VALIDATION OF THE PROGRAM GLASTA

ACCORDING TO EN ISO 13788

Introduction

Annex C of the standard EN ISO 137881 contains 2 examples of an interstitial condensation

calculation. Both examples are calculated using the program GLASTA.

Boundary conditions GLASTA climate file 13788ac.boc

Both examples use the same boundary conditions. Figure 1 shows the monthly mean external
(side 1) and internal (side 2) temperature, relative humidity and vapour pressure.

Figure 1. Boundary conditions for the two examples

Example 1 GLASTA wall files 13788e1a.wal and 13788e1b.wal

GLASTA data prENISO13788a.glp and prENISO13788b.glp

In this example, a flat roof with an impermeable weather proofing layer over the insulation is
analysed. Figure 2 shows the relevant data. A roof with and without a vapour barrier is
considered.

Figure 2. Data for example 1 from EN ISO 13788

1 EN ISO 13788:2001 Hygrothermal performance of building components and building elements - Internal
surface temperature to avoid critical surface humidity and interstitial condensation - Calculation methods

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 Figure 3. GLASTA results for example 1 compared with the standard
Figure 3 shows the condensation rate and the condensation accumulation rate obtained by
GLASTA and listed in the standard, both for a situation without and with a vapour barrier. The
rates are practically identical. Figure 4 shows the condensation rate evolution.

Figure 4. Condensation rate evolution without (left) and with (right) a vapour barrier

Example 2 GLASTA wall file 13788e2.wal

GLASTA data prENISO13788c.glp

In this example an internally insulated masonry wall which has had an external insulated render
added. Figure 5 shows the relevant data.

Figure 5. Data for example 1 from EN ISO 13788

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 Figure 6. GLASTA results for example 2 compared with the standard
Figure 6 shows the condensation rate and the condensation accumulation rate obtained by
GLASTA and listed in the standard. A small difference occurs between the condensation rates in
interface 1, as shown also in Figure 7. An explanation could be that GLASTA automatically divides
the periods (months in this case) during drying out. In that way in GLASTA the drying out rate
never can exceed the amount of moisture present. This isn’t the case in the standard. The
difference found is anyway practically irrelevant.

Figure 7. Condensation rate at interfaces 1 and 2, as listed in the standard and as calculated

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 Figure 8. Condensation rate evolution (left) and condensation distribution (right)

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