by Brianna Crandall — February 12, 2014—The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a publication that provides practical guidance on how to control moisture in buildings for professionals who design, build, operate, or maintain buildings as well as the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) equipment within those facilities.
Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance contains chapters on designing, constructing, and operating and maintaining moisture-controlled environments. It provides basic information on water behavior in buildings, the health implications of dampness in buildings, and moisture-control principles for such issues as site drainage, foundations, walls, roof and ceiling assemblies, plumbing systems and HVAC systems.
The appendices include further tools to help building professionals evaluate the effectiveness of moisture control in buildings, including a roof inspection checklist, an inspection checklist for heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) systems, and resources for testing moisture, mapping air pressure, maintaining site drainage, and evaluating dampness and mold.
Moisture Control Guidance for Building Design, Construction and Maintenance is available for free download from EPA’s IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) Science Resources Web page.
