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.

Building exterior walls are complex construction systems with criteria hich vary according to project, design, and construction delivery systems. They are by nature subject to performance problems which may include water infiltration. A properly implemented Quality Assurance Program which begins during the Design phase of the project and follows through final acceptance of the construction offers an opportunity to reduce or eliminate these problems. These programs should involve all parties of the Design/Construct process since their success is highly dependent upon planning and communication. The successful implementation of a quality assurance program can result in higher performance of the wall system, better conformance to project schedule and budget requirements, and reduced likelihood of conflict including litigation. While there is a cost to implement such a program, the cost to benefit ratio is favorable and they are particularly beneficial for complex or high risk projects.

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.