Extract

The Nationwide House Energy Rating Scheme (NatHERS) in Australia governs the software programs that model energy use in residential houses. Currently, these programs all utilise the Chenath engine that models energy and temperature dynamically. With the inclusion of brand-new condensation provisions into the 2019 version of the National Construction Code (NCC), there is a need to expand the functionality of NatHERS software to undertake dynamic hygrothermal analysis. A plugin has been developed to apply the Glaser method of vapour transport in the building’s fabric as a step subsequent to building simulation. Although this approach is simplified and has been known to err on the side of caution, the undertaking not only assists in the valuation of the building fabric’s vapour management, but also opens up ways of further inquiry into the physics of condensation, and biology of fungal growth. The extension is scripted in R and produces graphical outputs for dewpoint analysis and vapour transport. This allows building practitioners who are new to condensation analysis to be cognisant of where and how much condensation is occurring, and whether recovery is possible before mould germination commences.

Keywords: condensation; hygrothermal simulation; risk analysis; mould.

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