COMPARATIVE HYGROTHERMAL PERFORMANCE TESTING OF WALL ASSEMBLIES WITH BRICK VENEER EMPLOYING A 3-DIMENSIONAL DUAL VENTILATED WRB, AND A SPUNBONDED POLYOLEFIN-BASED WRB

As the demand for improved energy efficiency of buildings continues to rise, more and more activities are commencing to assist the development of building envelope systems that are even more energy efficient. One major objective within the Department of Energy is to create a series of advanced wall systems that can help achieve the goal of zero net energy residential buildings. As the energy efficiency of a building envelope is increased - the key method to improve energy efficiency of wall systems is to add insulation - durability challenges can occur that are related to moisture management. Essentially, less energy is available to assist the transport of moisture away from the building envelope. A number of innovative building envelope materials and systems are being introduced to the North American construction market to enhance the moisture drying potential. Some of these materials/systems are passive, i.e. do not require additional energy. This study investigates the hygrothermal performance of a brick veneer wall assembly with two different weather resistive barrier (WRB) strategies. One of the WRB’s deployed in this investigation is a spunbonded polyolefin-based material. The second WRB is an innovative 3-dimensional dual ventilated sheet. The performance analysis of these two different WRB’s is based on long-term field-monitored results under challenging hygrothermal conditions. This paper conclusively demonstrates that the 3-dimensional WRB with ventilation on both sides of the membrane provides excellent hygrothermal performance when compared to the conventional spun-bonded polyolefin based material. The 3-D dual ventilated WRB provides enhanced drying potential by deploying passive solar energy, making this innovative material an excellent contender for present and future wall systems (Zero-Net Energy Buildings).