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Article: Water vapor migration and condensation control in buildings
- Article from:
- Heating, Piping, and Air Conditioning
- Article date:
- June 1, 1998
- Author:
CopyrightCopyright Penton Publishing and Marketing Jun 1998. Provided by ProQuest LLC. (Hide copyright information)
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Water vapor is the gaseous form of water and is an invisible source of many problems in today's buildings. This article will provide a basic understanding of how water vapor transport occurs, when it condenses, and when it can cause damage and health problems.
Water vapor can travel through building structures by:
* Diffusion caused by vapor pressure differentials.
* Air flow created by temperature differentials.
* Air flow created by mechanical systems.
* Rain penetration through intake louvers.
To begin with, psychrometric conditions on the inside of a building are usually different than the outside conditions. The difference in psychrometric properties results in a vapor pressure ...