Mold development risk assessment in the inner side of a building envelope under varying climate conditions

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 186 - 195, 31.03.2025

Bahar Türk

https://doi.org/10.35208/ert.1505161

Abstract

Mold infestation in buildings can arise due to favorable growth conditions for mold fungi, posing significant health risks and structural damage. This research aims to understand the complex transient building physics processes influencing mold development, focusing on the influence of physical building variables on the transient humidity and temperature behavior of building components in various climates. The study utilizes WUFI, a hydro-thermal simulation software, to assess mold risk in an exterior wall design. The results indicate that a broadly applicable approach can effectively guide safe design practices. The goal is to predict mold development on building materials during the design stage and minimize the risk of mold growth throughout the materials' service life.

Keywords

Building Materials, Mold Growth, Relative Humidity, Temperature, Time Exposure

Ethical Statement

I, Bahar Türk, the corresponding author of the manuscript titled "Mold Development Risk Assessment in the Inner Side of a Building Envelope Under Varying Climate Conditions," hereby declare that the work presented in this manuscript is original and has been conducted in accordance with the ethical standards of research.

References

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. “ASHRAE Handbook—Fundamentals,” (SI Edition), 2013. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers. “ASHRAE Handbook—HVAC Applications,” (SI Edition), 2017. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.
• L. E. Nevander, and B. Elmarsson, “Moisture Control in Buildings: The Key to Mold Prevention, Wiley, 1994.
• M. Bomberg, and W. Brown, “Building Envelope Performance and Durability,” 1993. National Research Council of Canada.
• D. M. Burch, and W. C. Thomas, “Strategies for Moisture Control in Building Walls,” National Institute of Standards and Technology, 1991.
• J. Carmeliet, and H. Hens, “Moisture Control in Buildings,” International Journal of Ventilation, Vol. 3(3), pp. 187-201, 2004
• H. Hens, “Applied Building Physics: Ambient Conditions, Building Performance and Material Properties,” Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. [CrossRef]
• V. Chuang, and X. Wang, “Thermal Performance and Moisture Control in High-Performance Building Envelopes,” Building and Environment, Vol. 45(3), pp. 651-660, 2010.
• H. L. S. Hens, “Building Physics—Heat, Air, and Moisture: Fundamentals and Engineering Methods with Examples and Exercises,” Ernst & Sohn, 1999.
• L. Fang, and G. Clausen, “Impact of Temperature and Humidity on the Perception of Indoor Air Quality,” Indoor Air, Vol. 12(4), pp. 283-290, 2002.
• S. V. Glass, and A. TenWolde, “Review of Moisture Management Techniques in Residential Walls,” Journal of Building Physics, Vol. 30(4), pp. 279-296, 2007.
• H. Levin, “Building Materials and Indoor Air Quality,” Journal of Environmental Health, Vol. 51(5), pp. 272-278, 1989.
• M. E. Hoffman, and L. D. Martin, “Climate Adaptation in Building Design,” Building and Environment, Vol. 39(4), pp. 403-412, 2004.
• A .N. Karagiozis, and M.K. Kumaran. “Drying Potential of Building Envelopes,” Journal of Thermal Insulation and Building Envelopes, Vol. 20(1), pp. 27-48, 1997. [CrossRef]
• D. Kehl, and A. Janssens, “Hygrothermal Performance of High-Performance Building Envelopes,” Building Research & Information, Vol. 36(4), pp. 420-431, 2008.
• O. Koronthalyova, and A. Stangierski, “Influence of Climate on the Hygrothermal Performance of Building Envelopes,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 42(5), pp. 689-696, 2010.
• M. K. Kumaran. “Moisture Control in Buildings: The Key to Mold Prevention,” Journal of Building Physics, Vol. 30(2), pp. 137-154, 2006.
• H. M. Künzel. “Simultaneous Heat and Moisture Transport in Building Components,” Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, 1995.
• H. R. Trechsel, “Moisture Control Handbook: Principles and Practices for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings,” John Wiley & Sons, 2021.
• K. Sedlbauer, “Prediction of Mould Fungus Formation on the Surface of and Inside Building Components,” Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, 2021.
• H. Wang, and R.W. Brennan, “Impact of Solar Radiation on Building Materials and Components,” Building and Environment, Vol. 39(6), pp. 719-728, 2004. [CrossRef]
• J. Straube, and E. Burnett, “Building Science for Building Enclosures,” Building Science Press, 2005.
• EOTA. “Guideline for European Technical Approval of External Thermal Insulation Composite Systems with Rendering,” European Organisation for Technical Approvals, 2008.
• J. Straube, and E. Burnett, “Building Science for Building Enclosures,” Building Science Press, 2005.
• H. R. Trechsel, “Moisture Control Handbook: Principles and Practices for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings,” John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
• H. Viitanen, and T. Ojanen, “Improved Model to Predict Mold Growth in Building Materials,” Thermal Performance of the Exterior Envelopes of Whole Buildings X International Conference, 2007.
• M. K. Kumaran, “Simultaneous Heat and Moisture Transport in Building Components,” Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, 1995.
• H. L. S. Hens, “Building Physics—Heat, Air, and Moisture: Fundamentals and Engineering Methods with Examples and Exercises,” Ernst & Sohn, 1999.
• D. Kehl, and A. Janssens, “Hygrothermal Performance of High-Performance Building Envelopes,” Building Research & Information, Vol. 36(4), pp. 420-431, 2008.
• O. Koronthalyova, and A. Stangierski, “Influence of Climate on the Hygrothermal Performance of Building Envelopes,” Energy and Buildings, Vol. 42(5), pp. 689-696, 2010.
• L. Fang, and G. Clausen. “Impact of Temperature and Humidity on the Perception of Indoor Air Quality,” Indoor Air, Vol. 12(4), pp. 283-290, 2002.
• V. Chuang, and X. Wang, “Thermal Performance and Moisture Control in High-Performance Building Envelopes,” Building and Environment, Vol. 45(3), pp. 651-660, 2010.
• J. Carmeliet, and H. Hens, “Moisture Control in Buildings,” International Journal of Ventilation, Vol. 3(3), pp. 187-201, 2004.
• M. Bomberg, and W. Brown, “Building Envelope Performance and Durability,” National Research Council of Canada, 1993.
• H. R. Trechsel, “Moisture Control Handbook: Principles and Practices for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings,” John Wiley & Sons, 2001.
• H. Levin, “Building Materials and Indoor Air Quality,” Journal of Environmental Health, Vol. 51(5), pp. 272-278, 1989.
• A. N. Karagiozis, and M. K. Kumaran, “Drying Potential of Building Envelopes,” Journal of Thermal Insulation and Building Envelopes, Vol. 20(1), pp. 27-48, 1997.
• H. Hens, “Applied Building Physics: Ambient Conditions, Building Performance and Material Properties,” Wiley-Blackwell, 2012. [CrossRef]
• H. L. S. Hens, “Building Physics—Heat, Air, and Moisture: Fundamentals and Engineering Methods with Examples and Exercises,” Ernst & Sohn, 1999.
• H. M. Künzel, “Simultaneous Heat and Moisture Transport in Building Components,” Fraunhofer IRB Verlag, 1995.
• K. Sedlbauer, “Prediction of Mould Fungus Formation on the Surface of and Inside Building Components,” Fraunhofer Institute for Building Physics, 2001.
• H. Wang, and R.W. Brennan, “Impact of Solar Radiation on Building Materials and Components,” Building and Environment, Vol. 39(6), pp. 719-728, 2004. [CrossRef]
• J. Straube, and E. Burnett, “Building Science for Building Enclosures,” Building Science Press, 2005.