Modeling Moisture in Residential Buildings with a Multizone IAQ Program

Published

July 1, 2002

Author(s)

Steven J. Emmerich, Andrew K. Persily, Steven J. Nabinger

Abstract

Multizone airflow and contaminant transport modeling is a valuable tool for researchers and others studying indoor air quality (IAQ) problems in buildings. Although water vapor is not typically thought of as an indoor contaminant, multizone IAQ modeling can be used to predict water vapor concentrations in each zone by applying mass balance equations that incorporate water vapor sources and sinks. However, very few attempts have been made to model water vapor with a multizone IAQ program and such modeling presents unique issues including the appropriateness of model assumptions, the adequacy of moisture storage and generation models, availability of input data, and metrics for analysis.This paper describes measurements of humidity and other IAQ parameters in a single zone test house. Experiments included generation of water vapor with a humidifier during a variety of ambient conditions. Moisture storage and generation elements were then added to a previously validated airflow model of the building to evaluate the capability of the CONTAMW multizone IAQ model to predict indoor humidity levels.

Proceedings Title

Indoor Air Quality and Climate, International Conference | 9th | Proceedings of Indoor Air 2002 | International Society of Infoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ)

Conference Dates

June 30-July 5, 2002

Conference Title

Indoor Air

Pub Type

Conferences

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Keywords

humidity, modeling, residential

Citation

Emmerich, S. , Persily, A. and Nabinger, S. (2002), Modeling Moisture in Residential Buildings with a Multizone IAQ Program, Indoor Air Quality and Climate, International Conference | 9th | Proceedings of Indoor Air 2002 | International Society of Infoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ), [online], https://tsapps.nist.gov/publication/get_pdf.cfm?pub_id=860874 (Accessed October 18, 2025)