SYMPOSIA PAPER Published: 29 April 2022
STP163520210031

Moisture Management in Wood Volumetric Modular Construction

Source

Prefabricated volumetric modular construction is an approach used by housing providers to quickly provide affordable, temporary, and permanent housing to remote or underserved communities. Modular construction presents unique circumstances for moisture management that conventional construction does not typically encounter, and this is especially important in wet climates. Modular buildings have inherent building characteristics, such as interstitial spaces, that can lead to a higher risk of moisture accumulation. This paper highlights typical sources of moisture in modular construction (providing details of water ingress into modular units during transportation, storage, complexing, and postoccupancy), outlines moisture protection measures throughout all stages of the project, and provides a summary of recommendations for moisture management. It is recommended that moisture management planning, including a robust risk analysis, and the development of a moisture management plan become a standardized process throughout the modular construction industry. The development of a standard or standards could improve the process of delivering dry modules to project sites and improve the quality, consistency, and confidence of modular construction.

Author Information

Jang, Kyle, H.
RDH Building Science Inc., Burnaby, BC, CA
Henderson, Elyse, A.
RDH Building Science Inc., Burnaby, BC, CA
Finch, Graham
RDH Building Science Inc., Victoria, BC, CA
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Details
Pages: 252–268
DOI: 10.1520/STP163520210031
ISBN-EB: 978-0-8031-7717-8
ISBN-13: 978-0-8031-7716-1