Moisture Control | Applied Building Technology Group, LLC

Model Moisture Control Guidelines for Light-Frame Walls: A Building Code Supplement for Builders, Designers, and Building Officials

This Research Report provides actionable guidelines to effectively consider, evaluate, and manage the balance of wetting and drying potential in common above-grade, light-frame wall assemblies in a broad range of climate conditions. This objective involves the appropriate use and integration of a wide variety of light-frame wall construction methods and materials including various cladding types, water-resistive barrier types, insulation types, and vapor retarder types or classes.

Tolerable Moisture Content of Materials - ASHRAE 160

This presentation to the ASHRAE 160 hygrothermal modeling committee explains why it is important to protect OSB and other moisture-sensitive sheathing materials from excessive seasonal moisture content cycling. Building codes and current hygrothermal modeling criteria do not completely address this problem. Appropriate use of exterior continuous insulation in coordination with interior vapor retarders offer the “driest” solutions.

Window Installation: Pan Flashing and Air-Sealing to Prevent Water Intrusion

This presentation addresses two practices with proven ability to improve water penetration resistance of fenestration product installation: Sill pans and flashing for rough opening drainage, and air-sealing of the interior side of the rough opening gap.

Window Installation Details for Effective Sealing Practice

An effective and durable window installation demands good airtightness and proper water management. This Report explains how the degree of airtightness and the location of the plane of airtightness of the wall-window interface affect water entry. It is the second in a series of Updates presenting results from studies of window installation details.

Window Sill Details for Effective Drainage of Water

Satisfactory window performance demands a good product and proper installation. This Report presents results from a recent study of sill installation details for the effective drainage of inadvertent water entry at the wall-window interface.

Residential Exterior Wall Superinsulation Retrofit Details and Analysis

This paper is from the proceedings of the Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings XI International Conference, December 5-9, 2010 in Clearwater, Florida. The issues of climate change, energy security, and economics are all strong drivers for improving energy efficiency levels in a variety of sectors. In residential construction, although some inroads have been made in new houses, the stock of existing housing represents a huge opportunity for energy retrofits.