Eliminate guesswork, and accurately identify possible moisture problems in any building – even during the planning stage.
Our hygrothermal modelling service is essentially a software-powered crystal ball that accurately predicts possible moisture issues in your building before you build it. This saves time and money, and lets you build with confidence.
The term ‘hygrothermal’ refers to both moisture and temperature – these two properties work hand in hand, and it is important to consider their behaviour together when planning any construction. Think about condensation, for example: This occurs when both the moisture content and the temperature are in an unfavourable parameter space. Condensation is of particular concern when it occurs interstitially, i.e. within inaccessible wall or roof assemblies.
Used correctly, hygrothermal modelling provides certainty that new building methods and materials will not cause any severe and unintended consequences. We use the WUFI software package developed by the world-renowned Fraunhofer Institute in Germany – without doubt, the industry standard solution. We can apply the WUFI software to both one- and two- dimensional models.
And using the best software requires experience: You need the right input data, and it is essential to properly understand and interpret the results. Our extensive experience in building physics (and hygrothermal modelling in particular) means that we can turn the resulting hygrothermal modelling data into practical actions. We also have access to such critical input data as outdoor and indoor climates, or material data specific to New Zealand.
Reach out and see how Building Metrics can support your projects.
How we do hygrothermal modelling
Preparation phase
Plan
Define goals and methods with the client
Set up
Create model based on structural, material and climate data
Verify
Review the model with the client and fine-tune as required
Engagement phase
Run
Run the simulation model and obtain results
Present
Discuss the results with the client and advise on possible actions