5. Cavity wall construction: Involves shielding the building from the
source of moisture by constructing two vertical layers of wall and an
air gap in between.
6. Thick and dense wall
BUILDING SCIENCE

o DPC IN BUILDING
• HORIZONTAL DPC:- It is provided in;
- Plinth - Basement floor
- Roof - Parapet wall covers
• VERTICAL DPC:- It is provided in;
- Basement wall - Outer surface of wall of superstructure
- Surface of parapet wall
o MATERIALS USED FOR DAMP PROOFING
• Flexible materials like bitumen, Polythene sheet, led, copper …….
• Semi rigid materials like mastic asphalt
• Rigid materials as bricks, stones, cement concrete, slates …….
o REQUIREMENTS OF DPC MATERIALS
• Completely impervious
• Durable- having longer life
• Comparatively thin sheet- prevents disfigurement of building
• Flexible enough to entertain settlement if any