Hygrothermal Design to Inform Durable and Sustainable Energy Efficient Buildings

Dear Colleagues,

As the world leaps toward a zero carbon or zero emissions future, we are expecting more energy efficiency from new buildings and the significant retrofit of existing buildings. In an effort to reduce operational energy, building regulations in all nations are requiring more insulation and more airtightness from external envelope systems.

It has now been known for several decades that envelope design and construction methods are intrinsically linked to the presence of surface and interstitial condensation and mold growth. For more than 25 years, 1D, 2D, and 3D hygrothermal simulation tools have been developed to inform envelope design and building regulation and for the forensic analysis of existing buildings. Some of these simulation tools have been through extensive testing and empirical validation.

The building regulatory framework for each nation still ranges from a total ignorance of this issue, through to advanced industry-based guidelines for envelope design, construction, and hygrothermal simulation. Whether it be the vapor resistivity of construction materials, or external environmental inputs, or internal environmental inputs, many researchers are exploring the application of and differences between hygrothermal simulation methods. 

Recognizing this international diversity in regulatory development, standards, and calculation methods used by each nation, and jurisdictions within each nation, this Special Issue thus intends to promote a comprehensive approach to the theme of hygrothermal simulation and its use to inform building design and building regulation, including topics such as:

• The vapor resistivity properties of construction materials;
• Climate data for hygrothermal simulation;
• Interior environmental conditions for hygrothermal simulation;
• Hygrothermal simulation studies to inform building standards and building regulation;
• Forensic hygrothermal studies of existing buildings;
• New developments in hygrothermal simulation algorithms.

Dr. Mark Dewsbury
Prof. Dr. Hartwig M. Kunzel
Guest Editors

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• hygrothermal simulation
• vapor resistivity
• condensation
• mold
• energy efficiency
• building regulation