NC State University Page Hall
  1. Home
  2. Projects
  3. NC State University Page Hall

SKA was requested to perform an analysis of the three proposed wall systems for Page Hall at North Carolina State University using hygrothermal software, WUFI, to evaluate the performance of the wall system and determine if condensation may be an issue. WUFI is an acronym for Wärme Und Feuchte Instationär—which, translated from German, means heat and moisture transiency; it is a computer program that can tell how moisture and heat flow affect building materials over time. The WUFI program is based on the latest knowledge in vapor diffusion and liquid transport in building materials and uses natural weather records in its modeling to simulate weather exposure to the modeled building materials. SKA provided additional analysis on Wall Assembly C and found the addition of a painted plaster on the mass masonry wall had increased the overall water content of the wall system and increased the length of time water was held within the system. This increased the potential for moisture damage and mold growth. As indicated by the comparison of the old brick verses new brick, the better the condition of the brick, the better the wall system performed. Based on the results of the analysis, SKA recommended that the architect consider removing the existing interior painted plaster and improving the condition of the exterior wythe of brick to reduce infiltration of water into the wall system. All wall assemblies modeled will increase the amount of water in the mass wall system as compared to just the mass wall modeled. Protection of any embedded steel components such as lintels, reinforcing etc. was highly recommended. SKA would recommend that any steel lintels or other components be modeled in THERM two-dimensional heat transfer software.