Mark XI Energy Research Project: summary of results, 1978-1981

Publisher’s version / Version de l'éditeur: Building Practice Note, 1982-01-01

READ THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS CAREFULLY BEFORE USING THIS WEBSITE.

https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/copyright

Vous avez des questions? Nous pouvons vous aider. Pour communiquer directement avec un auteur, consultez la

première page de la revue dans laquelle son article a été publié afin de trouver ses coordonnées. Si vous n’arrivez pas à les repérer, communiquez avec nous à PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca.

Questions? Contact the NRC Publications Archive team at

PublicationsArchive-ArchivesPublications@nrc-cnrc.gc.ca. If you wish to email the authors directly, please see the first page of the publication for their contact information.

NRC Publications Archive

Archives des publications du CNRC

For the publisher’s version, please access the DOI link below./ Pour consulter la version de l’éditeur, utilisez le lien DOI ci-dessous.

https://doi.org/10.4224/20377906

Access and use of this website and the material on it are subject to the Terms and Conditions set forth at

Mark XI Energy Research Project: summary of results, 1978-1981

Scheuneman, E. C.

https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/droits

L’accès à ce site Web et l’utilisation de son contenu sont assujettis aux conditions présentées dans le site LISEZ CES CONDITIONS ATTENTIVEMENT AVANT D’UTILISER CE SITE WEB.

NRC Publications Record / Notice d'Archives des publications de CNRC: https://nrc-publications.canada.ca/eng/view/object/?id=ecb4035e-716a-4151-876e-1c75bad002a7 https://publications-cnrc.canada.ca/fra/voir/objet/?id=ecb4035e-716a-4151-876e-1c75bad002a7

BUILDING

PRACTICE

NOTE

MARK

XI

SUMMARY

OF

Division of Building, Research, National Research Council of Canada

Otzawa, January 1982

TABLZ OF CONTENTS

INTRODUCTION

DESCRIPTION OF THE MARK XI HOUSES

T£€F,EMAL PERFORMANCE

UP

AMD

THERPiAL PERE'O=~CE QF THE UPGRADED WALL SYSTEM

BASEMENT STUDIES

AIR-LEAKAGE ST7JDIES

AIR-SOURCE HEAT PUMP SYSTEMS SQLAR HEATING SYSTEM

PLELD P E R F O W C E OF A NATURAL GAS FURNACE MECHANICAL VENTILATIOPJ WITH HEllT RECOVERY

HUMIDITY AND AIR CHANGE

MOISTURE STUDIES

WITID AWD PBeSSURE EFFECTS PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

REFERENCES

MARK XI ENERGY RESEARCH PROJECT SUMMARY OF RESULTS, 1978-1981

by

E

.

.

INTRODUCTION

The Housing and Urban Development Assoc5atiun of Canada (HUDAC) and the D i v i s i o n of Building Research (DBR) have been cooperatltt~ on a project to study energy use in four single-family detached houses b u i l t

in Orleans, Ontario, 5 kilometres e a s t of Ottawa in 1977. These houses were designated the: W A C Hark XI Project.

The objectives of tlhe project include the following:

(1) to demonstrate the energy savkng r e s u l t i n g from upgrading the

thermal resistance and air-tightness of the building

envelope;

(2) to s t u d y the potential problems associated with thermal

upgrading;

<3) to. d e t e w n e the t h e m . 1 performance of space-heating systems (gas furnace, a i r s o u r c e heat punp

,

( 4 ) t o determine the heat l o s s through different sections of the

houses;

(5) to determine the accuracy of mathematical models in

predicting energy consumption in houses;

( 6 ) to determine the effect of occupancy an the energy usage in

houses.

DESCRIPTION OF THE MARK

XI

The four detached two-storey, single-family test houses are located on adjacent l o t s in a housing development near Ottawa ( F i g u r e I ) , Each has 118 m2 (1249 f t2) of living area and a full

basement w i t h cast-in-place concrete foundatjton. The interior dilnensions and interior finishes are identical i n a l l four houses

(Figure 2) ; the exterior finishes are nearly i d e n t i c a l . References ( I )

and (2) give f u l l d e t a i l s .

House 1 (81) was b u i l t according to t h e insulation requirements of the 1975 Ontario Building Code. Houses 2, 3 and 4

(a,

constructed with increased levels of insulation, t r i p l e - g l a z e d windows and special features to Fncrease air-tightness. The nominal thermal characteristics of the main components of the houses are given in T a b l e 1 , and a more complete d e s c r i p t i o n is available in Reference (1); the R-values glven refer to the i n s u l a t i o n i n s t a l l e d i n t h e houses.

F O R T U N E D R I V E

Orleans, Ontario

F I G U R E

1

BASEMENT PLAN

*

- GROUND FLOOR PLAN rwr

SECOND FL0,DR PLAN

z c a u

F I G U R E 2

paper backing on glass-fibre batts

:

In a d d i t i o n , there are two nonstandard construction features in

s o w of these houses; namely, continuous-span floor j o i s t s with glued subfloors and e i g h t d i f f e r e n t panel materials used as roof sheathing.

Table 1

Thermal Properties of the Mark XI Houses*

H1

-

below grade an height on exterior

interior of wall of wall

Windows s e a l e d , double- sealed, triple-

g l a z e d , wood-frame, glazed, wood-frame, sliding and casement and awning

double-hung

Exterior doors i n s u l a t e d steel i n s u l a t e d steel

doors doors with storm

doors

Air-vapour barrier 0

.lo

polyethylene sheet

throughout

*R-values in t h i s table and paper are given in SI u n i t s with I m p e r i a l

u n i t s in brackets.

The Eastern Forest Products Laboratory of Forintek Canada Corp. has been monitoring these features. One energy-related conclusion obtained from

its floor study is that insulation should be on t h e outside of the floor j o i s t headers t o avoid condensation; farther information on t h i s aspect is g i v e n in k f e r e n c e (3). Results of the f i r s t roof-sheathing

inspection done in 1980 a r e r e p o r t e d in Reference ( 4 ) .

A l l four houses have central forced-air electric furnaces. The

furnace in H3 was t h e back-up heater for an a i r h e a t i n g solar system. The electric furnace in H4 w a s t h e back-up heater for an air-source h e a t

Pump-

The folIowiag seven s t u d i e s w e r e conducted and documented by the

contain a d d i t i o n a l information on these s t u d i e s . Data f r m d e t a i l e d

monitoring are also available from the Division.

THERMAL, PERFORMANCE OF STANDARD AND UPGRADED HOUSES

The measured energy losses and gains are given in T a b l e 2 for the

1978-79 heating season (4754 degree-days).

Table 2

Energy Comparison of B1 and H2*

-(1978-79)

Total purchased heating energy Gains from appliances, lights, sun

and p e o p l e

T o t a l b u i l d i n g energy loss

'Taken from Reference ( 2 )

The results can be summarized as follows:

-

HZ

than the standard house H1;

-

7 . 5 PIWoh for the heating season; t h i s is equivalent to 32% and 40% of the t o t a l beat requirement for H1 and

HZ,

-

Table 3 compares the calculated and experimental' results for t h e

T a b l e 3

Design Load and Annual Heat Consumption*

HI

-

-

c a l c d . exptl. calcd. exprl.

Desfgn heating load (kW) 13-7 7.1 8 -5 5.3

Annual heat energy consumption 20.2 16.0 12.5 11.1

(Em-

*The calculated values are AS= modified degree-day (MDD) method results and are taken £ram Reference (1); t h e experimental values are

derived from Reference (2).

The design heating load is used t o size heating systems. Table 3

i n d i c a t e s t h a t the usual MDD method of calculation gives results for H1

and E2 that exceed the experimental values by 93X and 60%. The values

for t h e annual heat consumption using t h e MIlD methsd are higher than the experimental values by 261 and 33%.

Table 4 shows the heat loss distribution f o r H1 and HZ.

Table 4

Campartson of Heat Loss Distribution f o r H1 and H2*

Above-grade envelope Below-grade envelope Air leakage

*The calculated values are taken from Reference (1) using trhe MDD method; the experimental values are derived from References (2) and

(5)

calcd. exptl. calcd. exptl.

It is interesting t o note in Table 4 that although there is close agreement between the calculated and experimental above-grade envelope

losses, there are large discrepancies f o r the below-grade envelope and

air-leakage l o s s e s . This may explain t h e large disagreement in Table 3

between the experimental and MDD results, and s u g g e s t s the need to

THERMAL PERFORMANCE OF TFIE UPGRADED WALL SYSTEM

Houses H Z , HJ and $14 have an upgraded wall system ( i l l u s t r a t e d in Figure 3 ) . The thermal performance of the upgraded wall systems in li2

and li4 was monitored durlng the heating season of 198.13-81 to:

-

- determine the effect o f framing members on the R-value of the wall system.

Measurement and equipment d e t a i l s are given in Reference ( 6 ) . Table 5 gives a summary of both measured R-values and R-values

calculated using standard ASHRAE procedures. The mean temperature, TM,

is the average of t h e i n s i d e and outside surface temperatures. A TM of

24-C is the reference temperature for laboratory measurements and f a r tables of R-values. A TM of 9OC corresponds to the average winter a i r temperature of -2°C for O t t a w a f r a m October through A p r i l . The

reference point of T p l = 9OC is given s i n c e i t represents the average f i e l d performance, whereas TM = 24'C is the laboratory reference point,

Generally, the R-value of insulations increases a# the TM decreases.

Table 5

Upgraded Wall System R-values

R-valueat R - v a l u e a t

Tfi = 24°C TM = 9OC

Insulation (through cavity)

- calculated 3.78 (21.5)

---

-

and smth wall) 3.76 (21.3) 4 . 1 4 (23.5)

Wall System (through cavity and studs)

-

through framing members) 3.53 ( 2 0 . 0 )

--

-

RS I

-

25 rnrn FIBRE BOARD SHEATHING 38 x 89 rnm (2 x 4) STUDS

FRICTION FIT GIASS FIBRE BAIT 0.10 mm (4 mil) POLYETHYLENE AIR-VAPOUR BARRIER

FRICTION FIT Gl

38 x 38 rnrn {2 x 21 HORIZONTAL STRAPP ING

(406 mm o. c. 1

ELECTRICAL WIRING I N THE 38 x 38 mm CAVITY TO AVOID PENETRATING A I R-VAPOUR BARR l ER

F I G U R E 3

The results shown in Table 5 indicate that:

-

-

IOX

standard calculation (TM = 2446);

-

TM

24°C

probably due to the nails in the wall/siding and to nonparallel

heat flows in the wall;

- the measured R-value of the wall system f o r the average- winter temperature ( T ~ = 9°C) i s 3.23; hence, the thermal perf ormanae

o-f the w a l l in winter is 8% less than that p r e d i c t e d by the standard calculation.

BASEMENT $'INDIES

The thermal performance of the basement: walls and floors of H1 and

H4 were monitored f r o m January t o A p r i l 1979. The results can be summarized as f o l l o w s ;

-

t o be independent of the outdoor temperature;

-

( 8 % less);

-

-

heated basement, had a heat l o s s 30% lower than that of the

north wall facing the street.

More information is given in Reference (2).

In the summer of 1980 several sections of the basement w a l l of 8 1

w e r e r e i n s u l a ~ e d full hetght on the interior t o R 3.5 ( 2 0 ) by using a v a r i e t y of insulation materials and techniques. Thermal and moisture measurements are being carried out to evaluate the performance of the

wall,

Two cracks I n one basement w a l l of H2 are being monitored f o r variation in width. The- p a t t e r n of the cra&s suggests t h a t the w a l l

The water flow in the drainage tile around H4 was oecasianally monitgred since water flow around the baseaent can affect basement heat

loss.

AIR-LEAKAGE STUDIES

The standard house ( H I ) w a s b u i l t using paper-backed glass-fibre b a t t s . The upgraded houses (H2, H3, H4) contained a d d i t i o n a l insulation and a specially applied 0.10

m

improve air-tightness of the house envelope. A comparison of the air leakage rates of the two air-barrier systems shows their r e l a t i v e

effectiveness. During the 1978-79 studies, all four houses were heated

by e l e c t r i c furnaces. H3 had, in addition, an air-based solar heating

system and H4, a heat: pump system. None of the houses, therefore, had a chimney.

Air-Tightness

Air-tightness is represented by the a i r leakage into a house resulting from a pressure difference across the building envelope

induced by mechanical means. In 1978 and 1979, air-tightness t e s t s were

performed o n a l l four Mark XI houses (Hl, H2,

#,

pressurization method. (Full results are given in Reference (5).) The

air-leakage rate w a s measured over a range of induced pressure

differences f r o m 8 to 80 Pascals (Pa).

Table 6 shows some of the results from tests conducted in March 1979.

Table 6

Air-Tightness Results

(March

Air-leakage rate ( ~ f s ) for: Impravemeat in

-

air-tightness AP = 50 Pa AP = 10 Fa compared to H1

-

+

+

*ELh is the equivalent leakage area calculated according to the Draft

The results shcw that the upgraded houses.

'H2

HI,

HI.

The air-leakage rates were, on average,

101

obtained a year earlier. This increase is attributed to t h e increase i n

leakage openings caused by the dryfng and shrinkage of building materials.

On comparing t h e air-tfghtness measurements carried out In 1978 o n 6 3 houses built in O t t a w a (Reference (7)), w i t h those on the four

Mark XI houses for 1978-1979, it can be seen that both 81 and H3 exceed

the lower l i m i t of these 63 houses, while H2 and H4 f a l l below it. The average a%r-leakage rate for H2 arnd

H4

Air Inf iltraef en

Air infiltration is t h e uncontrolled leakage a£ air i n t o a house

resulting from pressure d i f f e r e n c e s across its envelope induced by wind

and inside-to-outside temperature differences. Air infiltration rates (natural a i r change rates) were measured simultaneously in both H1 and H4 between January and April 1939 using the trace.r-gas decay method with

carbon dioxfde (CO2) as the tracer gas. (Reference ( 5 ) gives complete

i n f o r m t i o n on these teats.) The average results for winter weather

condttions

CAP

changes per hour (AC/h) for H1 and H4, respectively.

The Mark X I houses provided a unique opportunity to investigate

t h e correlation between air infiltration and air-tightness for chimneyless houses with identical location and surroundings.

Reference (8) shows a d i r e c t correlation, thus showing that the air

change rates for the %rk XI houses can be derived from their air-

tightness measurements. This knowledge fs valuable since it means that fan pressurization measurements, which are easier, quicker and cheaper

t o carry o u t than those using tracergas methods, can replace the

latter.

During the 1980-81 heating season a study w a s carried out on H3 to determine the effect of a gas furnace and chimney on the house a i r

leakage (Reference 9 )

.

Some of the results for H3 are as follows:

-

-

resulted in a 50% increase in the a i r infiltration rate (wind

speeds ~ 3 . 5 d s ) ;

-

40%

The interactton between mechanical ventilation systems and air

leakage is s t i l l being studied,

AIR-SOURCE HEAT P W SYSTEMS

One of the upgraded houses, H4, was used from 1978 to 1981 to study the thermal performance of airsource heat pump systems a s heating

systems. It was heated during the f i r s t two heating seasons by a heat pump of nominal 23-ton (9 kW) capacity w i t h three

4.5

electric resistance heaters and demand defrost. During the t h i r d

heating season, a heat pump sf nominal I*-ton ( 5 . 4 kW) capacity with two

4.6 kW s t a g e s of e l e c t r i c resistance heaters and demand defrost was

used. The latter heat pump s i z e was t h e closest match to the house l o a d

according t o conventional sizing practice.

The seasanal performance factor (SPF) for the heat pump and

electric heaters equals the t o t a l heat they supply divZded by the t o t a l

energy they use. The SPF is calculated f o r the heatlng season and is always greater than 1.0 s i n c e the heat pump supplies more energy than it uses while extracting heat from the w t s i d c air.

Table 7 compares the heat pump performance for t h e three heating

seasons. Reference (10) gives further infortmtion.

Table 7

Heat Pump Results

2f -ton 14-ton

1978-79 1979-80 1980-81

(Dec.-May) (Sept.-May) (Sept.-Hay)

Degree-days ( % of average f o r period) 99%

96%

Q

Seasonal performance factor (SPF) 1.5 1.7 1.6

Energy supplied by heat pump

81L

These energy savings, which average about 40% for 1979-81, are

indicative of the performance of any air-source heat pump in the O t t a w a region. The savings should be higher in warmer regions and lower in colder regions. Since the I*-ton heat pump showed energy savings as high as or higher than the 2*-ton heat pump (for equivalent degree-

days), the c o s t o f the larger size may not be j u s t i f i e d f o r this

particular haus e.

Some other aspects being s t u d i e d include:

-

- the development of a method to calculate the SPF so that energy

savings can be predicted;

-

In 1981-82 a new 2f-ton heat pmp with two parallel-running

compressors w i l l be used as the heating system. Other features include t w o 5 kW stages of electric resistance heaters and t i m e d d e f r o s t . With

the original 2*-ton heat pump, assistance was requtred from the electric

heaters below -15°C; in this two-compressor model the second compressor comes on at -lS°C to a s s i s t the f i r s t compressor. This m e a n s that the

electric heaters w i l l not: be needed u n t i l a much lower temperature.

SOUR HEATING SYSTEM

The solar heating system installation in HJ was completed in December 1977. Some of the characteristics of the system are as follows

(see Reference (11) for full d e t a i l s ) :

-

- an active system which runs in series with a 10 kW e l e c t r i c

furnace;

- 35 m2 air-heating flat-plate c o l l e c t o r s ;

-

-

During the 1978-79 heating season the system performed poorly. An examlnation of the system in the spring of 1979 shcwed two serious

faults: a malfunctioning damper and substantial air leaks throughout the system. Most problems were corrected where f e a s i b l e .

During the 1979-80 heating season, several problems p e r s i s t e d :

-

spring, summer and f a l l days;

- there w a s candensation on the inner glazing of a l l collector

pane 1s;

-

The solar system was disconnected in the f a l l of 1980 so that H 3 could be u s e d for other experiments.

Table 8 shows the results of a i r infiltration measurements performed on

H 3 in March 1980. The average asr change rate for t h e heating season was estimated from these data to be 0.26 AC/h.

Table 8

Air Change Rates for H3 (March 1980)

Alr change rate Time spent: in mode Operating mode

AC/h

0.23 8 8% solar collection fan "off"

0.49 1 OX solar c o l l e c t i o n fan "on"

in storing-heat mode

2% solar collection fan "on" in

heating-from-collector mode

The average solar c o l l e c t i o n efficiency was 32% for the 1979-80 heating

season; 61% of the energy put into storage was later recovered as usable heat. The over-all energy results are given in Table 9.

T a b l e

9

Energy Supplied to H3 During 1979-80 Heating Season

Space-heating energy Hot-water energy Total energy

MW- h MWh MW' h

Electric 7.9 (54%;) 2.8 (57X) 10.7 (55%)

S o l a r 6.7 ( 4 6 2 ) 2.1 (43%) 8.8 (45%)

From Table 9 we see that the solar heating system s u p p l i e d 45% of the space-heat ing and hot-water energy demand for H3.

Even though a comparable installed solar heating system today would c o s t about 1/3 of the 1977 prfce, conventional energy conserving

options would be more attractive as energy-saving investments.

FIELD PERFORMANCE OF A NATURAL GAS FURNACe

The solar heating system of H3 was disconnected in the fall of

1980 and a gas furnace and gas vent (chimney) were i n s t a l l e d . The

objective was to study the field performance of a gas furnace in an unoccupied house during t h e winter of 1980-81.

The furnace and system characteristics were as follows:

- nominal 40,000 Btulh i n p u t and 32,000 ~ t u / h autpuK;

- no special energy-conserving features; - cambusticla air d r a m from the basement;

-

d f ametet which extended through the roof.

The gas furnace was connected in p a r a l l e l wlth a 10 kW forced-air

electric furnace; each furnace was used alternately for two-week

periods. The gas vent was capped when the electric furnace w a s in operation. ( ~ u r t h e r information is given in Ref ereuce (12) .)

The steady-state efficiency in percentage is the useful heat: supplied by t h e furnace divided by the heat content of the natural gas

input to the furnace (multiplied by 100). This is measured with the burner ruining continuously at optinurn operating conditions. For H3 the steady-state efficiency at the start of the h e a t h g season was 74% as

measured by the Canadian Combustion Research Laboratory of Energy, M3nes

and Resources Canada. At the end of the heating season, it was

discovered that the furnace was underfiring; hence, all the percentage

results reported for t h i s period m u l d have been slightly higher f o r t h e

properly adjusted furnace.

The gas-furnace-system efficiency at a given indoor-outdoor temperature difference (given as a percentage) i s t h e ratio of the

house-heating load to the energy content of the gas input e l t i p l i e d

by 100. It should be noted t h a t the increase in heat loss due to t h e a i r flow through the gas vent is not: considered as part of the house- heating load. The system efficiency was 502 for a 10°C temperature difference (low-load situation) and rose to 65% f o r a 50°C temperature

difference (high-load situation). The furnace w a s s l i g h t l y oversized for t h e house-heating load for R3 since it ran 84% of the t i m e ( i n s t e a d

o f 100Z) a t the Ottawa design temperature difference of 47'C.

The seasonal efficiency as a percentage i s the heat energy required to maintain the house at the t h e m s t a t set point: divided by

the energy content of the gas input for the heating season m u l t i p l i e d by 100. The seasonal efficiency for the gas furnace w a s calculated to

be 60%.

A steady-state efficiency result of

741

percentage s i n c e the only heat energy last by the furnace is the sensible and latent heat in the flue gases going up the chimney. A maximum (high-load) system e f f i c i e n c y of 65% is a lower percentage since

the hause has lost additional heat due to extra air leakage caused by t h e operation 0% the furnace and the chhmey. A seasonal efficiency of

60% is lower s t i l l since it is the average of the s y s t e m efficiencies

during the heating season.

S i m i l a r studies will be carried out durfng the 1981-82 heating season on two gas furnaces with higher efficiency; that is, an Fnduced-

MECHANICAL VENTILATION WITJJ HEAT RECOVERY

Ontario Hydro i n s t a l l e d and operated a mechanical ventilation system with a rotary heat exchanger in H2 from December 1978 t o

April 1979, which was used with a forced-air e l e c t r i c heating system

with no chimney. (See Reference ( 2 3 ) f o r f u l l d e t a i l s . ) During m o s t of

this period the house was occupied by two adults and two c h i l d r e n . The

o b j e c t i v e s of this experiment were to assess the economic viability of heat recovery and t o assess the capability of mechanical ventilation in

controlling indoor humidity.

Savings of 5020 kwh per heating season were p r o j e c t e d f o r the 85%

e f f i c i e n t heat exchanger. The occupants produced an average of

11.8 kglday of moisture. T a b l e LO shows the effects of ventilation r a t e s on air change rate and i n d o o r relative humidity.

T a b l e 10

Ventilation Rates and Indoor Humidity

Mechanical ventilation rate Air change rate Maximum relative (m3 l a i n ) ( AC/h) humidity reached

0 0.15 5 _5%

1.7 0.40 3 9%

2.3 0.49 3 7 2

Both of the non-zero mechanical ventilation r a t e s i n T a b l e 10 produced aFr change r a t e s high enough to control indoor air contaminants and keep

t h e indoor relative humidity below 40%.

The following pages describe some Mark XI s t u d i e s for which no project reports have y e t been issued.

JJUMIIIITY ANI) AIR CHANGE

An experiment was conducted to investigate indoor moisture loss as an indicator of air leakage. The amount of water used by a humidifier to maintain a relative humidity of 40% w a s measured for several months. A l l f o u r houses were t e s t e d while unoccupied froln March t o May 1978;

only H3 and H4 underwent addittonal t e s t s from January to A p r i l 1979.

The results are being analyzed.

MOISTURE STUDIES

Moisture p i n s to m o n i t o r moisture levels were installed during

canstruction in 1977 on t h e warm s i d e of the polyethylene air-vapour barrier throughout the b u i l d z n g envelope of a l l four houses. There are

no condensatian problems for the areas of the building assemblies contafning at l e a s t two thirds of their K-value on the outside (cold s i d e ) of the a i r v a p o u r barrier. This concurs with the dew point

predictions. However, in t h e first- and second-floor joist headers of

H2, H3, and H4, all the insulation is located on the inside of the a i r vapour barrier; as a result, the moisture gins have shown high moisture

levels in winter which return t o n o r m 1 by summer. The first-floor

j o i s t headers, which are accessible from the basement, were retrofitted

with papepbacked glass-f ibre batts which lowered the mi sture content

to acceptable l e v e l s . Ifpfortunately, t h e second-floor j o i s t headers could not be modified since the construction d e t a i l used for t h e s e

headers made them inaccessible. To avoid similar s i t u a t i o n s in the

future, a d i f f e r e n t construction detail should be used.

The standard house, H1, has been occupied since April 1979 by a

family of two adults, two children, and two pets. It: has experienced interior condensatfon problems as evidenced by water streaming down windows and staining walls. T h i s house has an electric furnace force&

air heating s y s t e m and no chZmey. The 24-hour average indoor r e l a t i v e humidity during cold weather (e.g. -14°C) was 35%. One or more f o r ~ e d

ventilation systems will be u s e d during the 1981-82 heating season to

alleviate the problem sf condensation. H1 is the only house presently

~ccupied and the only one to have been occupied for more than a f e w

months.

W I N D AND PRESSURE EFFECTS

has been Zrlstrumented since the fall of 1980 to measure t h e effects of wind on pressure dffferences throughout t h e building assemblies, This continuing project w i l l help researchers t o advise

designers and b u f l d e r s by providing information on:

( 1 ) what kind of pressure dfffercncee develop across walls, windows and c e l l i n g s in small buildings;

(2) which building components are providing air resistance ia w a l l s and ceilings;

(3) how the pressure load IE transferred through the building

assemblies.

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

Division of Building Research (NRC) HUaAC Task Force on Mark XI

Ontario Hydro

Consumers Gas

Forintek Canada Corp.

Canadian Combustion Research Laboratory (EMR) Talback Canstruction

Quirouette, R.L. The Mark XI Research Project: Design and

Coast ruction. Mat b n a l Research Council of Canada, Division of Bufldlng Research, Buildgag Research Note 131, Ottawa,

October 1978.

Brown, W.C. Mark XI Energy Research Project: Comparison of Standard and Upgraded Houses. National Research Council of

Canada, Division of Building Research, Building Research Note 160, Ottawa, June 1980.

Onysko, D.M., Demers, R. and Garant, J.C. Performance Testing of Floors at the HUDAC Mark XI Project. Forintelc Canada Corp. CFS

Contract 1980-81, C F S ~ D S S Project 9, Ottawa, March 1981.

Onysko, D.M. and Garant, J.C. Inspection of Roof SheaLhing at the HUDAC Mark XI Project. Forintek Canada Carp. CFS Contract:

1980-81, CFS/DSS Project 9, Ottawa, March 1981.

Shaw, C.Y. and Tamura, G.T. Hark XI Energy Research Project:

Air-Tightness and P i i r I n f ilt ration Measurements, National

Research Council of Canada, Divtsion of Building Research,

Building Research Note 162, O t t a w a , June 19.80.

Brown, W.C. and Schuyler, G.D. In-Situ Measurements of Frame Wall

Thermal Resistance. Prepared for submission to A S H W Winter Meeting, Houston, Texas, January 1982.

Beach, R.X. Relative Tightness of New Housing In the Ottawa Area.

National Research Council of Canada, Ilivision of Building Research, Building Research Note 149, Ottawa, June 1979.

Shaw, C.Y. A Correlatton Between Air Infiltration and Air

Tightness f o r Houses in a Developed Residential Area. ASHRAE

Transactions 1981, V a l . 8 7 , pt. 2.

Shaw, C.Y. and Brown, W.C. To be published.

Cane, R.E.D, F i e l d Performance a£ an Air-Source %at %mp in thk

HUDAC Mark XI Energy Research Project. National Research Council of Canada, Division of Building Research, Building Research

N o t e

174,

Sibbitt, B.E. and Carscallen, W.E. To be published. B r o n , W.C. To be published,

DtSilva, M.S. Operation Experience with a R e s i d e n t i a l Hechanical

Ventilation System with Heat Recovery. Mechanical Research Department, Ontario Hydro Research Division., k p p r t No. 81-51-K, Toronto, March 1981..