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CONSULTING / DIAGNOSTICS
As building scientists, our focus is on building performance.
We can provide “best practice” analyses of construction materials and
methods. We can help you evaluate the efficiency of the building envelope and
the impact of the building on the surrounding environment.
The building codes are typically prescriptive for structural standards and
have evolved over time to insure the structural integrity of the building
envelope. However, the building codes have largely failed to address moisture
intrusion. Understanding how moisture, air currents and heat move through the
structure requires an understanding of “building physics” – but equally
important is the knowledge of how to translate a design into “as-builts”.
The high heat and humidity typical throughout the Southeastern United States
is a difficult climate for buildings. Frequent rain and hurricane driven
winds force water into wall assemblies. The humid summers leave the building
envelope soaked with almost no chance of drying. Mold and dry rot may appear
within a few months of construction. Often there are subtle hints of moisture
intrusion – the peeling paint and tell tale black spots in the shower. Mold
needs only a food source and moisture to grow aggressively. Areas with high
humidity (in excess of 55%) provide an unlimited amount of moisture. Air
conditioning is pervasive in the southeast, cooling interior surfaces of the
wall assembly, where uncontrolled air infiltration can lead to condensation
within the wall cavity and mold and mildew. Compounding the moisture issue is
that many air conditioners are improperly installed and sized. A leaking duct
assembly can pull warm moist air into the building envelope and discharge
cool dry air into an attic – All contributing to moisture related building
failures.
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