ABSTRACT
The conservation of historic buildings has become increasingly important in recent years. Rising damp in historic buildings can be considered one of the most important manifestations of moisture, contribution to the deterioration of materials like stone due to freeze/defrost cycles and the processes of dissolution/crystallization of salts. As the architectural heritage is of great importance justifying the need to safeguard it from rising damp it is also important to guarantee protection from extreme climatic phenomena like floods.
The Building Physics Laboratory – LFC of the Faculty of Engineering of the University of Porto – FEUP has been developed relevant experimental research in the rising damp field based on a hygro-regulated wall base ventilation system having knowledge to control/treat buildings after a flood. The system has been validated, featured and designed. The technique comprises air circulation around the base of the walls with vapour pressure conditions favourable to the drying process. The ventilation of walls increases evaporation, which reduces the level achieved by the damp front.
The characterization of the hygro-regulated systems’ procedure were made based on experimental studies developed in laboratory which allowed the study of air velocity influence, condensation risk and salt crystallization occurrences. It was also measure a church in the North of Portugal where the system was implemented, with the purpose of validating its operation and establish criteria for ventilator program design.
It is important to understand that historic buildings presents some unique aspects that show the importance of develop investigation in this field. This contribution is just a step but it is important to continue this research to get all the technique characterization and design developed. It is necessary to model and see the real behavior of the system and optimize its performance.
