As tightly air-sealed, well-insulated and properly ventilated buildings become mainstream and code required; dealing effectively with internal moisture becomes a priority, especially in multifamily buildings. The increase in code ventilation requirements and building tightness is resulting in extreme moisture loads that traditional HVAC practices cannot address - resulting in unhappy customers and huge liabilities. The established strategy of relying on air conditioning to protect these spaces from moisture damage is becoming increasingly unrealistic. This session focuses on the building science challenges of part-load conditions, how ventilation codes are affecting our buildings, the impact of the occupant activities, and the growing need for dedicated moisture control systems in multifamily buildings.
Learning Objectives:
By attending this session, attendees will:
Be able to discuss specific design and occupant behaviors that can result in excess moisture build-up inside multi-residential dwellings.
Be able to identify scenarios where single-stage mechanical split air conditioners and heat pumps fail to satisfy latent removal requirements resulting in elevated humidity and dangerous conditions for occupants and buildings.
Examine various residential moisture control strategies along with the advantages and limitations of each in order to determine the most appropriate strategy for multifamily housing applications.
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