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Temperature and relative humidity in park buildings Maritime provinces
NATIONAL RESEARCH COUNCIL CANADA
D I V I S I O N O F BUILDING RF:SEARCH
TEMPERATUHE AND RELATIVE HUMIDITY I N PARK BUILDINGS MARITIME PROVINCES by D. C. T i b b e t t s and D. R. R o b s o n
I n t e r n a l
R e p o r t No. 268 of t h e D i v i s i o n of B u i l d i n g R e s e a r c h OTTAWA A p r i l1963
PREFACE
It
is often of value to be able to estimate
the temperatures and humidities which will occur in
structures left unheated under Canadian climatic
conditions. Prediction based on calculations of
heat and moisture exchanges is extremely complex
and often of uncertain accuracy. Actual measured
values for particular cases can therefore be of
assistance in providing some basis for prediction
in other cases which may arise. The opportunity to
obtain such information is welcomed by the Division,
particularly when as in this case it can be combined
with other interests and can be carried out with the
c
o -operation and assistance of the owners.The authors are research officers of the
staff of the Atlantic Regional Station of the Division
in Halifax. Mr. Robson is a mechanical engineer;
Mr.
Tibbetts, a civil engineer, is officer-in-charge
of the Station.
Ottawa
TEEIIPERATURE AND FE3LATIVE HUhIIDITY I N FARK BUILDINGS
MARITIME FROVINCES
D. C. T i b b e t t s and D. R. Robson
I n October 1961, w i t h t h e co-operation of t h e
Department of Northern A f f a i r s and National Resources, Parks Branch, b u i l d i n g s i n t h r e e National Parks i n t h e Maritime
Provinces were instrumented t o o b t a i n information on indoor temperature and r e l a t i v e humidity i n heated, unheated, and p a r t i a l l y heated b u i l d i n g s . Included were p a r t i a l l y heated unoccupied b u i l d i n g s and unheated unoccupied b u i l d i n g s i n Fundy National Park a t Alma, N.B. and Prince Edward I s l a n d National Park a t Cavendish. Por purposes of t h i s r e p o r t , p a r t i a l l y heated means heated a t a temperature below t h a t normally acceptable i n occupied b u i l d i n g s . A heated occupied dwelling i n Cape Breton Highlands National Park a t Ingonish Beach was a l s o instrumented.
I n a d d i t i o n , through t h e co-operation of , t h e Manager and t h e S t a f f Engineer a t K e l t i c Lodge, instruments were
i n s t a l l e d on t h e main and t h i r d f l o o r s of t h e Lodge and i n t h e e n g i n e e r t s house. These b u i l d i n g s a l s o a r e a t Ingonish Beach.
Besides t h e D i v i s i o n t s i n t e r e s t i n o b t a i n i n g indoor temperature and humidity r e c o r d s i n b u i l d i n g s i n v a r i o u s
geographical a r e a s of Canada, t h e o f f i c e r s of t h e Parks Branch were i n t e r e s t e d i n l e a r n i n g of c o n d i t i o n s e x i s t i n g i n unheated and p a r t i a l l y heated unoccupied b u i l d i n g s d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r months. The h e a t i n g of some previously unheated b t - l d i n g s had r e s u l t e d i n severe wood checking i n b u i l d i n g s and f n r n i s h i n g s . Some b u i l d i n g s r e q u i r e h e a t because of f r o s t e f f e c t s on foundations; nevertheless, i n s p i t e of some foundation
movement, many b u i l d i n g s of wood c o n s t r u c t i o n can be s a f e l y l e f t unheated w i t h r e s u l t a n t f u e l savings. A howledge of t y p i c a l i n s i d e c o n d i t i o n s i n w i n t e r might a l s o prove u s e f u l i n a s s e s s i n g t h e performance of p r o t e c t i v e c o a t i n g s on wood s i d i n g s when comparing unoccupied b u i l d i n g s w i t h those
experiencing normal occupancy. A c o n s t a n t record of tempera- t u r e c o n d i t i o n s i n l a r g e b u i l d i n g s (such a s K e l t i c Lodge) t h a t a r e maintained through t h e w i n t e r months a t temperatures considerably belov? normally a c c e p t a b l e temperatures i s thought t o be u s e f u l t o t h e owners of such b u i l d i n g s w i t h regard t o
"maintenance" h e a t i n g c o s t s .
P o r t u n a t e l y , c l i m a t o l o g i c a l s t a t i o n s were l o c a t e d r e l a t i v e l y c l o s e t o a l l b u i l d i n g s instrumented s o t h a t outdoor
temperature r e c o r d s were o b t a i n e d from t h e Department of T r a n s p o r t through t h e c o - o p e r a t i o n of t h e D i v i s i o n t s C l i m a t o l o g i s t .
Hygrothermographs ( F i g u r e 1) were used f o r r e c o r d i n g purposes. These i n s t r u m e n t s measure temperature by a b i m e t a l element and humidity by a h a i r element. Measurements were recorded on a 7-day drum c h a r t . A s t h e performance of t h e h a i r element h a s a tendency t o v a r y over wide r a n g e s of humidity, p e r i o d i c c a l i b r a t i o n s a r e necessary. A Bendix
a s p i r a t i n g - t y p e psychrometer was used f o r c a l i b r a t i o n purposes. C h a r t s were changed weekly a t park l o c a t i o n s by
s t a f f of t h e Parks Branch and a t K e l t i c Lodge by t h e s t a f f e n g i n e e r and were mailed each month t o t h e D i v i s i o n ' s H a l i f a x S t a t i o n where t h e y were processed. Data from a l l i n s t r u m e n t s and from D.O.T. r e c o r d s were averaged on a weekly b a s i s and f o r purposes of t h i s r e p o r t a r e p r e s e n t e d g r a p h i c a l l y .
CAVENDISH, P.E.I.
Two b u i l d i n g s instrumented:
(1) Green Gables
-
unheated ( F i g u r e 2 a ) .( 2 ) S t a f f House
-
50 t o 60°F-
unoccupied ( F i g u r e 2 b ) . The weekly a v e r a g e s of t e m p e r a t u r e , r e l a t i v e humidity, and a i r moisture c o n t e n t ( g r / l b ) f o r b o t h houses a r e p r e s e n t e d i n graph f o m ( F i g u r e 5 ).
When t h e c o l d e s t recorded minimum temperature (-15'F) f o r t h e p e r i o d occurred a t Stanhope, P.E.I.
,
t h e minimumi n s i d e temperature i n t h e unheated house was +6OF. ALFTA. N.B.
Two b u i l d i n g s were instrumented:
(1) Golf Clubhouse
-
unheated ( F i g u r e 3 a ) .( 2 ) Assembly H a l l
-
60+'F-
unoccupied ( F i g u r e 3 b ) . Weekly a v e r a g e s of t e m p e r a t u r e , r e l a t i v e humidity, and a i r moisture c o n t e n t ( g r / l b ) f o r b o t h b u i l d i n g s a r e p r e s e n t e d i n graph form ( F i g u r e 6 ) .When t h e c o l d e s t recorded minimum temperature (-2T°F) f o r t h e p e r i o d occurred a t Alma, N.B., t h e minimum i n s i d e
I N G O N I S H BEACH, N.S.
Three b u i l d i n g s were instrumented:
(1) S t a f f residence Cape Breton Highlands National Park
-
heated
-
occupied.( 2 ) S t a f f r e s i d s n c e
-
K e l t i c Lodge-
heated-
occupied. ( 3 ) Main Building K e l t i c Lodge-
60+"F-
unoccupied-
instrumented on two l e v e l s (Figure 4 ) .
Temperature and humidity c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e two
r e s i d e n c e s (two-storey) were s i m i l a r so t h a t t h e r e s u l t s could be averaged and t h e d a t a presented on one graph (Figure 7 ) . Por purposes of t h i s r e p o r t , t h e d a t a from two instruments a t K e l t i c Lodge were a l s o averaged and presented on one graph
(Pigure 7 ) .
It can g e n e r a l l y be s a i d , when c o n s i d e r i n g t h e averages f o r t h e period of i n s t r u m e n t a t i o n
-
10 October 1961 t o 17 June 1962- t h a t t h e temperature a t t h e t h i r d - f l o o r l e v e l was 10 deg l e s s t h a n f o r t h e main f l o o r with a r e s u l t i n gh i g h e r r e l a t i v e humidity. Examination of p r e v i o u s l y prepared graphs of a i r moisture c o n t e n t ( g r / l b ) a t both l e v e l s i n d i c a t e d very l i t t l e d i f f e r e n c e with t h a t on t h e t h i r d f l o o r being
s l i g h t l y h i g h e r on t h e average.
A s it i s known t h a t t h e management of K e l t i c Lodge has a s p e c i f i c i n t e r e s t i n t h e i n s i d e c o n d i t i o n s i n apprecia- t i o n of annual maintenance c o s t s , t h e following a d d i t i o n a l information on t h e Lodge has been included.
Temp R.H.
Period Average (OF)
($1
Third Floor Main F l o o r
Minimum Average Weekly Temperature Third Floor
Main Floor
Maximum Avera ge Weekly R. H. Third Floor
Main Floor
Lowest T e m ~ e r a t u r e Reached Third Floor
Temperature r e c o r d s i n unheated b u i l d i n g s i n d i f f e r e n t g e o g r a p h i c a l a r e a s from October 1961 t o May 1962 i n d i c a t e
a p p r e c i a b l e d i f f e r e n c e s between i n s i d e and o u t s i d e t e m p e r a t u r e s over most of t h a t p e r i o d . A t a minimum o u t s i d e t e m p e r a t u r e , t h e s e d i f f e r e n c e s ranged from 2 1 t o 34OF.
I n w i n t e r r e l a t i v e h u m i d i t i e s i n unheated b u i l d i n g s a r e h i g h e r t h a n i n heated b u i l d i n g s . These h i g h e r h u m i d i t i e s a r e normally above t h e range where t r o u b l e i s experienced w i t h e x c e s s i v e shrinkage of components i n wood-frame b u i l d i n g s . A
comparison of unheated b u i l d i n g s w i t h p a r t i a l l y h e a t e d ones i n t h e same g e o g r a p h i c a l l o c a t i o n s i n d i c a t e s a s m a l l e r range
of r e l a t i v e humidity f o r t h e unheated b u i l d i n g s a t a c o n s i s t e n t l y h i g h e r v a l u e . A s wood moisture c o n t e n t s a r e r e l a t e d t o t h e
r e l a t i v e humidity of t h e surrounding a i r , it i s important t h a t s a t i s f a c t o r y r e l a t i v e humidity l e v e l s be maintained t o avoid wood shrinkage. This becomes i n c r e a s i n g l y i m p o r t a n t when massive wood s t r u c t u r e s a r e involved.
I n t h e s e b u i l d i n g s , h e a t i n g was maintained below t h a t normally considered i n occupied b u i l d i n g s ( p a r t i a l l y h e a t e d ) and humidity l e v e l s were g e n e r a l l y s a t i s f a c t o r y f o r t h e t y p e s of b u i l d i n g s and i n t e r i o r f i n i s h e s involved. I n
only one b u i l d i n g d i d t h e r e l a t i v e humidity f a l l below 20 p e r c e n t d u r i n g t h e w i n t e r months.
I n t h e two occupied r e s i d e n c e s temperatures were maintained s l i g h t l y below 70°P on t h e average and t h e r e l a t i v e humidity was g e n e r a l l y i n t h e d e s i r a b l e range of 30 t o 40 p e r c e n t f o r occupied houses.
Except when f o u n d a t i o n s o r c e r t a i n s e r v i c e s i n b u i l d i n g s pose a problem, it a p p e a r s t o be good p r a c t i c e t o exclude h e a t from unoccupied b u i l d i n g s of frame c o n s t r u c t i o n i n t h e Maritimes i n t h e i n t e r e s t of reduced c o s t . When
f a c t o r s mentioned above must be c o n s i d e r e d , t h e h e a t i n g of b u i l d i n g s t o a temperature somewhat below 70°F, s a y t o 50°F,
i s suggested a s a s a t i s f a c t o r y compromise.
The h e l p and i n t e r e s t i n t h i s s t u d y of t h e e n g i n e e r i n g s t a f f a t each of t h e N a t i o n a l Parks and a t K e l t i c Lodge a r e
Figure
1
HygrothermographFigure 2b Cavendish
-
Staff
HouseF i g u r e 3b Fundy Park
-
Assembly Hall1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 \
-
- UNHEATED---
--
HEATED-
FIGURE
5
CAVENDISH
T E M P E R A T U R E O F R E L A T I V E H U M I D I T Y 'lo AIR M O I S T U R E CONTENT GR/LB
-
N & l A V I Q ) 4 0 3-
N W A V I r n 4F I G U R E
7
I N G O N I S H B E A C H
-
-
- 0 / ---
--/- ---/--.
P - M - 1-
- - /-
-
. .
...
....
**..*.
-
0 . *. ..ow *. ;...
...
. .
0 . .-
.**.-. .
-
. . .
..
...
- 0 . ....
.*-
HOUSES.
.
.
.
.--
-
*.-
OUTDOOR TEMP * * * * * * o o.
7 KELTIC LODGE--
-
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 ,I
- 0 s B 0 1 * r E g l * = E Z (!
~
~
!AE:
~
N m % m O~
~
~
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