Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings

Technical Report · Mon Sep 01 00:00:00 EDT 2014

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/1158435· OSTI ID:1158435

Rudd, A.

In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community unvented crawlspace retrofit project at Oakwood Gardens in Lansdale, Pennsylvania. BSC provided design consulting services and pre- and post-retrofit evaluation, testing, and data monitoring. The existing condition was a vented crawlspace with an uninsulated floor between the crawlspace and the dwelling units above. The crawlspace was therefore a critically weak link in the building enclosure and was ripe for improvement. Saving energy was the primary interest and goal, but the greatest challenge in this unvented crawlspace retrofit project was working through a crawlspace bulk water intrusion problem caused by inadequate site drainage, window well drainage, foundation wall drainage, and a rising water table during rainy periods. While the unvented crawlspace retrofit was effective in reducing heat loss, and the majority of the bulk water drainage problems had been resolved, the important finding was that some of the wood joists embedded in masonry pockets behind the brick veneer were showing signs of moisture damage.

• Research Organization: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), Golden, CO.
• Sponsoring Organization: USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Building Technologies Office
• DOE Contract Number: AC36-08GO28308
• OSTI ID: 1158435
• Report Number(s): DOE/GO-102014-4476; KNDJ-0-40337-04
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
BSC
BUILDING AMERICA
Buildings
BULK WATER
CRAWLSPACE
EMBEDDED WOOD JOISTS
MOISTURE DAMAGE
MULTIFAMILY
RESIDENTIAL
RESIDENTIAL BUILDINGS
UNVENTED
UNVENTED CRAWLSPACE