Hygrothermal Performance Assessment of Stucco-Clad Wood Frame Walls Having Vented and Ventilated Drainage Cavities

The long-term performance in respect to moisture management within any wood frame wall assembly depends on the hygrothermal response of the wall to local climate moisture loads. Estimating the wood moisture content, temperature, and time of exposure to conditions suitable for the onset, growth, and propagation of mold or rot are critical parameters when assessing the longevity of wood frame structures. A number of approaches for assessing the vulnerability of wood frame structures to deterioration have been developed in recent years; one of which has been used by NRC-Construction for evaluating the performance of wall assemblies based on the results from hygrothermal simulation. In this paper, an example of the use of this approach for the assessment of a stucco-clad wall incorporating drainage cavities is described as is the use of a mold index to capture the risk of the formation of mold in walls. An example is given in assessing the moisture management of a stucco-clad wood frame wall incorporating vented and ventilated drainage cavities for three Canadian locations.
Symposium on Advances in Hygrothermal Performance of Building Envelopes: Materials, Systems and Simulations, 26-27 October, 2016, Orlando, FL. USA
Series: Selected Technical Papers; no. STP1599