INSPECTION FINDINGS AT WITHROW HIGH SCHOOL
Findings that are common to all six building sections, A, B, C, D, E and K are as follows:
1. All building sections are very air leaky, making them unable to hold a constant interior pressure differential. When measured across the building envelope a positive pressure directly proportional to the wind was measured on the windward side. The leeward side of the building would then present a negative pressure reading. This condition was found at all three levels of the building and readings varied little throughout the building.
During the inspection process pressure measurements were taken measuring the interior static pressure across the building envelope with the building in “normal” HVAC operating conditions. The results show an average positive pressure of 6.0 Pascal to the outside on the first floor northfacing elevations (windward side). The south facing elevations (leeward side) tested an average negative pressure of 3.75 Pascal. While all of the building should operate at a positive pressureto the outside, these negative readings on the leeward side at the time of this inspection are not surprising given the age and type of building construction. However, if after restoration andinstallation of new HVAC equipment along with new windows and doors, the readings were toremain at these levels that would be reason for concern given the type of wall construction being examined.
2. Heat loss occurs at the soffits of all building sections. Where accessible, further testing of the wall presented no elevated levels of moisture at the time of this inspection. While it is visually clear that water has been present in these upper sections of the wall, at the time of this inspection, which should be noted is after the building has been re-roofed and all flashings, gutters and downspouts replaced, the wall sections did not have elevated moisture counts. This leads to the conclusion that this is stack effect heat loss at the stone cornice.
3. There is considerable heat loss, both conductive and convective at all the windows and doors in all six buildings. These are all scheduled for replacement. Note that some windows on the third floor of building A had been replaced and present a much-improved thermal pattern.
4. Most of the interior corners (as seen from the exterior) are warmer than the adjoining wall. Further testing for moisture in these corners did not produce a significant increase in hydrogen.Given that these are barrier walls the importance of the mortar joints cannot be overstated. The re-grouting efforts which have been completed to date are marginally effective in assuring waterwill be shed as quickly as possible.
5. On all sections except building K, the new copper downspouts had seam splits allowing them toleak. School personnel indicated that in the winter storm water would “back up” into the downspouts and then freeze. Looking at the current condition of these downspouts, this appears to be an accurate explanation for the seam splits. At the locations shown in the drawings, the moisture content tested higher around these leaking downspouts than in the adjoining wall sections. Building K 1. Locations 1 and 2 are at the north and south entry doors on the east elevation. At these locations, along with the center two doors (all four east elevation entry doors), the thermal pattern indicated heat loss. Moisture testing produced the highest levels of hydrogen found inany of the elevations. Further investigation (see Figure 2 and 3 details) shows flashing and caulking failures at these entries.
FINDINGS FOR OLDFIELDS ESTATE
Findings that are common to the three sections of the building with three different ages are as follows:
1. Heat loss at all windows. The windows represented the warmest of all exterior surfaces. Given the “R” value associated with windows compared to the walls of the building, this would be expected. Additional loss at the windows was seen around some window frames where lesserinsulation values are necessitated by the framing for the windows and/or the frame around the window sash is exfiltrating warm air from inside the building.
2. Heat loss through walls. Based on information provided at the time of the inspection, the walls are uninsulated solid concrete or hollow clay tile block construction depending on location.
This makes the thermal images of the wall elevations more easily understood. Starting with the first floor, above basements, the solid concrete, which comprises the floors, can be seen as warmer than the wall above which includes the hollow block. The line that represents the floor between the first and second floors can also be seen as warmer for the same reason. Exterior chimneys such as those seen in the front elevation can also be seen as quite warm, an indication of heat loss. An interesting pattern appears on either side of the main entry on the east front elevation. At these locations it appears windows have been covered and/or removed. The solids, which created the arched lintels for these two windows, can be seen as warmer.
3. Heat loss into attics. A common problem to both elevations inspected was heat escaping from the conditioned building envelope into the unconditioned attics. The infrared images confirm these patterns with heat escaping from the soffit areas, around dormers and the presence of an even warm temperature throughout the roof surface.
SUMMARY
At the Withrow High School, it appears that roof leaks that were the cause of the moisture damage in the plaster on many of the wall and ceiling sections throughout the building have been repaired. Testing with infrared cameras concludes that the differing thermal resistance of the subject wall materials at varying construction details is primarily the result of convective losses around windows and doors in combination with conductive losses associated with flaws in the plaster, brick andstone which combine to present thermal anomalies. However, there are areas of moisture being retained in the barrier walls as detailed in this report. These areas become more concerning if water is allowed to continue to be introduced and the building dynamics changed. When the convective losses are lessened with new doors and windows and the HVAC system is changed from the original to a forced air system with air conditioning,these wet wall sections may not dry. The result could be brick failure over time. In addition if the wall system is changed, the thermal resistance (R value) of the wall system along with its ability to dissipate moisture may change. Given this, it is possible that dew point temperature, the temperature at which condensation first occurs, could be achieved within the wall system during certain weather conditions. This situation could facilitate the long-term deterioration of these barrier brick and stone walls.
