Air-conditioning is used throughout the hot humid tropics to improve thermal comfort by lowering the indoor temperature and by removing humidity from the air. For most commercial buildings, air-conditioning is switched on only during normal office hours, whereas for buildings like hospitals and datacenters, rooms will be 24-hour air-conditioned.
Our 2-page spread in the FuturArc magazine (Q2 2024) focuses on the condensation problems that can occur in such 24-hour air-conditioned building, specifically for the soffit insulation. And on what building solutions that can prevent condensation and mould issues from taking place.
The piece also touches on "realities on the ground", telling about what design and/or building operation conditions that often lead to condensation and/or mould problems, drawing on the vast experience of people in the building industry. While the causes for condensation and mould issues in buildings can be complex, building designers are encourage to start by getting the basics right, for example, using soffit insulation with a correctly installed vapour barrier.
Below is a short video teaser for condensation and mould study, on the backdrop of a wall with this very problem, unfortunately, a common sight in air-conditioned buildings in the tropics.
Disclosure & Acknowledgements:
IEN Consultants would like to thank ROCKWOOL Malaysia, who commissioned us to undertake the study, which was printed as an advertorial in the FuturArc Magazine (Q2 2024 volume 85). IEN enjoyed the collaboration and ROCKWOOL Malaysia's proactive effort of engaging in an open dialogue with expert consultants / building occupants / building operators to understand the "realities on the ground, the pain points, and discussing potential solutions to overcome the building-related issues at hand.
IEN Consultants would also like to thank PS Soong (Pureair Sdn Bhd) for sharing his experiences with condensation and mould issues, drawing on his decades long career as commissioning specialist in the Malaysian building sector.
Thanks to Romain Beaudouin (IEN intern) for helping out with the condensation simulation studies.
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