Leading the way with innovative, fresh ideas for builders and manufacturers.
Learn More
Providing materials insight through custom data and reports.
Setting the standard in the building industry through cutting edge research.
NOTE: There is an Addendum to this report summarizing the results of extended monitoring that continued through April of 2018.
This research examines the moisture characteristics of high-R wall systems as part of a broader effort to offer solutions that increase builders’ confidence with the adoption of energy-efficient technologies. The high-R walls feature increased wall insulation levels, reduced wall air leakage, and often reduced permeance of material layers. Wall assemblies are subjected to various moisture loads, such as bulk water, built-in moisture (construction moisture), water vapor, and capillary transport through materials in contact with water or in contact with the ground.
The objectives of the research include: (1) demonstrating the moisture performance of various high-R walls, (2) identifying wall systems with marginal moisture performance and recommending a set of improvements, and (3) developing a set of design criteria that ensures the durability of high-performance walls. The research extends across cold climate zones where the wall construction is designed to meet substantially increased thermal performance and whole-house air sealing levels.