Vancouver's Rotting Condominium Problem—How Did We Get into This Mess?

Lawton, Mark

doi:10.1177/109719639902200410

Cited by 7 publications

(5 citation statements)

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“…Regarding External Thermal Insulation Composite System (ETICS), there is proof of extensive damage when these rendered, well-insulated systems are used in combination with unventilated wooden stud walls in Sweden (Jansson, 2014; Samuelson et al, 2008). Similar results are found in North America and New Zealand (Building-Industry-Authority, 2003; Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC), 1996, 2000; Lawton, 1999; Williams and Williams, 1998; Woodbury, 2009). These studies show that damage to such walls is common, and that the damage is caused predominantly by flaws in the joints around façade details where water penetrates as deep as to the load-bearing structure.…”

Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Rain resistance of façades with façade details: A summary of three field and laboratory studies

Olsson

2017

Journal of Building Physics

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One of the main functions of the exterior walls and fac xades is to protect the indoor and the sensitive parts of construction from the outdoor climate. Exposure of driving rain is the most prominent moisture source a wall has to resist. Despite this, there is a lack of information on rain resistance. Field measurements on real-life external walls show that recurrent water leakage under driving rain conditions is observed in five out of seven new-built houses in Sweden, including those with ventilated fac xades. About a 100 commercial laboratory fac xade tests, mounted by fac xade suppliers, and targeted laboratory experiments showed that it is almost impossible to achieve fully tight fac xade solutions, and keep them sealed. Nearly, all test walls with fac xade details leaked, almost regardless of fac xade type and sealing efforts. The results from field and laboratory measurements of rain resistance in new buildings in Sweden show that fac xades are usually not watertight and also that very small deficiencies can cause substantial amount of water leakage.

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Section: Introductionsupporting

confidence: 68%

Rain resistance of façades with façade details: A summary of three field and laboratory studies

Olsson

2017

Journal of Building Physics

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“…Buildings without fac¸ade insulation (render applied on building paper over OSB or plywood) were also affected (Lawton 1999). This resulted in a new design approach that aimed at better detailing to reduce rainwater penetration and at increasing the drying potential of the whole assembly.…”

Section: Background -Track Records Of Exterior Insulation Systemsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Advances in hygrothermal building component simulation: modelling moisture sources likely to occur due to rainwater leakage

Künzel

Zirkelbach

2013

Journal of Building Performance Simulation

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“…The elevated RH at that time and the significant amount of moisture entering the enclosure results in an extremely high RH for many months in the first half of the year. As discovered during the "Leaky Condo Crisis," rain penetration and the inability of the enclosure to dry out was a major cause for moisture damage (Lawton, 1999. ) The greater Vancouver area's warm and humid climate is unique in Canada and moisture trapped within walls experience a more difficult time drying.…”

Section: 734mentioning

confidence: 99%

An in-situ hygrothermal investigation of an externally highly insulated enclosure in a cold climate with simulated extension to climate specific performance

Flynn¹

2021

Preprint

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High performance enclosures reduce building energy consumption, however, may vary from expected RSI values and be at risk of moisture damage. This research investigated the hygrothermal performance of a high performance enclosure for use in Toronto and other cold climates. The proposed enclosure utilized 228mm of exterior mineral wool attached to a typical wood frame structure. The in-situ thermal resistance was compared with the nominal thermal resistance and found to differ by up to 14.4%. Three-dimensional thermal modelling determined a range (-4.2% to -24.4%) of potential RSI reductions caused by metal-screw fasteners. In-situ measurements and calibrated one-dimensional WUFI-Pro models determined that the enclosure is not at risk of moisture damage in Toronto and other cold climates. A parametric analysis identified several climatic and materialistic variables that had an influence on the hygrothermal performance of the enclosure. The combined use of collected in-situ data and calibrated modelling allowed for a comprehensive hygrothermal analysis of the proposed enclosure.

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Vancouver's Rotting Condominium Problem—How Did We Get into This Mess?

Cited by 7 publications

References 0 publications

Rain resistance of façades with façade details: A summary of three field and laboratory studies

Rain resistance of façades with façade details: A summary of three field and laboratory studies

Advances in hygrothermal building component simulation: modelling moisture sources likely to occur due to rainwater leakage

An in-situ hygrothermal investigation of an externally highly insulated enclosure in a cold climate with simulated extension to climate specific performance

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