ISSN: 1546-962X
CODEN: JAIOAD
Published Online: 3 August 2009
Page Count: 14

Role of Vapor Barrier in Wood-Frame Stucco Wall in Various North American Climates: Observations from Hygrothermal Simulation

Mukhopadhyaya, Phalguni
Associate Research Officer, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

Ping, Fang
Associate Professor, Civil Engineering Department, Hunan University, Changsha, Hunan

Kumaran, Kumar
Principal Research Officer, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

van Reenen, David
Technical Officer, Institute for Research in Construction, National Research Council Canada, Ottawa, Ontario

(Received 18 August 2008; accepted 29 June 2009)

Abstract

This paper investigates the role of the vapor barrier in exterior wood-frame stucco walls with the help of a two-dimensional hygrothermal simulation tool, hygIRC-2D. For this purpose, the wall is subjected to the exterior weather conditions of six different North American geographic locations and three different interior climatic conditions. Seven different vapor diffusion strategies, generated by varying the water vapor permeance of the vapor barrier, installed outboard of the interior finish, have been studied to generate critical understanding on the role of vapor barrier in the wood-frame stucco walls. The outputs from the simulations have been analyzed with the help of a novel moisture response indicator called RHT index. Simulation results indicate that the vapor transmission characteristics of the vapor barrier, in terms of water vapor permeance, play a very important role in the overall moisture response of the wood-frame stucco wall. A very high or low vapor permeance of the vapor barrier does not produce the optimum moisture management strategy for the wood-frame stucco wall. Moreover, simulation results indicate that the removal of vapor barrier from the wall system can result in a heightened moisture response and a considerable accumulation of moisture in the interior gypsum board that may lead to severe consequences in particular, the premature deterioration of the interior facing gypsum board. It has also been observed from the simulation outputs that the optimum vapor diffusion strategy, that of limiting the vapor permeance of the vapor barrier, is not a function of interior climatic conditions considered in this study. It is hoped that the results reported in this paper will shed some light on a number of concerns raised in recent years on the role of vapor barrier in wood-frame stucco wall construction.

Keywords:
vapor barrier, water vapor permeance, wood-frame stucco wall, exterior climate

Paper ID: JAI102087
DOI: 10.1520/JAI102087
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