Hygrothermal Performance Analysis of Building Components and Materials. A Tool for Energy Refurbishments Assessments

Abstract

Buildings energy refurbishment interventions, among others, require hygrothermal evaluations of their envelopes in order to avoid pathologies related to condensation, mold growth or, in the worst case, the risk of decomposition of their structures. However, traditional hygrothermal evaluation methods based on stationary methods do not consider many of the factors that affect building envelopes. That is why models and tools capable of approaching in a more faithful way the dynamic phenomena faced by buildings are required. The objective of this chapter is to present the fundamentals that govern the combined models of heat and moisture transfer by analyzing a case study that allows an understanding of the subject of study.