Hygrothermal Basement Performance, or Why do we get water when we dig holes in the ground? Dr John Straube October, 2004 This presentation What do basements do Examine performance Why problems What solutions www.balancedsolutions.com BEG Building Engineering Group 2 Functions of the building enclosure Support Structure: wind, gravity, earthquake Control Heat Air Moisture (vapor, liquid) Finish Distribute (sometimes) 3 4 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 1
Basements Basements Below grade enclosure Includes floor slabs, and practically rim joist Separates exterior (soil) and interior Increasingly used as living space Not a root cellar anymore High quality space new and retrofit expected Owner can finish herself Low cost for high density sites Can locate heating, hotwater anywhere Support Foundations, stem walls, and footings Control Ground water Interstitial and surface condensation Heat flow Air, radon and soil gas Finish 5 6 Support Basement Structural System Structural system Does not work based on rational analysis Failure modes Poorly compacted subsoil Top-edge Bracing Raised bungalows Stairwells parallel to wall Similar for most basements Foundation Wall Above Grade Below Grade Floor slab Footing 7 8 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 2
Basement Structural System Control: Moisture Short walls Or stairs Floor slab Footing Above Grade Below Grade Moisture causes most failures (less spectacular) Mold (musty smell) Decay (especially rim joist) Staining /Paint peeling Floods and leaks, causing the above Salt damage to masonry Where does moisture come from? Exterior Interior Built in Recent studies Minn, Chicago, CMHC IRC 9 10 Special Exterior Conditions Toronto Measured Soil Temperatures 25 Exterior soil is almost always at 100%RH 20 0.1 m Liquid water can press against wall 0.5 m Never gets as cold or as hot as above grade Significant vertical temperature gradients Temperature (C) 15 10 5 1.0 m 3 m 2.0 m Note: open field values. No house to add heat 0 Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 11 12-5 Date Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 3
Exterior Temp and Moist Conditions Winter Jan. Summer July Soil Relative Humidity almost always =100% Liquid water may be present Moisture Sources: from Exterior Environment 1. Precipitation 2. Rainwater shedding 3. Surface water Run-off 5. Sub-surface Moisture - Groundwater - Vapor Minimize Rain loads Provide Good Shedding Provide Good Drainage Provide Capillary Breaks 4. Water vapor 13 Temperature 0 10 20 14 5. Sub-surface Moisture 5. Exterior surface water Moisture Sources: built into the Assembly 1. Built-in Moisture (from water in concrete, mortar, wood, etc.) 2. Construction moisture accumulated during construction (ice, snow, rain, etc.) Minimize by delay finishing internally Reduce water in concrete 1. & 2. 15 16 1. & 2. Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 4
Initial Drying Soil cold for first yr Excavation collects water Concrete is wet 30+ liters/m 2 Cannot dry to wet exterior Solutions No low perm interior Semi-permeable insulation Smart vapor barrier From: Lstiburek 2002 17 18 Basement in a Bag Tolerable north of Artic Circle Moisture Sources: 3. 3. Localized Flooding (Abnormal) from Interior 1. Water Vapor 2. Localized Flooding (abnormal - Water & Vapor) 2. Control interior vapor levels by: winter ventilation summer dehumidcation Control flooding floor drains disaster pans at appliances 19 20 10/30/2004 A wet basement John Straube Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 5
Exterior Moisture From: Lstiburek 2002 Controlling ground/rain water Surface Drainage Many different acceptable methods Classification of Groundwater control 1. Drained Needs capillary gap drain space 2. Perfect Barrier One layer of perfect water resistance 3. Storage (mass) Safe storage capacity and drying First step Common problem Eavestrough Downspouts Sloped grade Perimeter drain 21 22 Screened(1) Below-Grade Enclosure Wall System Drainage by specific backfill soil properties C. Drainage plane and Capillary break E. Concrete or concrete masonry F. Insulation (int. option) G. Interior finish Drained type: drainage system with drainage plane, and capillary break Above Grade Level A. Screen (similar to cladding---shed and screen surface moisture-rain) B. Drainage crushed stone Below Grade Level B. Drainage draining backfill Interface with undisturbed below grade environment Screened(2) Below-Grade Enclosure Wall System Non-soil drainage layer C. Drainage plane and Capillary break E. Concrete or concrete masonry F. Insulation (int. option) G. Interior finish Drained type: drainage system with drainage layer& plane, capillary break Above Grade Level A. Screen -optional (similar to cladding---shed and screen surface moisture-rain) Below Grade Level Backfill not necessarily free draining B. Drainage crushed stone Interface with undisturbed below-grade environment 23 10/30/2004 Collection and John Exit Straube Drain 24 10/30/2004 Collection and John Removal Straube Drain Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 6
Screened(3) Below-Grade Enclosure Wall System Interior Drainage (often retrofit) C. Drainage plane and Capillary break E. Concrete or concrete masonry F. Insulation (int. option) G. Interior finish Drained type: drainage system with drainage plane, and capillary break Above Grade Level Below Grade Level B. Backfill not necessarily free draining A. Screen optional (similar to cladding---shed and screen liquid moisture-rain and groundwater) Interface with undisturbed below grade environment Barrier (1) Below-Grade Enclosure Wall System No Drainage hydrostatic pressure developed A. Positive side Waterproofing B. Concrete or masonry C. Insulation heat flow control (int. option) D. Interior finish Perfect barrier: drainage system needed to reduce hydrostatic pressure waterproofing layer resists 300-600 mm head of water Above Grade Level Below Grade Level Backfill not necessarily free draining A. Screen optional (similar to cladding---shed and screen surface moisture-rain) Interface with undisturbed below grade environment 25 B. Drainage crushed stone 10/30/2004 Collector and Removal John Straube Drain 26 B. Drainage (opt) crushed stone Lowers water table, reduces Collector and 10/30/2004 hydrostatic pressure John Straube Removal Drain Barrier (2) Below-Grade Enclosure Wall System No Drainage hydrostatic pressure developed A. Negative side Waterproofing B. Concrete or concrete masonry C. Insulation heat flow retarder (int. option) D. Interior finish Perfect barrier : drainage system to reduce hydrostatic pressure waterproofing Above Grade Level Below Grade Level Backfill not necessarily free draining A. Screen optional (similar to cladding---shed and screen surface moisture-rain) Interface with undisturbed below grade environment Storage (1) Below-Grade Enclosure Wall System Limited ability to resist moisture loads A. Rubble or concrete masonry (storage) B. Usually no insulation to allow drying C. Usually no interior finish (limewash) Storage (mass) system: usually no intentional drainage often no capillary break Above Grade Level Below Grade Level Backfill not necessarily free draining A. Screen optional (similar to cladding---shed and screen surface moisture-rain) Interface with undisturbed below grade environment B. Drainage (opt) crushed stone B. Drainage (opt) crushed stone 27 10/30/2004 Collector and Exit John Drain Straube 28 10/30/2004 Collector and Removal John Straube Drain Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 7
Glassfiber Drainage Layer Damproofing Capillary break = drainage plane vapour barrier? NOT waterproofing 29 30 Glassfiber Drainage Layer Rockwool Drainage Layer 31 32 R k l D i L Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 8
Rockwool Drainage Layer Air and vapor Surface condensation Interstitial condensation Solar driven summer condensation Drying retarders Psychrometric Chart 33 34 Psych Chart: Air Vapour Content vs Temperature Air Moisture Content = vapour pressure (Pa, in Hg), humidity ratio (g/kg, grains/pd) Temperature Saturation 100%RH 75%RH 50%RH 25%RH 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 Vapour Pressure (Pa) 25% RH 0-10 -10.0ºC -5.0 00.0 ºC 5.0 1010.0 ºC 15.0 2020.0 ºC 25.0 3030.0 ºC 35.0 4040.0 ºC 35 36 14 º F 3210/30/2004 º F 50 º F Tem perat ure ( C) 68 º F John Straube 86 º F 104º F 100% RH 75% RH 50% RH 100%RH 500 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 9
Condensation: Cool air contains less vapor Cool air increase RH Heat air decrease RH Indoor Conditions 18-26 C / 65 78 F 25 to 60%RH (Could be 20 to 70%) Summer 4000 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 Vapour Pressure (Pa) Winter 1000 500 37 100% RH 75% RH 50% RH 25% RH 0-10.0ºC -5.0 00.0 ºC 5.0 1010.0 ºC 15.0 2020.0 ºC 25.0 3030.0 ºC 35.0 4040.0 ºC 38 14 º F 3210/30/2004 º F 50 º F Tem perat ure ( C) 68 º F John Straube 86 º F 104º F Outdoor Conditions 40 00 Outdoor Conditions: Toronto January -5 C / 80% July 22 C / 75% Winnipeg January 19 C / 80% July 22 C / 70% 35 00 30 00 25 00 20 00 15 00 10 00 Vapour Pressure (Pa) Recall Soil Temperatures Temperature (C) 25 20 0.1 m 0.5 m 15 1.0 m 3 m 2.0 m 10 5 50 0 100% RH 75% RH 50% RH 25% RH 0 Jan Feb Mar April May June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec 0-10-10.0 ºC -5.0 0 0.0 ºC 5.0 1010.0 ºC 15.0 2020.0 ºC 25.0 3030.0 ºC 35.0 4040.0 ºC -5 39 14 º F 3210/30/2004 º F 50 º F Tem per at ur e ( C) 68 º F John Straube 40 86 º F 104º F Date Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 10
Indoor vs Soil Conditions 40 00 35 00 Diffusion 30 00 Summer Vapour Pressure Difference Summer 25 00 20 00 15 00 Vapour Pressure (Pa) Winter Vapour Pressure Difference Winter 10 00 50 0 100% RH 75% RH 50% RH 25% RH 0-10-10.0 ºC -5.0 0 0.0 ºC 5.0 1010.0 ºC 15.0 2020.0 ºC 25.0 3030.0 ºC 35.0 4040.0 ºC 41 14 º F 3210/30/2004 º F 50 º F Tem per at ur e ( C) 68 º F John Straube 86 º F 104º F 42 32 F 10/30/2004 50 F John 68 FStraube Air leakage Air leakage vs Diffusion Air leakage is much more critical Air leaks in SUMMER can be serious 43 44 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 11
Internal Stack Effect & Insulation Internal Stack Effect Gaps in batt insulation on both sides Wrinkles inevitable Inside Hot air = light Batt Air gaps Gaps in batt insulation on both sides closed circuit energy cost cold surfaces Cold Weather Hot air = light Result: Air Flow Cold air = heavy Outside Common basement problem Cold air = heavy 45 46 Air movement (Stack Effect) Wall w/o Insulation Cold concrete = summer & winter Hot air = light Air leakage Result: Air Flow Cold air = heavy Cold = Condensation Crack Air permeable insulation 47 48 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 12
Wall w/ Insulation Insulation Warm = NO Condensation Air leakage Crack Air permeable insulation Foam Board: EPS, XPS, PIC water tolerant vapour barriers to vapour retarders spray foam Semi-rigid (Icynene) and rigid (Spray polyurethane) airtight Allow some drainage R values of 4 to 4.4/inch vapour semi-permeable 49 50 Better 51 52 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 13
Best Solar Drives at Grade From: Lstiburek 2002 Wet concrete from rain, grade, built-in Sun shines on wall and heats it Water evaporates and diffuses in & out Can condense inside of cold and impermeable 53 54 Inward Diffusion @ grade Hot Wet materials 4000 3500 55 1. Temperature and solar heating warms wet material 2.Vapour drives inward (& out) Drying If permeable 3.Vapour dries to inside Wetting If impermeable 3.Condensation on cold surfaces 100% RH 75% RH 50% RH 25% RH 30-60 C 90-100% RH VERY high vapour pressure Summer Winter 0-10.0ºC -5.0 00.0 ºC 5.0 10.0 15.0 20.0 25.0 30.0 35.0 40.0 10 ºC 20 ºC 30 ºC 40 ºC 56 10/30/2004 Tem perat ure ( C) 14 º F John Straube 32 º F 50 º F 68 º F 86 º F 104º F 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 Vapour Pressure (Pa) Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 14
Rim joists Basement Floors Scenario Wood generally on exterior 38 mm Wood is a vapor barrier Practically difficult to stop air leakage Result Condensation on rim joist in cold weather Decay if it can t dry in or out Solutions Insulate on exterior Basement floors Part of enclosure Concrete alone fine but when you finish Comfort (cold and hard) Water under finish (winter) Water condensing on top (summer) Solutions Install finish over small amount of insulation Install vapor barrier 57 58 Summary Tolerable 59 60 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 15
From: Lstiburek 2002 Summary good Summary-best best From: Lstiburek 2002 This is theoretically best, but thermal mass of walls requires good summer humidity control and floor should be insulated 61 62 Conclusions Addition Building in a hole in the ground is hard Don t forget about built-in moisture and remember summer Moisture comes in liquid AND vapor Insulation and drainage are the best tools, not vapor barriers and waterproofing Repair Wall leaks groundwater Retrofit/Reno Risk reduction www.civil.uwaterloo.ca/beg publications www.balancedsolutions.com 63 64 Straube Presentation Building Canada 2004 16