Coordinator(s)

  • Lin Wang, NRC, Canada
  • Michael Laccase, NRC, Canada

Objectives and Scopes:

The Commission’s objectives are:

  • to explore the phenomena of heat, moisture, air and salts transfer in buildings, components and materials
  • to formulate laws governing the physics involved
  • to define, measure and discuss the hygrothermal properties of materials and building components
  • to explore the ventilation and hygrothermal behavior of buildings
  • to apply the acquired knowledge to the design, execution and maintenance of buildings
  • to transfer research information to practice

Current Work Programme (2025 – 2028):

There will be annual Commission Meetings in support of information dissemination. Each such meeting will result in a meeting report. The Commission’s current work prgramme is focused on probabilistic assessment or passive energy conservation measures under a changing climate in an urban setting.

Planned Output:

  • 2025 – 2026: A systematic review on probabilistic assessment of passive energy conservation measures under a changing climate in an urban setting
  • 2026 – 2027: A database for hygrothermal properties of bio-based insulations and mass timber materials
  • 2027 – 2028: Multi-criteria performance assessment of bio-based insulation walls and mass timber constructions

External Relations:

W040 has established Liaisons with:

  • ASHRAE 90.1 – Building envelope subcommittee
  • ASHRAE 189.1 – Standard for Design of High Performance Green Buildings Except Low-Rise Residential Buildings
  • ASHRAE 189.3 – Design Construction and Operation of Sustainable High Performance Health Care Facilities
  • ASTM E3054/305M-16 – Standard Guide for Characterization and Use of Hygrothermal Models for Moisture Control Design in Building Envelopes
  • IEA – International Energy Agency
  • ISO/TC 163/SC 2 – Thermal Insulation and Calculation Methods.
  • CIB W040 encourages the Journal of Building Physics

Membership:

Members of this Working Commission have to be either a Representative of a CIB Member Organization or an Individual CIB Member. The Membership of persons who do not participate at two successive Commission Meetings will in principle be terminated.