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Posts tagged capillary action
Rethinking Moisture Control: The Primacy of Air Tightness Over an Outdated Fixation on Vapor Barriers in Building Envelope Design

For decades, the architecture and construction community has engaged in a persistent debate surrounding the role and necessity of vapor barriers in building envelope design. This discussion, while touching on critical aspects of moisture control, has often been characterized by an overemphasis on the ability of specific materials to resist vapor diffusion, sometimes to the detriment of addressing more significant moisture transport mechanisms. Within the building science community, however, the principles governing moisture movement are largely considered settled science. It is well-established that air leakage, rather than vapor diffusion, is the predominant pathway for moisture transport through most wall assemblies.

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Living Inside Anywhere: A Comprehensive Guide to Building Envelope Control Layers for Architects

The building enclosure, comprising the walls, roof, ceiling, and floor, serves as the fundamental separator between the outdoor and indoor environments. Far from being a static element, this enclosure is in a state of constant, dynamic regulation of heat, air, and moisture flow, influencing everything from the comfort and health of occupants to the long-term durability and energy efficiency of the structure. The aspiration for any building is to achieve a "high ideal" where these performance goals are met simultaneously, ensuring a comfortable, healthy, durable, low-maintenance, and energy-efficient interior space.

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