CS1 - Moisture Ingress: Department of Construction Bachelor of Construction

CS1 – Moisture Ingress
Unitec, template - Lydia Kiroff

Department of Construction Unitec, Lydia Kiroff 2007
Bachelor of Construction  author - Vince May 2009
What is the objective?
- To safeguard people from injury or illness which could

result from moisture entering the building.
How does it achieve this?
-Defines risk by using a building envelope risk matrix.
-Provides acceptable solutions dependant on the defined
risks.
-Supplies approved construction details.

Department of Construction Unitec,
Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Bachelor of Construction
- Building location.
-Exposure to wind and rain.
-Building size and shape.

-Material selection.
-Design features –roof overhangs, pergolas, etc
-Durability – The building envelope has to repel moisture
for it’s entire life

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
The nine mechanisms of water ingress
-Gravity -Airborne moisture (convection)

-Momentum. -Vapour diffusion.
-Pressure differentials. -Condensation.
-Surface tension -Solar driven moisture

-Capillary attraction
Generally mechanisms act in conjunction with
each other not alone.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Match the water ingress mechanisms to the
definitions on the handout provided
-Gravity
-Momentum.
-Pressure differentials.
-Surface tension
-Capillary attraction or wicking
-Airborne moisture (convection)
-Vapour diffusion.
-Condensation.
-Solar driven moisture

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Gravity (9) Downwards - all the time
Fig 4, pg11, DBH guideline EXTERNAL MOISTURE – AN INTRODUCTION TO

WEATHERTIGHTNESS DESIGN PRINCIPLES

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Momentum. (3) Water moving in any direction other
than downward (driven by wind or
bouncing)


Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Pressure differentials. (5) Faster air movement outside of a wall
leads to higher air pressure, the air will
try and equalise pressure through gaps
and cracks taking moisture with it.


Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Surface tension (1) Positively charged molecular
attraction (the ability to hang)
Figs 7,8, pg13, DBH guideline EXTERNAL MOISTURE – AN INTRODUCTION TO


Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Capillary attraction or (6) When surface tension is
wicking stronger than the forces of
gravity water will move upwards.


Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Airborne moisture (4) Air moving through cracks etc
(convection) bringing moisture with it, that may end up
depositing in the wall frame .
-Vapour diffusion (1) When air in one space has a higher

humidity than another the vapour levels will
try and equalise passing through building
materials that are not a vapour barrier. (warm
air carries more water vapour than cold air)

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Condensation. (2) When warm air with 100% humidity
cools condensation will occur .


Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Solar driven moisture (7) Water absorbed into the cladding by
wicking is then forced through the cladding
by diffusion when heated externally .

WEATHERTIGHTNESS DESIGN PRINCIPLES (the diagram has been altered from the
original as the DBH have confirmed there was an error in the printing of the original)

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Match the water ingress mechanisms to the
appropriate method of protection
-Gravity
-Momentum.
-Pressure differentials.
-Surface tension
-Capillary attraction or wicking
-Airborne moisture (convection)
-Vapour diffusion.
-Condensation.
-Solar driven moisture

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Gravity (7) Flashings, drainage slopes, overlaps,
limit penetrations
-Momentum. (4) Separation and diverting water from
junctions
-Pressure differentials. (1 or 9) Wind barriers and air seals .
-Surface tension (8) Drip edges
-Capillary attraction or (6) Create gaps that are too big

wicking for surface tension to effect –
Seal porous materials .

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
-Airborne moisture (1 or 9) Wind barriers and air seals .
(convection)
-Vapour diffusion (5) Reduce internal moisture sources –
greater ventilation of internal spaces – better
insulation – Vapour barriers to prevent
transfer.
-Condensation. (3) Do not trap vapour where structural decay
could result. Provide better ventilation (use
cavities).
-Solar driven moisture (2) Reduce cladding absorbency – create a
ventilating cavity.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Traditional claddings were designed to shed
water, with underlays and flashing systems used
to drain the occasional leak. This method relies
on diffusion to dry out materials and is simply
not fast enough to prevent materials being
damaged by moisture.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
A more comprehensive model for
weathertightness has been developed .
It is known as the 4 D’s and is based on 4

qualities. As shown in order of importance
-Deflection
-Drainage
-Durability
-Drying

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
DEFLECTION
Deflecting water away from cladding joints, junctions and

penetrations can significantly reduce the amount of water
able to reach potentially vulnerable entry points. The
following are some of the methods available to achieve this.
- overhangs
- overlaps
- projections or drip edges

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
DRAINAGE
Providing the opportunity for any water that does get behind
the cladding to be directed back to the outside.
Effective methods include:
- drained cavity
- cladding overlaps
- flashings

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
DRYING
This removes water both from the outside face and any that doesn’t
drain from behind the cladding. Drying occurs mainly by ventilation
but where these rates are too low, diffusion of water vapour also
contributes. (drainage cavities do not provide good ventilation)
DURABILITY
Although not a prevention mechanism, if a cladding component

fails through lack of durability, then a building’s watertightness
becomes compromised.
Durability includes both materials and fixings.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
WALL CLADDING SYSTEMS MAY BE DIVIDED
INTO TWO CATEGORIES
1 Mass construction
2 framed walls.
– Framed walls can be further divided into barrier walls

and rainscreen walls.
– Rainscreen walls can be further divided into

traditional “two lines of defence” approach
and rainscreen cavity systems.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
MASS CONSTRUCTION SYSTEM
Mass walls work on the premise of providing

sufficient mass that any water absorbed only occurs
in the outer layers and never affects the internal
surfaces or linings.
They have to be able to absorb any water that isn’t
shed and hold it until it evaporates, and so generally
require sufficient mass and have a “breathable”
external coating.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
FRAMED WALL BARRIER SYSTEM
These are face-sealed systems whose aim is to prevent all water

penetration from both the cladding and at any joints or junctions.
An example would be a stucco or monolithic cladding system
If water does penetrate, then deterioration is compounded and may

be rapid.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
FRAMED WALLS RAINSCREEN SYSTEM
This wall system assumes that some water may

penetrate the outer surface and that any unintended leak
is managed by draining (with drying) the water away
before it can further penetrate any structure. These
rainscreen systems can be further divided into traditional
“two lines of defence” approach and rainscreen cavity
systems.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
TRADITIONAL 2 LINES OF DEFENCE APPROACH
Traditional rainscreen systems include direct-fixed

weatherboards and other similar systems. They provide
adequate drainage in most low to medium risk situations
as they have small gaps that allow drainage and drying.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
RAINSCREEN CAVITY APPROACH
Use a cavity between the cladding and the structural

framing.
It must be remembered that the cavity is not a drain but

there to manage unintentional water penetration by
drainage and drying.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
State on the sheet provided which of the 4D’s
each cladding system complies with.
-Mass construction. e.g. Concrete masonry wall
-Wall barrier system for framed walls. e.g. Monolithic
-Rainscreens on a framed wall, traditional two(2) lines of defence.
e.g. Weatherboards direct fixed to framing.

-Rainscreens on a framed wall with a drained cavity system.
e.g. Weatherboards fixed to a drainage cavity.
-Rainscreens on a framed wall with a ventilated cavity system.

e.g. brick veneer

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Wall cladding junctions and joins are
vulnerable to water penetration
These are areas that are vulnerable to water penetration

and need the 4D principles of weathertightness applied
as defence against the mechanisms of water ingress
These are considered in different categories due to the

varying effects of wind, gravity and drainage and
include:
- Horizontal joints - Vertical joints
- Penetrations - wall junctions

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Initial design is important the more complex
the more care required!
Roofs handle more water than most walls, overlaps and

upstands need to be greater and care is required to avoid
ponding and to ensure water is drained efficiently.
The steeper the pitch, the faster water is shed.
Treat enclosed decks as roofs

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Deflection Deflect water away from joints and junctions.
The most direct drainage path is desirable.
Overlapping of claddings and underlays.
Avoidance of internal gutters.
Avoid water ponding areas.
Drainage Drainage is provided by roof cladding with

secondary drainage provided by the roofing
underlay.
Underlay also acts as an air barrier, and is
designed to catch condensation drips.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Drying Roofs have better sun exposure than walls.
Additional venting such as vented ridge caps
may be required for low pitched roofs and where
membrane systems are used.
Condensation on some roofing materials will lead
to water being drained and absorbed by the
underlay.
Durability The New Zealand Building Code calls for a

minimum of 15 years.
This means that a roof design must allow for
ease of inspection

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Concrete E2/AS1 provides minimum clearances required
for different cladding systems and finished floor
levels to adjacent ground or paving.
Concrete slabs must be formed over DPM to
prevent water ingress thru capillary action
Timber Timber framed floors require a minimum

clearance above ground level to ensure durability
of the sub floor timber and provide adequate sub
floor airflow to promote drying.
All floor systems require the finished ground to slope away from the
building to reduce water levels adjacent or under the building.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Retaining walls that form walls or internal spaces
need special consideration
Rectifying defects in the waterproofing is difficult and expensive

as it is buried under tonnes of earth up against the waterproofing
on the wet side of the wall
Careful detailing is required for wall and floor DPM’s, how they are
lapped and how they are protected from the granular backfills
behind the wall and the placement and discharge of sub soil drains.
The Weathertightness Design Principles document shows
diagrams for four different retaining wall options.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
The 4D’s of weathertightness
Deflection, Drainage, Durability and Drying
are used to offer protection to a cladding system

from the nine (9) mechanisms of water entry.
Gravity, momentum, pressure differentials, surface tension,

Capillary attraction, airborne moisture, vapour diffusion,
condensation and solar-driven moisture.

Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Unitec,Lydia
VinceKiroff
May 2007
2009
Unitec, template - Lydia Kiroff
Department of Construction Unitec, Lydia Kiroff 2007
Bachelor of Construction  author - Vince May 2009

CS1 - Moisture Ingress: Department of Construction Bachelor of Construction

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CS1 - Moisture Ingress: Department of Construction Bachelor of Construction

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CS1 – Moisture Ingress

Unitec, template - Lydia Kiroff

- To safeguard people from injury or illness which could