Abstract

This project proposes an experimental procedure to evaluate the effect of adding insulation to leak exterior wall assemblies and to monitor air leakage paths within them. The procedure involves the construction of a full-scale test hut exposed consecutively to climatic conditions representing winter and late spring, inside the environmental chamber. Two re-insulation strategies are studied, with three different air leakage patterns, and compared to an insulated base-case. The construction of the hut is typical of low-rise wood frame residences in Quebec, insulated with glass fiber batt insulation between the studs. The objectives of the experimental work are: (1) To study the effect of different insulating strategies for exterior wall assemblies having different air leakage characteristics on the moisture content and temperature distribution patterns in walls when exposed consecutively to wetting and drying conditions; (2) To develop and implement a method of characterizing air leakage paths so that more is known about the movement of air through exterior wall assemblies; (3) To produce patterns that could be used to validate existing models.