Measurement of Ventilation and Drying of Vinyl Siding and Brick Clad Wall Assemblies

Abstract

Control of moisture and heat flow through building enclosure assemblies is a critical component of overall building performance. This thesis shows that significant drying of moisture in wall assemblies is possible and that ventilation of cladding significantly increases the rate of drying in some assemblies without having detrimental impact on the enclosures thermal performance. A review found that thermal and moisture buoyancy, wind pressure gradients and mechanical equipment drive ventilation airflow. This ventilation flow can theoretically increase the effective water vapour permeance and thermal conductivity. Ventilation has the potential to increase outward drying through relatively impermeable claddings at the low flows expected to occur in service. The impact on thermal conductance is much less. A methodology for assessing the complicated airflow resistance characteristics of lap sidings was developed and applied to a representative vinyl siding. Field drying studies showed that the sample tested is well ventilated. Field brick veneer clad wall samples were also tested for system airflow resistance over a range of driving pressures. Theoretical predictions under-estimated the measured flow rate for given steady driving air pressures. Measurements of naturally driven cavity air speeds and smoke pencil testing showed that flow rates were commonly occurring that would in theory significantly affect the hygrothermal performance of the walls. This was confirmed with field drying studies. A field drying study of east-facing test wall with vinyl siding and brick veneer cladding was conducted in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. Significant amounts of drying and inward moisture redistribution were measured. Wall sheathing dried quickly in hot summer conditions but in some cases significant inward driven moisture flow occurred. In cool and cold weather the wall dried more slowly and much less moisture moved inward. Increased cladding ventilation significantly increased drying rates and reduced internal wall assembly moisture levels. It was concluded that cladding ventilation acts to increase the effective vapour permeance of cladding and to reduce solar driven inward vapour drives. The use of spun bonded polyolefin sheathing membrane in lieu of #15 asphalt impregnated felt was found to improved hygrothermal performance in the test walls. The difference observed was concluded to be due to the higher vapour permeance of the spun bonded polyolefin and may not hold for wall assemblies with lower permeance sheathings (e. g. oriented strand board and foam plastic). Walls clad with vinyl siding dried faster than those clad with brick veneer. It was concluded that the vinyl siding is a well ventilated cladding system.