Drying potential of cold attic using natural and controlled ventilation in different Swedish climates
Paper in proceeding, 2016

Problems with high humidity levels and mold growth in cold attics have been increasing over the last few years. The high humidity levels are to a large extent a consequence of the increasing demand on energy efficiency. Houses are frequently retrofitted with additional attic insulation, which leads to a colder attic space and hence a higher humidity. Replacing furnace heating by heat pumps or district heat may also lead to problem. Also newly built attics have problems. The quite novel technical solution with controlled mechanical ventilation of the attic is generally estimated to be risk free in Swedish climate. With controlled mechanical ventilation the attic is intentionally ventilated only when the inflowing air is drying out the attic, otherwise it is shut off. The drying potential of controlled ventilation is analyzed for different climate zone in order to map the relative efficiency compared with traditional natural ventilated attics.

controlled ventilation

natural ventilation

Attic

moisture

climate

drying

Author

Carl-Eric Hagentoft

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building Technology

Angela Sasic Kalagasidis

Chalmers, Civil and Environmental Engineering, Building Technology

Procedia Engineering

18777058 (ISSN) 18777058 (eISSN)

Vol. 146 2-7

Areas of Advance

Building Futures (2010-2018)

Subject Categories

Building Technologies

DOI

10.1016/j.proeng.2016.06.345

More information

Created

10/7/2017