Why new homes can be damp – and what we can do about it

Many Kiwi homes, both old and new, are susceptible to dampness and mould due to shortcomings in the New Zealand Building Code’s requirements for managing the indoor environment, particularly in assessing moisture on internal surfaces. The Building Code’s method fails to consider thermal bridges created by materials like timber, leading to increased risk of condensation and mould growth. Research suggests that using whole building simulations to assess risk factors like internal temperature and relative humidity could improve the reliability of results and ensure new homes are warm, dry, and healthy.

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