The definitive guide to understanding and managing the effects of water on buildings Water in Buildings: An Architect's Guide to Moisture and Mold is a detailed and highly useful reference to help architects and other design professionals create dry, healthy environments, without jeopardizing a project with poor liability management. Much more than a book of "quick fixes," this practical guide illuminates an essential understanding of the "whys" of moisture problems, including valuable information on how water behaves and how its performance can be anticipated and managed in building design. With a special emphasis on water's role in creating mold, an issue of growing concern and liability, Water in Buildings offers the most up-to-date information on rainwater management, below-grade water management, foundations, wall and roof construction, mechanical systems, moisture, and much more! Providing authoritative guidance to designers and builders, this definitive guide features: * Clear explanations of how water interacts with building materials and equipment * An in-depth exploration of the paths of leaks * Numerous case studies on such well-known structures as Mount Vernon, Independence Hall, and Wingspan (Frank Lloyd Wright) * Numerous descriptive drawings and photographs

Almost all homes, apartments, and commercial buildings will experience leaks, flooding, or other forms of excessive indoor dampness at some point. Not only is excessive dampness a health problem by itself, it also contributes to several other potentially problematic types of situations. Molds and other microbial agents favor damp indoor environments, and excess moisture may initiate the release of chemical emissions from damaged building materials and furnishings. This new book from the Institute of Medicine examines the health impact of exposures resulting from damp indoor environments and offers recommendations for public health interventions. Damp Indoor Spaces and Health covers a broad range of topics. The book not only examines the relationship between damp or moldy indoor environments and adverse health outcomes but also discusses how and where buildings get wet, how dampness influences microbial growth and chemical emissions, ways to prevent and remediate dampness, and elements of a public health response to the issues. A comprehensive literature review finds sufficient evidence of an association between damp indoor environments and some upper respiratory tract symptoms, coughing, wheezing, and asthma symptoms in sensitized persons. This important book will be of interest to a wide-ranging audience of science, health, engineering, and building professionals, government officials, and members of the public.

Annotation All of the presentations and the papers in this publication address ways to improve the performance of exterior building walls, or ways to identify, understand, and avoid the factors leading to failures in the future.

Prepared in cooperation with Disney Development Company, this book deals exclusively with aspects of the design, construction or operation of buildings for which even relatively minor errors can have devastating results when the building is located in a hot, humid climate. Disney's consistent adherence to the principles outlined in this manual has dramatically reduced problems in its new construction. The information presented combines the experience of CH2M Hill, the largest environmental engineering firm in the U.S., and Disney, one of the premier facility planning and management firms in the world. Key issues covered include indoor air quality problem factors; hot humid climate considerations; new building failure; and a model for future success. Specifically addressed are schematic design, design development, final design, construction, and post-construction startup and system commissioning. The concepts and approaches presented are those which have proven successful in designing and operating problem-free indoor building environments in hot and humid locations.

A comprehensive guide to the design and execution of sophisticated exterior building enclosures Focused on the design process for architects and related professionals, this book addresses the design and execution of sophisticated exterior building enclosures for a number of commercial building types and in a variety of building materials. It focuses on the design process by delineating enclosure basics, the participants (owners, architects, engineers, consultants) and their roles and responsibilities through collaboration, and tracking the design process through construction. This comprehensive handbook covers all of the factors that affect the design of a building enclosure, including function, visual aesthetics, performance requirements, and many other criteria. In-depth case studies of projects of various scales, types, and climate conditions illustrate the successful implementation of exterior wall enclosure solutions in brick masonry, stone, architectural concrete, glass, and metals. This unique and indispensable guide: Defines the functions, physical requirements, design principles, and types of exterior building enclosures Identifies the participants in the design and construction process and specifies their roles and responsibilities Presents a step-by-step process for the design of exterior enclosures, from defining goals and developing concepts through creating construction documents Reviews the construction process from bidding and negotiation through the paper phase to the "brick and mortar" stage Provides details on the properties of exterior enclosure materials, including structural considerations, weather protection, fire safety, and more Covers a variety of materials, including brick masonry, natural stone masonry, architectural concrete, metal framing and glass, and all-glass enclosures Written by the technical director of the San Francisco office of Skidmore, Owings & Merrill, Exterior Building Enclosures is an indispensable resource for architects, engineers, facade consultants, and green design consultants working on commercial building projects.

"A Member of the International Code Family."

Concrete and stone seem made to last forever. But the fact is they develop problems. It is not always as dramatic as the collapse of a section of the roof of the Paris Charles de Gaulle airport in 2004. Gradual changes also occur that may compromise the appearance and structural soundness of buildings constructed with these materials. These changes can be created by efflorescence, thermal stress, weathering, leakage and corrosion. This book explains how to avoid typical kinds of failure. With this in mind, it systematically analyzes cases of damage in contemporary international architecture. It also offers strategies for minimizing the risk of damage. Examples include such high-visibility structures as Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Parco della Musica in Rome and Vontz Center for Molecular Studies in Cincinnatti. In eight chapters, typical kinds of damage are explained and illustrated with examples. Beton und Stein scheinen für die Ewigkeit gemacht. Dennoch kommt es hier zu Bauschäden. Nicht immer sind sie so dramatisch wie der Deckeneinsturz im Terminal des Flughafen Paris-Roissy 2004. Es gibt auch schleichende Veränderungen, die Erscheinungsbild und Statik von Beton- oder Steingebäuden beeinträchtigen können. Dazu gehören Ausblühungen, thermische Auswirkungen, Materialunverträglichkeiten, Korrosion oder massive Krafteinwirkung. Dieses Buch zeigt, wie sich typische Schäden vermeiden lassen. Zu diesem Zweck analysiert es systematisch Schadensfälle in der zeitgenössischen internationalen Architektur. Ebenso werden Strategien vorgestellt, mit denen sich das Schadensrisiko minimieren lässt. Zu den Beispielen gehören so bekannte Bauten wie die Finlandia Hall in Helsinki, Renzo Pianos Parco della Musica in Rom oder Vontz Center for Molecular Studies in Cincinnatti. In insgesamt acht Kapiteln werden typische Schäden erklärt und dann mit Beispielen illustriert.