News Brief

EPA Primer on Moisture Control Filled With Strategies, Checklists

A free resource outlines basic moisture-management practices for design, construction, and maintenance of both homes and commercial buildings. 

The report helps practitioners prevent, diagnose, and remedy moisture issues that might otherwise cause health problems or damage building materials.

Photo: DublinStreetMoldCeiling. License: CC BY 3.0.
A report published by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency offers basic guidance for controlling moisture in both commercial and residential buildings by compiling introductory principles into one 103-page report that is free to the public.

The report, “Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance,” begins with three basic strategies for moisture management: control liquid water, prevent excessive indoor humidity and water vapor migration, and select moisture-resistant materials for unavoidably wet locations (see How Water Moves Through Buildings). Chapters are then organized to separately address how to manage moisture during design, construction, and maintenance.

Architects are offered specific strategies for site drainage, foundations, wall and roof assemblies, plumbing systems, and HVAC systems, while a chapter on construction focuses on implementing what designers specify as well as controlling moisture at the work site.

The guide’s appendices also contain useful tools, such as a sample roof inspection checklist and a dampness and mold evaluation form. Together, these resources provide a well-rounded base to cover every stage of moisture management.

For more information:

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency

http://nepis.epa.gov/

Published September 2, 2014

Pearson, C. (2014, September 2). EPA Primer on Moisture Control Filled With Strategies, Checklists . Retrieved from https://www.buildinggreen.com/newsbrief/epa-primer-moisture-control-filled-strategies-checklists

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