ATLANTA — Guidance on how to best design buildings with adequate moisture control features is contained in a new standard from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 160, Criteria for Moisture-Control Design Analysis in Buildings, formulates design assumptions for moisture design analysis and criteria for acceptable performance.

“If the designer elects to perform a design moisture analysis, the standard requires he or she to think about the interior conditions that will be maintained in the building and the effect that may have on building envelopes,” said Anton TenWolde, chair of the committee that wrote the standard. “The standard provides a methodology for the first time to make consistent design recommendations, such as the need, type, and placement of vapor barriers in any climate.”

The standard introduces criteria to handle rain, wind, and other exterior moisture weather loads.

The cost of ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 160-2009, Criteria for Moisture-Control Design Analysis in Buildings, is $39 ($33, ASHRAE members).

To order, contact ASHRAE Customer Service at 800-527-4723 (United States and Canada) or 404-636-8400 (worldwide), fax 404-321-5478, or visit www.ashrae.org/bookstore.

Publication date: 05/25/2009