A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
Void conditions and potential for mould growth in insulated and uninsulated suspended timber ground floors
PURPOSE: Millions of properties have suspended timber ground floors globally, with around ten million in the UK alone. However, it is unknown what the floor void conditions are, nor the effect of insulating such floors. Upgrading floors changes the void conditions, which might increase or decrease moisture build-up and mould and fungal growth. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the current global evidence and present the results of in situ monitoring of 15 UK floor voids. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: An extensive literature review on the moisture behaviour in both uninsulated and insulated suspended timber crawl spaces is supplemented with primary data of a monitoring campaign during different periods between 2012 and 2015. Air temperature and relative humidity sensors were placed in different floor void locations. Where possible, crawl spaces were visually inspected. FINDINGS: Comparison of void conditions to mould growth thresholds highlights that a large number of monitored floor voids might exceed the critical ranges for mould growth, leading to potential occupant health impacts if mould spores transfer into living spaces above. A direct comparison could not be made between insulated and uninsulated floors in the sample due to non-random sampling and because the insulated floors included historically damp floors. The study also highlighted that long-term monitoring over all seasons and high-resolution monitoring and inspection are required; conditions in one location are not representative of conditions in other locations. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study presents the largest UK sample of monitored floors, evaluated using a review of current evidence and comparison with literature thresholds.
Void conditions and potential for mould growth in insulated and uninsulated suspended timber ground floors
PURPOSE: Millions of properties have suspended timber ground floors globally, with around ten million in the UK alone. However, it is unknown what the floor void conditions are, nor the effect of insulating such floors. Upgrading floors changes the void conditions, which might increase or decrease moisture build-up and mould and fungal growth. The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the current global evidence and present the results of in situ monitoring of 15 UK floor voids. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH: An extensive literature review on the moisture behaviour in both uninsulated and insulated suspended timber crawl spaces is supplemented with primary data of a monitoring campaign during different periods between 2012 and 2015. Air temperature and relative humidity sensors were placed in different floor void locations. Where possible, crawl spaces were visually inspected. FINDINGS: Comparison of void conditions to mould growth thresholds highlights that a large number of monitored floor voids might exceed the critical ranges for mould growth, leading to potential occupant health impacts if mould spores transfer into living spaces above. A direct comparison could not be made between insulated and uninsulated floors in the sample due to non-random sampling and because the insulated floors included historically damp floors. The study also highlighted that long-term monitoring over all seasons and high-resolution monitoring and inspection are required; conditions in one location are not representative of conditions in other locations. ORIGINALITY/VALUE: This study presents the largest UK sample of monitored floors, evaluated using a review of current evidence and comparison with literature thresholds.
Void conditions and potential for mould growth in insulated and uninsulated suspended timber ground floors
Pelsmakers, S (author) / Vereecken, E (author) / Airaksinen, M (author) / Elwell, CA (author)
2019-08-12
International Journal of Building Pathology and Adaptation , 37 (4) pp. 395-425. (2019)
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
DDC:
690
| Emerald Group Publishing | 2018
Suspended timber ground floors: heat loss reduction potential of insulation interventions
| BASE | 2017
Moisture beneath suspended timber floors
| British Library Online Contents | 1995
Moisture beneath suspended timber floors
| Emerald Group Publishing | 1995