Indoor Moisture Control of Auckland Houses with Different Ventilation Systems

Authors: Bin Su

Abstract:

Auckland has a temperate climate with comfortable warm, dry summers and mild, wet winters. Auckland house design not only focus on winter thermal performance and indoor thermal condition, but also indoor moisture control, which is closely related to indirect health effects such as dust mites, fungi, etc. Most Auckland houses are designed to use temporary heating for winter indoor thermal comfort. Based on field study data of indoor microclimate conditions of two Auckland townhouses with a whole home mechanical ventilation system or a passive wind directional skylight vent, this study is to evaluate and compare indoor moisture conditions of two insulated townhouses only using temporary heating with different ventilation systems.

Keywords: House ventilation, house thermal design, indoor health condition, indoor moisture control.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI): doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.1088474

References:

[1] A. V. Arundel, E. M. Sterling, J. H. Biggin and T.D. Sterling, “Indirect health effects of relative humidity in indoor environments.” Environmental Health Perspectives, vol. 65, no. 3, pp. 351-361, Mar. 1986.
[2] H. Hens, “Minimising Fungal Defacement,” ASHRAE Journal, October 2000, American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers, New York.
[3] B. Su, “A field study of mould growth and indoor health conditions in Auckland dwellings.” Architectural Science Review, vol. 45, no. 4, pp. 275-284, Dec. 2002.
[4] B. Su, “Prevention of winter mould growth in housing,” Architectural Science Review, vol. 49, no. 4, pp. 385-390, Dec. 2006.
[5] S. T. K. West, (2008) “Design and Development of Natural Ventilation Products and Associated Improvement of Indoor Environment Quality,” in Proceedings of the Conference on Sustainable Building SB08, Melbourne, September 2008.
[6] B. Su, “House indoor thermal and health conditions with different passive designs.” World Academy of Science, Engineering and Technology, 66 (1), pp. 22-25.
[7] WHO, “Air quality guidelines for Europe 2000 - Second Edition WHO Regional Publications”, European Series, N91, 2000.
[8] J. Sateru, “Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate (2004) Performance Criteria of Buildings for Health and Comfort”, CIB Task Group TG42, published by CIB secretariat, No 292.
[9] DBH, “Compliance Document for New Zealand Building Code – Clause G5 Interior Environment,” Wellington, New Zealand: Department of Building and Housing, 2001.
[10] SANZ, “New Zealand Standard 4303-1990 Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality,” Wellington, New Zealand: Standards Association of New Zealand, 1990.