U.S. Department of EnergyOffice of Scientific and Technical Information
Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings
Abstract
In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community un-vented 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 un-insulated 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 un-vented 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 un-vented 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.
- Authors:
-
- Advanced Building Systems
- Publication Date:
- Other Number(s):
- 5498
- Research Org.:
- DOE Open Energy Data Initiative (OEDI); Advanced Building Systems
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), Energy Efficiency Office. Building Technologies Office (EE-5B)
- Collaborations:
- Advanced Building Systems
- Subject:
- Array; BuildingAmerica; Multifamily; affordable housing; boiler; building america; bulk water; embedded wood joists; existing home; life cycle cost; mixed humid; moisture risk; relative humidity; residential; temperature; unvented crawlspace
- OSTI Identifier:
- 2204225
- DOI:
- https://doi.org/10.25984/2204225
Citation Formats
Rudd, Armin. Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings. United States: N. p., 2016.
Web. doi:10.25984/2204225.
Rudd, Armin. Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings. United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.25984/2204225
Rudd, Armin. 2016.
"Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings". United States. doi:https://doi.org/10.25984/2204225. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/2204225. Pub date:Wed Apr 27 04:00:00 UTC 2016
@article{osti_2204225,
title = {Evaluation of Crawlspace Retrofits in Multifamily Buildings},
author = {Rudd, Armin},
abstractNote = {In 2011 and early 2012, Building Science Corporation (BSC) collaborated with Innova Services Corporation on a multifamily community un-vented 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 un-insulated 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 un-vented 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 un-vented 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.},
doi = {10.25984/2204225},
journal = {},
number = ,
volume = ,
place = {United States},
year = {Wed Apr 27 04:00:00 UTC 2016},
month = {Wed Apr 27 04:00:00 UTC 2016}
}