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Foreword

Foreword to the 2nd Edition

Since the publication of the SBi Guidelines 224 in 2009, the new 2010 Building Regulations BR10 have been issued (Danish Business Authority, 2010). Although the requirements for damp-proof houses remain largely unchanged from the preceding 2008 Building Regulations (Danish Business Authority, 2008), this 2nd edition includes updated references and consistency amendments.
The 2nd edition differs mainly from the 1st edition through the inclusion of several textual and illustration adjustments. Significant changes as follows:
  • The discussion of Building Regulation requirements to fresh-air supply has been adjusted and texts on vapour barrier installation, radon protection, and mould growth have been updated.
  • Figures 40, 46, 48, 62, 64, 65, 66, 114, and 126 have been replaced by new figures and the graphical content of the remaining figures has been adjusted.
  • Clarifications and corrections relative to figure texts 5, 6, 15, 31, 46, 72, 76,
    and 104 have been made.
  • In collaboration with several construction sector organisations, changes have been made to ventilation requirements for vented roof constructions (cf. Table 19) as well as minor updates to the section on roofs.
  • Table 25, which lists the thermal conductivity of building materials, has been updated.
  • The assumptions for applying the water vapour chart in Figures 3, 4, and 5 have
    been clarified.
Many moisture issues in new builds derive from inappropriate handling of building materials and work processes during construction. In recognition of this, guidelines were prepared in 2010 by the Danish Building Research Institute for the Danish Business Authority concerning the handling of moisture in buildings (Møller, 2010). The guidelines focus attention on the execution stage, recommending systematic moisture risk assessment. Please consult these guidelines for a detailed discussion of BR10 requirements concerning:
  • avoiding materials and constructional solutions unduly sensitive to moisture
  • allotting sufficient drying time for building materials and constructions
  • using total covering of the building in the construction phase wherever it is financially viable, or where materials or constructional solutions are specifically sensitive to moisture
  • arrange for facilities to store moisture-sensitive materials on the building site.
When re-insulating small buildings, help to assess the risks associated with moisture control is available in SBi Guidelines 240, Efterisolering af småhuse – byggetekniske løsninger (Re-Insulating Small Buildings – Constructional Solutions) (Møller, 2012a). The Guidelines contain examples of re-insulating roofs, exterior walls, basements, and ground floor slabs with special focus on robustness and soundness in terms of moisture control. Moisture issues associated with re-insulating high-rise flats are discussed in SBi Guidelines 221, Efterisolering af etageboliger (Re-Insulating High-Rise Flats) (Munch-Andersen, 2008).
The Danish Building Research Institution, Aalborg University Division of Town, Housing, and Property
April 2013
Niels-Jørgen Aagaard
Head of Research

Foreword to the 1st Edition

The provisions of the 2008 Building Regulations stipulate that buildings should be structured and executed to avoid moisture damage. This means that buildings should be designed in such a way that rain, snow, surface water, soil moisture, construction-related moisture, air humidity, and utility water will not cause damage. Furthermore, it means that the construction process should be planned and implemented with adequate protection against the climate to prevent materials and structures from being exposed to moisture. Finally, there must be no moisture content in building structures and materials which could facilitate to mould growth when the building is occupied.
Moisture in buildings causes extensive and costly damage every year. Buildings should therefore be far more damp-proof than they currently are. These Guidelines present the basis for achieving this, both when constructing new builds and when renovating existing buildings.
The Guidelines provide basic information on air humidity, equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of materials, and calculation of moisture transport. We discuss how common building parts can be designed correctly in terms of moisture control. Several examples show how the design allows for other structural functions (e.g., thermal insulation and buildability). Finally, the Guidelines contain an article on moisture investigations and assessment methods.
The layout of the Guidelines is intended to be helpful to both project planners and contractors. We hope that these Guidelines will enable readers to make judgements about a given structural design – including others not shown here – and to suggest means to rectify detected moisture damage. These Guidelines replace SBI Guidelines 178: Bygningers fugtisolering (Structural Moisture Insulation), published in 1993.
Erik Brandt (MSc Civil Engineering, Senior Researcher) is the chief author and project manager of these Guidelines. He has been assisted by several co-authors who have taken part in the overall compilation of the Guidelines, who have made special contributions as follows:
Tommy Bunch-Nielsen (Director, MSc) (Bygge- og Miljøteknik A/S): Moisture and Roof Constructions
Georg Christensen (MSc) (Bygge- og Miljøteknik A/S): Moisture and Crawl Spaces; Moisture and Exterior Walls; and Moisture, Dampness, and Basements
Charlotte Gudum (MSc, PhD) (Bygge- og Miljøteknik A/S): Constructive Moisture Control; and Critical Moisture Content
Morten Hjorslev Hansen (MSc, Phd) (Byg-Erfa): Moisture Theory; and Critical Moisture Content
Eva B. Møller (Senior Researcher, PhD) (Danish Building Research Institute): Sources of Moisture; and Measuring Moisture Content
Additionally, several colleagues at the Danish Building Research Institute have assisted with the editorial work; notably Lise Lotte Raunkjær (Architect m.a.a.).
In the preparation of the Guidelines, the Danish Building Research Institute received financial support from:
  • Bygge- og Miljøteknik A/S
  • Dansk Beton Industriforening (now Dansk Beton)
    The Danish Construction Association
  • Enemærke og Petersen a/s
    Grundejernes Investeringsfond (GI)
    Gyproc A/S
  • Icopal A/S
  • Knauf Danogips A/S Knud Højgaards Fond
  • Letklinkerindustriens Brancheforening
    NCC Construction Danmark A/S
    Pittsburgh Corning Scandinavia ABb
    Saint-Gobain Isover a/s
  • Trelleborg-Phønix A/S Træelementforeningen
In the preparation of the Guidelines, The Danish Building Research Institute has drawn on the expertise of professionals within the construction sector, notably representatives from those providing financial support.
We would like to thank everyone who has made it possible for us to publish these Guidelines either through their financial support or the contribution of their expertise. 
The Danish Building Research Institute 
Division of Town, Housing, and Property
August 2009
Niels-Jørgen Aagaard
Head of Research