Observations of Moisture Damages in Historic and Modern Wooden Constructions

Abstract

With the introduction of new building products made of planar glued board lamellas, the CLT, the restriction of load-bearing structures to linear and thus additively used load-bearing members was abolished. As a result, new, technically determined boundary conditions for moisture management in the interior of buildings have arisen. Due to the emergence of massive, planar wall and floor components as in concrete construction, the integration of building services technology in timber construction must now take place differently than was traditionally the case. In addition, it can be observed that the damage to building components is increasing, the detection of moisture damage is becoming more difficult and, ultimately, the consequences and risks are not yet foreseeable. The study focuses on the cause-effect relationship of increased water input and uses selected examples to reveal the problem of moisture exposure in the interior of buildings with planar load-bearing structures, the damage mechanisms and direct consequences set in motion. This paper shows the necessity for moisture protection measures in modern timber structures in comparison to traditional ways to construct with timber. It shows where moisture intake with modern structures must be considered and avoided from the engineering perspective in order to minimize the risk of moisture damage.